Trump administration looking for ways to finance Venezuela’s Guaidó

The Trump administration is searching for ways to provide further funding to the opposition government in Venezuela led by Juan Guaidó as he attempts to oust the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

CNN reported Thursday that the White House is looking to provide Guaidó’s opposition with either funds previously frozen in U.S. accounts or even short-term loans, as U.S. officials tell the news network that Maduro’s hold over the country continues to weaken.

{mosads}One GOP aide on Capitol Hill told CNN that the Trump administration was hoping to assist the opposition government with basic administrative tasks such as paying soldiers.

“They are trying to figure out how do you help the interim government be able to provide paychecks, that kind of stuff, so that there is an ability to say, ‘hey we are a functioning government,’ ” a senior GOP aide told CNN. “That would include payments to various people, including those in the military.”

Speaking at a rally Thursday, Maduro told supporters that he would begin detaining members of the opposition forces as Guaidó has begun recruiting members of the military to his side, with limited success.

“The order has been given: detain traitors, reject and detain coup participants,” said Maduro, according to CNN. “That is why I say we have to stop treason, stop coup attempts in their tracks. Face it head on.”

CNN reports that administration sources believe that Guaidó’s bid for power was hampered by his announcement of the final phase of his operation, which occurred Tuesday. The announcement came a day early, surprising some in the Trump administration and leaving the State Department “really caught off guard and pissed,” one U.S. official told the network.

President Trump himself has maintained that military support for Venezuela is an “option,” though no plans for a U.S. force have been announced officially.