Trump denies US ties to Venezuela attack

2 former American soldiers were detained on Monday

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States had nothing to do with an alleged incursion into Venezuela that landed two U.S. citizens behind bars.

Trump said he had just learned of their detention, accused by Venezuela of being mercenaries. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said they were part of an operation to kill him that was backed by Colombia and the U.S.

“It has nothing to do with our government,” Trump told reporters in Washington.

Authorities in Venezuela identified the two men as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, both former U.S. special forces soldiers associated with the Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp USA. Military records show both decorated soldiers served in Iraq.

A third U.S. ex-Green Beret and Silvercorp founder, Jordan Goudreau, claimed responsibility for leading “Operation Gideon,” which was launched with an attempted beach landing before dawn Sunday. Officials said Tuesday that six suspected attackers were killed, a revised figure from the eight reported previously.

The State Department reiterated that the U.S. wasn’t involved, accusing Maduro of launching a “disinformation campaign” to distract from recent events, citing a prison riot that left more than 40 dead and dozens badly injured.

“Nothing should be taken at face value when we see the distorting of facts,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. “What is clear is that the former regime is using the event to justify an increased level of repression.”

U.S. officials said they are trying to learn more about the activities of two U.S. citizens, as well as Goudreau. Answers will come only when Maduro’s “regime” has ended, the statement said.

The two ex-U.S. soldiers were detained Monday dozens of miles from the attempted beach landing in the fishing village of Chuao. Goudreau has previously said the operation was designed to capture — but not kill — Maduro. He said he carried it out after signing an agreement with U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who Goudreau accuses of failing to pay him.

Goudreau, 43, did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press.