An anti-government demonstrator waves a Venezuelan flag in the middle of the street to protest the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela on Aug. 6. President Donald Trump on Friday said he has “many options” for Venezuela, “including a possible military operation, if necessary.” | Will Riera/AP Photo Trump says he’s not ruling out military option against Venezuela

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would not rule out the U.S. pursuing “a military option” against Venezuela, which has come under increased pressure for its human rights abuses.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump said he has “many options” for Venezuela, “including a possible military operation, if necessary.”


The U.S. Treasury Department late last month targeted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with sanctions, accusing him of widespread abuses of the Venezuelan people.

Treasury announced the sanctions following the election of an assembly to rewrite the Latin American country’s constitution.

“By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the time.

Trump's comments on a potential military intervention were later contested by Sen. Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who's become increasingly critical of the Trump White House over the last several weeks.

"No. Congress obviously isn't authorizing war in Venezuela," Sasse said in a statement issued Friday night. "Nicolas Maduro is a horrible human being, but Congress doesn’t vote to spill Nebraskans' blood based on who the Executive lashes out at today."

The White House repeated its condemnation of the Venezuelan leader in statement released late Friday, saying Maduro “refused to heed” the White House's calls for the country to “hold free and fair elections” and instead “chosen the path of dictatorship.”

The Trump administration added that the president had rejected a request by Maduro to speak over the phone on Friday.

“The United States stands with the people of Venezuela in the face of their continued oppression by the Maduro regime,” the office of the press secretary wrote. “President Donald Trump will gladly speak with the leader of Venezuela as soon as democracy is restored in that country.”