The Trump administration ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford head to U.S. Southern Command, prompting Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to accuse Trump of "fabricating a new eternal war." (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images; Getty Images)
The news was first reported less than a day after Trump labeled Maduro a "terrorist" and left the door open to deploying U.S. troops to Venezuela.
"No, I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything," Trump said Monday when asked about the possibility.
"We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons. Nobody knows better than this young lady right here," Trump continued, referring to Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem. "She's done an incredible job with Tom Homan and all of your people."
TRUMP SAYS VENEZUELA'S MADURO DOESN’T WANT TO ‘F*** AROUND’ WITH THE US
The U.S. has conducted multiple strikes on suspected drug vessels. (X.com/SecWar)
Trump added Monday that he would speak with Maduro when asked if he was prepared to directly speak with the dictator.
"Yeah, I probably would talk to him. Yeah, I talked to everybody," Trump said.
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The administration has defended the strikes, saying the U.S. is engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels after the groups evolved into transnational terror organizations.
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-signs-off-possible-cia-operations-venezuela-report