He said the move aims to crack down on drug trafficking and stop Venezuelan criminals from entering the United States.
The order marks a major escalation in U.S. pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro. It follows years of sanctions and diplomatic isolation aimed at removing Maduro from power. The covert directive was first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by Trump during an Oval Office briefing with reporters.
Trump said Venezuela’s government had released prisoners into the United States through the southern border.
“I authorized for two reasons really,” Trump said. “Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America… they came in through the border. They came in because we had an open border. And the other thing are drugs.” He also claimed the U.S. had already taken strong action at sea but now needed to focus on land routes.
The CIA authorization gives the agency broad powers to conduct operations in Venezuela and the Caribbean region. U.S. officials have not released details on what actions have been approved.
Historically, CIA missions in Latin America have ranged from intelligence gathering to direct engagement against drug cartels. Trump refused to say whether the authority includes a mandate to target Maduro directly, responding only, “I think Venezuela is feeling heat.”
Venezuela’s government reacted sharply to Trump’s announcement.
In a statement on Telegram, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said the U.S. was violating international law and pursuing regime change to seize oil resources. He said the country will raise a formal complaint before the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General.
Tensions between the two countries have intensified over drug trafficking claims.
The U.S. has accused Maduro’s regime of turning Venezuela into a narco-state.
In August 2025, the U.S. Department of State doubled its reward to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges. Trump also ordered a military buildup in the southern Caribbean, and U.S. forces have struck at least five vessels accused of carrying narcotics.
Trump criticized traditional interdiction methods at sea as “politically correct” and said they were not effective. He described drug trafficking as a national security issue. The United States Department of Defense told Congress the U.S. is engaged in what it legally considers a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.
Some members of Congress expressed concern about the lack of information. Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the administration owed the American people a full explanation about whether the country is being led into another conflict.
Venezuela’s economy has been devastated by sanctions, losing three-quarters of its GDP since 2014. Maduro has maintained control through manipulated elections and suppression of political opponents. Just last week, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy for democratic rights in the country.
The announcement of covert operations adds a new and volatile element to the ongoing standoff. Venezuela has vowed to fight the measure diplomatically, while Washington has signaled it will not back down.