Bolton stokes questions, confusion with ‘5,000 troops’ note during Venezuela briefing
The note was captured on a photo of Bolton holding a yellow legal pad
While briefing about new oil sanctions on Venezuela, President Trump‘s National Security Adviser John Bolton caused a stir Monday when he held a note pad in front of the media at the White House with some scribbled text: “5,000 troops to Colombia.”
Had he inadvertently tipped off the world to a U.S. invasion, or was it a clever bit of psychological operations to send a strong message to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro? Or something else entirely?
The Trump administration has recognized the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president and tightened the screws in recent days to force Maduro, who has overseen a political crackdown, consolidation of power, and economic collapse, out of power.
But with Maduro holding onto his office, there’s concern the U.S. could take more muscular action to force Maduro out, including military force. President Donald Trump himself has publicly floated a military intervention, which Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, a confidante, said he has done again in recent weeks, according to Axios.
