Sign in Subscribe
Covert operations

Trump Authorizes CIA to Conduct Secret Operations in Venezuela

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct secret operations in Venezuela, including possible strikes against drug cartels. This move comes as tensions rise between the U.S. and Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military has been targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs, and the Trump administration has offered a $50 million reward for Maduro's arrest. Trump has made clear that his goal is to see Maduro removed from power, and has stated that the CIA has the authority to take out Maduro, although the White House and CIA did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Trump has authorized the CIA to conduct secret operations in Venezuela, including possible strikes against drug cartels.
  • The U.S. military has been targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs, with Trump stating that every boat knocked out saves 25,000 American lives.
  • The Trump administration has offered a $50 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.
  • Trump's administration has been working towards regime change in Venezuela, with the position of regime change reported by Axios in January.
  • Trump stated that the CIA has the authority to "take out" Maduro, but the White House and CIA did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
  • Trump's goal is to see Maduro removed from power, with the U.S. military targeting boats carrying drugs to address the issue.

Statistics:

  • $50 million: The reward offered by the Trump administration for the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.
  • 25,000: The number of American lives allegedly saved by targeting boats carrying drugs.
  • 6: The number of "narcoterrorists" killed in a lethal strike on a vessel "trafficking narcotics".
  • 2025: The year in which Axios first reported that the Trump's administration-in-waiting had regime change in Venezuela as their position, before Trump even took office.

Sources:

  • Axios: "President Trump said Wednesday he authorized the CIA to secretly conduct operations in Venezuela, including possible strikes against drug cartels." (https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump)
  • Axios: "The latest: While the Trump administration has said its goal in sending warships to Venezuela was to stop drug trafficking, it's made clear that it wants to see Maduro removed from power one way or another." (https://www.axios.com/2025/09/20/us-strikes-vessel-drugs-trump-narcotics)
  • Truth Social: "I have directed our Great military to take out those who are trafficking in our Country" (https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/115373751811822463)
  • YouTube: "We're not going to let our country be ruined because other people want to drop ... their worst" people into the U.S." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1M57bKXlKU)

Read more