President Trump has confirmed the authorization of covert CIA operations within Venezuela.
On October 15, 2025, CBS News reported that President Trump acknowledged his approval for the CIA to conduct secret operations in Venezuela. When questioned by CBS News' senior White House correspondent Ed O'Keefe about his decision, the President cited two primary reasons. First, he claimed that Venezuela was emptying its prisons and mental institutions, sending inmates and patients to the United States. He has repeatedly made this claim, though he has not provided any evidence to support it.
He also pointed to the flow of drugs from Venezuela as a key factor. The President mentioned that a significant amount of Venezuelan drugs come in from the sea, seemingly referencing his administration's military airstrikes against suspected drug traffickers near Venezuela's coast. He added that his administration would also be working to stop drug trafficking by land.
The New York Times had previously reported on the President's authorization of CIA operations in Venezuela. Top officials in the Trump administration have accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of controlling the Tren de Aragua drug cartel, a claim Maduro denies. The Justice Department has offered a reward for information leading to his capture, doubling the bounty to $50 million in August.
When asked if the CIA had the authority to target Maduro, Mr. Trump declined to answer directly but stated that he believed Venezuela was "feeling heat."
On Tuesday, the President announced that the U.S. had struck another small boat off the coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of six people. This was the fifth such strike in the Caribbean, where the Trump administration has asserted its right to treat alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants, allowing them to be attacked with military force. According to the administration, at least 27 people have been killed in these five strikes.
In addition, Mr. Trump has deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and fighter jets to the region as part of an operation aimed at combating drug smuggling into the United States. Following the latest boat strike, Maduro ordered military exercises in the country's largest shantytowns.
But here's where it gets controversial... The strikes on alleged drug boats have faced criticism from lawmakers across both parties. Critics argue that Congress has not authorized military force against drug traffickers and that the Trump administration has not provided sufficient evidence regarding the identities of those on the boats or the specific narcotics they were carrying.
When O'Keefe inquired about these concerns, Mr. Trump stated that lawmakers "are given information that they were loaded up with drugs, and that's the thing that matters." He further alleged that "fentanyl dust" had been found on the boats after the strikes.
"When they're loaded up with drugs, they're fair game, and every one of those ships were," the President said.
And this is the part most people miss... The situation raises questions about international law, the use of military force, and the balance of power. What are your thoughts on the actions taken by the Trump administration? Do you agree with the justifications provided, or do you have different perspectives on the matter? Share your opinions in the comments below.
