Trump: CIA action against Venezuela

US President Donald Trump indicated this week he had authorised covert CIA action against Venezuela and said he was considering strikes against alleged drug cartels on land in the South American country.

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US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a ballroom fund-raising dinner.

(AFP)

Trump's comments triggered outrage from leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who decried "coups d'etat orchestrated by the CIA" and ordered military exercises following a fresh US strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.

Republican Trump declined to comment in detail about a New York Times report that he had secretly approved the CIA to conduct covert action in Venezuela against Maduro.

"But I authorised for two reasons really," he said, before listing familiar talking points accusing Maduro of leading a "narco-terrorist" regime and of releasing prisoners from jails and sending them to the US.

Asked if he had given the CIA authority to "take out" Maduro, Trump replied: "That's a ridiculous question for me to be given. Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?"