The expansion of the CIA’s powers is a major escalation of rising tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose regime Trump accuses of complicity in the production and smuggling of drugs. The US has built up a large military presence off the Venezuelan coast, including at sea and in the air.
“I think Venezuela is starting to get hot under its feet,” Trump added. When asked, the American leader did not want to answer the question of whether the CIA had been authorized to carry out an assassination attempt on Maduro.