President Trump on Friday said he was not considering strikes within Venezuela following reports his administration had identified potential military targets within the country.
Trump was asked aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida about those reports and whether he had made up his mind about potential strikes.
“No. It’s not true,” Trump responded.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday the Trump administration had identified military facilities in Venezuela used to smuggle drugs as potential targets for strikes. The news outlet said Trump had not made a final decision on whether to carry out strikes inside of Venezuela.
Trump and his administration have taken an increasingly aggressive approach toward Venezuela in recent weeks, raising questions about a potential conflict.
The Pentagon last week said it was sending the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, and its carrier air wing to the Caribbean. At the same time, the Trump administration has conducted strikes against boats it says are smuggling illegal drugs in the region, killing dozens of people in the process.
Also last week, two B-1 Lancer bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and flew near the coast of Venezuela, according to flight tracking data. Trump called the news reports about the presence of B-1 bombers “false,” but added that “we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them.”
