While the indications are that the immediate US efforts on trying to impose regime change in Venezuela will be mostly economic, the White House also seems to be going out of its way to insist that attacking the South American country militarily is still “on the table.”



Mick Mulvaney said that the president wouldn’t be doing his job if he ruled out attacking Venezuela, telling reporters he is looking at that idea “extraordinarily closely” after having endorsed opposition leader Juan Guaido as president.



According to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) it’s more than just not ruling out the idea. The hawkish senator reported that President Trump brought up the idea is a recent discussion with him and is “really hawkish” on Venezuela.



Graham says he advised Trump that attacking “could be problematic.” Trump was apparently shocked at this, expressing the belief that he thought Graham “wants to invade everybody.”



Trump’s big supporter on this seems to be Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who says he believes “it’s just a matter of time” before there is regime change, and questions only “whether it will be peaceful or bloody.”



Trump has been on board with either since taking office, and has been talking up regime change virtually since taking office. This has included calling for coups d’etats in Venezuela, and repeatedly bringing up the idea of military intervention.

Author: Jason Ditz Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz