U.S. Official Says Maduro Should Be 'Sh---ing Bricks' Due To Presence Of Warships Off Venezuela's Coast

A U.S. official claimed Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro should be "sh---ing bricks" due to the presence of warships off its coast.

Speaking to Axios, the official, who was not identified, said the operation could be "Noriega part 2," a reference to the 1989 military operation that ended with the capture of then-Panamanian President Manuel Noriega. He also faced U.S. drug-trafficking charges.

"The president has asked for a menu of options. And ultimately, this is the president's decision about what to do next, but Maduro should be sh---ting bricks," the official added.

Others who talked to the outlet had differing views. One supported ousting Maduro, saying that leaving him "in power in Venezuela is like making Jeffrey Epstein the head of a daycare."

Another official had a contrasting view, saying "this is 105% about narco-terrorism," even though later said that if "Maduro winds up no longer in power, no one will be crying."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, on her end, kept the mission's goals ambiguous, saying Maduro is the "fugitive head of a drug cartel" and is not considered the country's legitimate president.

However, Axios noted in another passage of the piece that most officials privately believe an invasion is unlikely. The Colombian claimed on Thursday that the Trump administration won't carry out a military intervention in Venezuela.

"The press has created a narrative that is sowing confusion in the population. From the conversations we've had with the ambassador and U.S. lawmakers who visited the country over the past weeks we concluded there is no such intention," Villavicencio said.

Maduro, on his end, said "there is no way" the country "will be breached" despite the deployment of U.S. warships to the region.

"This situation we are facing, one of harassment, siege, illegal threats that violate the UN Charter, only makes us stronger," Maduro said. He went on to claim that the armed forces are seizing the circumstance to "strengthen the nation's defense plans" despite the "empire" wanting to take over the country's "riches."

"Today, after 20 days of continued siege, we're stronger than yesterday. We have more national and international support," Maduro added. "We're more prepared to defend our peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity."