President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had authorized the CIA to conduct unspecified operations inside Venezuela, an unusual public acknowledgment of U.S. intelligence activity abroad.

US President Donald Trump confirms authorization of covert CIA operations in Venezuela and hints at potential land-based military action.

Maduro called the U.S. “an empire of imbeciles,” accusing Washington of plotting regime change and waging “criminal aggression” under the guise of counter-narcotics operations.