Trump confirms CIA authorization in Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed studies on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) that he approved the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, marking a pointy escalation in U.S. efforts to strain President Nicolas Maduro’s authorities.

The New York Times first reported the categorized directive, citing U.S. officers conversant in the choice.

Mr. Trump stated he approved the motion as a result of giant quantities of medication had been coming into the United States from Venezuela, a lot of it trafficked by sea.

“We are looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control,” Mr. Trump stated.

Mr. Trump was requested why he didn’t have the Coast Guard cease suspected drug trafficking boats, which has been U.S. follow for many years. Mr. Trump referred to as such efforts “politically correct” and stated they’d not labored.

“I think Venezuela is feeling heat,” Mr. Trump stated, though he declined to reply when requested if the CIA has the authority to execute Maduro.

Mr. Trump additionally accused Venezuela of releasing giant numbers of prisoners, together with people from psychological well being services, into the United States, though he didn’t specify which border they had been crossing.

Neither Maduro’s Information Ministry nor press representatives for opposition chief Maria Corina Machado instantly responded to requests for touch upon Trump’s remarks.