Franco Ordonez

expanded authority to take military action against Maduro's government.

Now, look, this may be kind of the most over-the-top way to try and scare Maduro to leave on his own, but

More and more former officials and international experts that I talk to see the administration potentially gearing up for some type of military strike in Venezuela.

The administration named Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization and Maduro as its leader.

Now, the U.S.

says the group is made up of military officers.

Venezuela says it's not even an actual group.

It gives the U.S.

expanded power to take military action, as I was saying.

And I was talking with Ian Bremmer, who leads the political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group, and he told me that the White House has this kind of carrot and stick approach going with Maduro.

And that using the threat of designating him was kind of a diplomatic pressure tool.

So, I mean, that's something that, you know, had been held out there as a you better engage with us or else.

Well, you've just gotten the or else.

So we're definitely closer to military intervention.

Now, like many analysts, Bremer doesn't expect a ground invasion, but more likely targeted strikes.

And Trump has used targeted strikes before, such as earlier this year in Iran.

Yeah, I mean, he's the top nation's top military officer and a key part of this massive buildup of forces in the Caribbean, including, you know, the Navy's largest aircraft carrier and some 15,000 troops.

Now, Mike Pompeo, who was secretary of state during the first Trump administration, he was on Fox yesterday and he said it was clear that the general was not going to the Caribbean just to thank the troops.

I mean, there are a lot of political implications that Trump needs to weigh.

There's a debate whether striking Venezuela fits with America First.