US troops in Venezuela? Trump hints major moves possible as tensions soar

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump said he's not ruling out sending U.S. ground troops into Venezuela amid his administration's crackdown on criminal networks tied to the country's top leadership and drugs that are exported from it. "No, I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything," Trump said Monday when asked if he has ruled out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela. "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." The U.S. has carried out a series of strikes on boats that reportedly traffic narcotics in the waters off of Central and South America since September. The administration has carried out at least 21 fatal strikes on the boats since September, with the most recent strike unfolding Sunday. TRUMP REVEALS MADURO 'WOULD LIKE TO TALK' AS MILITARY OPTIONS REMAIN ON THE TABLE FOR VENEZUELA The strikes come as the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford arrived in the Caribbean Sea earlier in November. Trump said Sunday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro indicated he wants talks with the U.S. as tensions mount between the nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday that a criminal network allegedly tied to Maduro and his allies, the Cartel de los Soles, will be designated a foreign terrorist organization as tensions continue to escalate. 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. 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. TRUMP AGREES MADURO’S DAYS AS VENEZUELA’S PRESIDENT ARE NUMBERED IN ‘60 MINUTES’ INTERVI…