U.S. President Trump confirmed CIA covert operations in Venezuela during a press conference in the Oval Office on Wednesday. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe asked Trump about what that means for Nicolás Maduro.

Washington

President Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela, a move that marks an escalation in U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The administration maintains that these actions are intended to address illegal drugs and migration from Venezuela, rather than to pursue regime change.

The announcement has prompted concerns among lawmakers, who are calling for more transparency and evidence regarding the legitimacy of recent strikes along the Venezuelan coast. The president also noted that U.S. military forces have increased their presence in the area, with the stated goal of enhancing U.S. security.

Trump authorizes CIA covert operations in Venezuela

President Trump confirms he's authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela. The move appears to be an escalation in pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe asked the president about this in the Oval Office. Listen. Does the CIA have authority to take out Maduro? Oh, I don't want to answer a question like that. That's a ridiculous question for me to be given. Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer? But I think Venezuela is feeling heat, but I think a lot of other countries are feeling heat, too. We're not going to let this country, our country, be ruined because other people want to drop, as you say, their worst. They have given us their worst. CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Zhang has more on this. Joining us now, Weijia, good morning. Great to see you. You know, the crux of Ed's question is that this appears to be the administration ramping up pressure on Venezuela. Is it, in effect, in your view, a move to drive Maduro from power? Good morning, Errol. Good morning to everybody. It is U.S. policy for the administration not to call for a regime change anywhere. And the president says that all of these moves are designed to eliminate illegal drugs and illegal migrants, he says, are pouring in from Venezuela. In fact, that's what he said to our Ed O'Keefe when he talked about why he authorized the CIA to go into Venezuela and conduct covert actions. And he said, you know, there is a chance that the U.S. military, which has already surged troops there, could be striking by land, Errol. And so the president says this is all about making the U.S. safer. Of course, there are a lot of concerns about just the way the administration has gone about this. A lot of lawmakers up on Capitol Hill say they want more information, more evidence that, you know, these strikes that have happened along the Venezuelan coast are legitimate. Weijia Zhang with the latest. Weijia, thank you.

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President Trump confirmed that he has authorised the CIA to go into Venezuela and conduct covert operations.

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