Trump confirms approval of CIA covert actions in Venezuela

President Trump said Wednesday he authorized the CIA to secretly conduct operations in Venezuela, including possible strikes against drug cartels. Why it matters: The announcement follows rising tensions with Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, as the U.S. military targets boats allegedly carrying drugs.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 and has offered a $50 million reward for his arrest.In the latest installment of attacks against Venezuelan boats, Trump said Tuesday on Truth Social that he ordered a lethal strike on a vessel "trafficking narcotics," which killed all six "narcoterrorists" on board.What he's saying: "We're not going to let our country be ruined because other people want to drop ... their worst" people into the U.S., Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday.Trump said trafficking attempts by sea are "very well under control," but the military will now look to land. "Every boat that we knock out, we save 25,000 American lives," he said. When asked if the CIA has the authority to "take out" Maduro, Trump said: "That's a ridiculous question. Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?"The White House and CIA did not immediately respond to Axios' Wednesday evening request for comment.Flashback: Regime change in Venezuela was the position of Trump's administration-in-waiting before he even took office, Axios first reported in January.Go deeper: Trump's team wants Maduro to leave Venezuela

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