{"id":8510,"date":"2025-12-22T04:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T04:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/12\/22\/trump-administration-latest-us-moves-to-intercept-third-vessel-near-venezuela-cnn\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T04:49:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T04:49:09","slug":"trump-administration-latest-us-moves-to-intercept-third-vessel-near-venezuela-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/12\/22\/trump-administration-latest-us-moves-to-intercept-third-vessel-near-venezuela-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump administration latest: US moves to intercept third vessel near Venezuela – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Eric Farnsworth, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, speaks with Fredricka Whitfield on U.S. targeting Venezuelan vessels, escalating pressure on Maduro.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:40″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/screenshot-2025-12-21-at-3-37-00-pm.png?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/screenshot-2025-12-21-at-3-37-00-pm.png?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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Updated 11:06 PM EST, Sun December 21, 2025 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-12-21T08:50:04.627Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”u-s-seizes-2nd-venezuelan-vessel-122101aseg1-cnni-us-fast” data-first-publish-slug=”u-s-seizes-2nd-venezuelan-vessel-122101aseg1-cnni-us-fast” data-video-tags=”cnni-fast” data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details data-track-zone=”top” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom” data-tabcontent=”Content”> <\/p>\n

Eric Farnsworth, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, speaks with Fredricka Whitfield on U.S. targeting Venezuelan vessels, escalating pressure on Maduro.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-12-21T08:50:04.627Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”u-s-seizes-2nd-venezuelan-vessel-122101aseg1-cnni-us-fast” data-first-publish-slug=”u-s-seizes-2nd-venezuelan-vessel-122101aseg1-cnni-us-fast” data-video-tags=”cnni-fast”> \"Screenshot<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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senior associate at Center for Strategic and International Studies, speaks with CNN on U.S. targeting Venezuelan vessels <\/p>\n

02:40 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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senior associate at Center for Strategic and International Studies, speaks with CNN on U.S. targeting Venezuelan vessels<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

02:40 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2022 Venezuela tensions: <\/strong>US personnel are pursuing a vessel<\/a> in international waters near Venezuela after attempting to intercept it, a US official said, making it the second ship targeted this weekend<\/a> as Washington increases pressure on the country\u2019s leader, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Epstein files: <\/strong>Meanwhile, the Justice Department says it will continue to review and redact materials<\/a> from the thousands of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation released since Friday to \u201cprotect victims.\u201d At least 16 files<\/a> that were released Friday appeared to have been removed from the website as of this morning \u2014 although at least one of them, a photo containing an image of President Donald Trump, has been restored<\/a> to the database. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Governor named Greenland envoy: <\/strong>Trump said he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry<\/a> as special envoy to Greenland. Trump has previously floated buying or annexing the island, which is seen as key for US security<\/a> and is rich in rare earth minerals. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Our live coverage has ended. Get the latest on the US pursuit of a vessel near Venezuela <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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\"Louisiana<\/picture> <\/div>\n

President Donald Trump said Sunday night he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland. <\/p>\n

Trump wrote on social media<\/a> that the Louisiana Republican \u201cunderstands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country\u2019s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.\u201d <\/p>\n

It is unclear whether Landry, who became governor in 2024, would have to step down for the special envoy position. CNN has reached out to the White House and Landry\u2019s office for additional details on the appointment. <\/p>\n

The president first expressed interest in buying Greenland from the Danish government during his first term<\/a>. The island, which sits between Europe and the United States, has long been seen as key for US security<\/a>, especially to repel a potential attack from Russia, and is rich in rare earth minerals. <\/p>\n

In his second term, Trump has floated annexing Greenland, saying in May<\/a>, \u201cI don\u2019t rule it out.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need Greenland very badly,\u201d Trump said at the time. \u201cGreenland is a very small amount of people, which we\u2019ll take care of, and we\u2019ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s remarks, along with Vice President JD Vance\u2019s trip to the island<\/a> in March, rankled Greenland and Denmark in equal measure. <\/p>\n

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance<\/a>. In 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law, but Denmark still controls security, defense, foreign and monetary policy. Greenland also benefits from Denmark\u2019s European Union and NATO memberships. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Vice President JD Vance said in an interview posted Sunday that Nick Fuentes \u2014 who has disparaged Vance\u2019s wife \u2014 could \u201ceat sh*t,\u201d but that the White nationalist podcaster\u2019s influence on conservatives is overstated. <\/p>\n

\u201cLet me be clear. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat sh*t,\u201d he said, referring to the former Biden White House press secretary. \u201cThat\u2019s my official policy as vice president of the United States.\u201d <\/p>\n

Yet he characterized Fuentes as mostly powerless, with little sway on the right, despite his growing audience. Instead, Vance said the focus should be on liberals who advocate for affirmative action policies that he said had disadvantaged White men. <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s keep some perspective. For the past five to 10 years, I\u2019ve watched one-half of our political leadership go all in on the idea that discriminating against Whites in college admissions and jobs is not just OK, but affirmatively good,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

He said Fuentes\u2019 sway in the conservative movement had been overstated \u201cby people who want to avoid having a foreign-policy conversation about America\u2019s relationship with Israel.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some context: <\/strong>Vance made the comments amid a debate in conservative circles about whether to shun figures like Fuentes<\/a>. In a speech earlier Sunday at Turning Point USA\u2019s annual convention<\/a>, Vance came out against \u201cpurity tests\u201d and said he \u201cdidn\u2019t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump\u2019s top foreign envoy said Russia \u201cremains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine\u201d after concluding a weekend of talks with a top emissary <\/a>of President Vladimir Putin. <\/p>\n

US envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner, met in South Florida with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund and a Kremlin special envoy. <\/p>\n

The readout did not say whether any agreements were struck on ending the Ukraine war. Witkoff and Kushner have been working to refine a multi-point plan that would bring the conflict to a close through US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine and land concessions. <\/p>\n

The US team held separate meetings this weekend in Florida with a delegation from Ukraine. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Russian<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Russia views changes made by Europe and Ukraine to US proposals for an end to the war in Ukraine as largely \u201cunconstructive\u201d amid talks with the US, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told state media VGTRK on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, who is in Miami for meetings with the US delegation, received signals from Americans that have been conveyed by European and Ukrainian officials, Ushakov said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe will discuss all of this here and see what we can accept and what we categorically can\u2019t,\u201d Ushakov added. <\/p>\n

Ushakov said Dmitriev has shared some preliminary information about the talks, but Russian officials are waiting for his return, expected on Monday. <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that we will work out a position to move forward, including contacts with Americans,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Ukraine's<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Ukraine\u2019s delegation held \u201cproductive and constructive\u201d meetings with US and European negotiators over the weekend, Ukrainian National Security Secretary Rustem Umerov and US special envoy Steve Witkoff said today. <\/p>\n

\u201cUkraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace,\u201d Umerov and Witkoff said in a joint statement posted on X<\/a>. \u201cOur shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine\u2019s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity.\u201d <\/p>\n

The US and Ukrainian delegations met with European national security advisers before holding a separate US-Ukraine meeting. <\/p>\n

During the second meeting, the negotiators focused on developing the 20-point peace plan introduced by US President Donald Trump and a security guarantee framework for Ukraine, according to the statement. <\/p>\n

\u201cParticular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,\u201d the statement read. <\/p>\n

The statement noted that Ukraine \u201chighly values the leadership and support\u201d of the US. <\/p>\n

Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Florida on Saturday afternoon to meet with Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks on a possible end to the war in Ukraine. In an update later Saturday, Dmitriev said that talks were \u201cproceeding constructively.\u201d <\/p>\n

The US has not released a statement updating the status of the discussions with Dmitriev. <\/p>\n

This latest round of talks follow a previous meeting<\/a> between negotiators that was held in Florida earlier this month. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The US is pursuing a vessel<\/a> in international waters near Venezuela on Sunday after attempting to intercept it, a US official said, as President Donald Trump\u2019s administration tightens its crackdown<\/a> on the country\u2019s oil industry. <\/p>\n

The tanker, called Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to pick up oil. It is under US sanctions for links to Iranian oil. American officials view it as part of the shadow fleet that transports oil from sanctioned nations, and a warrant had been issued for its seizure. <\/p>\n

When US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board the ship, however, the vessel kept sailing, the official said, leading to the pursuit. <\/p>\n

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela\u2019s illegal sanctions evasion,\u201d a second US official said. \u201cIt is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.\u201d <\/p>\n

It was the second operation<\/a> in the same number of days meant to interdict tankers tied to Venezuelan oil. On Saturday, the US Coast Guard intercepted the Centuries tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"This<\/picture> <\/div>\n

The Justice Department says a photograph containing an image of President Donald Trump that was removed<\/a> from its Epstein files library has been restored to the online database. <\/p>\n

The image shows a desk drawer with several photographs, including one that shows Trump, Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and others. It was released late Friday as part of the Justice Department\u2019s dump of documents related to Epstein. <\/p>\n

The image disappeared from the website Saturday. In a statement posted to X on Sunday, the Justice Department said it was removed while the agency ascertained whether more needed to be redacted to protect victims. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims. Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review,\u201d the statement read. <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction,\u201d it went on. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"U.S.<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Speaking at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest in Phoenix today, Vice President JD Vance suggested \u201cmore prosecutions\u201d could come from the administration with support from conservatives. <\/p>\n

Trump has used his second term to target his political enemies, including unsuccessful attempts to indict former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. <\/p>\n

Trump has also publicly groused about the rate of judicial confirmations during his administration, calling on the Senate to abolish the \u201cblue-slip\u201d tradition that allows senators to block confirmations of judicial nominees in their home states. <\/p>\n

Vance also looked ahead to the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race, blasting Democratic candidates, including possible presidential hopefuls former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with Senate candidates Graham Platner of Maine and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas. <\/p>\n

\u201cAsk yourself, what do all of these people have in common? And the unfortunate answer is they are puppets \u2014 they don\u2019t actually matter,\u201d Vance said. \u201cThey are cogs in a machine that wants to make you poor, that wants to make you less powerful, and wants to make you less safe in the country your ancestors built.\u201d <\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cAnd you know what else unites them? We are going to kick their ass next November, and every year after that.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Vice President JD Vance addressed Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest<\/a> in Phoenix on Sunday, appealing to young conservatives to come together, even as cracks have begun to show in President Donald Trump\u2019s coalition of supporters. <\/p>\n

As conservatives have descended on Phoenix for the weekend\u2019s programming, division in their movement has been on full display, with some speakers condemning what they describe as an increasingly vocal corner of the MAGA movement that is willing to engage in racist and antisemitic rhetoric. <\/p>\n

On Friday, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told the audience, \u201cIf you believe in normalizing hatred towards any ethnic group, towards Whites, towards Blacks, towards Hispanics, towards Jews, towards Indians, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.\u201d <\/p>\n

For his part, Vance did not condemn racist rhetoric from his party, saying, \u201cI didn\u2019t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform. And I don\u2019t really care if some people out there \u2014 I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll have the fake news media \u2014 denounce me after this speech.\u201d <\/p>\n

Later in his speech, he urged supporters to remain emboldened despite Republican infighting. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know some of you are discouraged by the infighting over any number of issues \u2014 don\u2019t be discouraged,\u201d he said. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather lead a movement of free thinkers who sometimes disagree than a bunch of drones who take their orders from George Soros?\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Supporters<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Prominent Republicans appeared onstage Sunday at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest<\/a> conference, an annual gathering of young conservatives started by the late Charlie Kirk. <\/p>\n

Here are some highlights from today\u2019s speakers in Phoenix: <\/p>\n

House Speaker Mike Johnson <\/strong>voiced support for GOP Rep. Andy Biggs\u2019 effort to install a Kirk statue<\/a> in the United States Capitol. Johnson also urged the crowd to advance Kirk\u2019s principles and to \u201cadopt his approach.\u201d <\/p>\n

Donald Trump Jr. <\/strong>acknowledged the Trump administration has work to do when it comes to lowering prices, a key issue his father is wrestling with<\/a> as the country barrels toward next year\u2019s midterm elections. <\/p>\n

\u201cInflation is under control, but when you have compound interest on double-digit inflation for four years, those prices are still too high. We have to work on that. But it doesn\u2019t happen overnight,\u201d the president\u2019s eldest son said. <\/p>\n

He also advocated for unity in Trump\u2019s political movement, touching broadly on the tensions among prominent conservative influencers in the aftermath of Kirk\u2019s death, including at AmericaFest, where Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson clashed on Thursday<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat binds us together, what matters more than the disagreements, is the ability to have that discourse,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Erika Kirk<\/strong>, the CEO of Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk\u2019s widow, had an onstage discussion with surprise guest Nicki Minaj<\/a>, who praised the president. <\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie would always say it really does not take skill to be courageous, it takes a choice,\u201d Erika Kirk told Minaj. \u201cIt takes a decision. \u2026 I want to say again, thank you for coming and being courageous and being able to share your heart with us.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The US was pursuing a vessel in international waters near Venezuela after attempting to intercept it, a US official said, as President Donald Trump\u2019s administration tightens its crackdown on the country\u2019s oil industry. <\/p>\n

The tanker, called Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to pick up oil. It is currently under US sanctions for links to Iranian oil. American officials view it as part of the shadow fleet that transports oil from sanctioned nations, and there was a warrant issued for its seizure. <\/p>\n

When US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board the ship, however, the vessel kept sailing, the official said. <\/p>\n

The status of the pursuit remains unclear. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Erika<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance Sunday at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest conference<\/a> in Phoenix, appearing in a conversation onstage with the conservative group\u2019s CEO, Erika Kirk, and heaping praise on the president. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s from Queens, New York, like me,\u201d she added. \u201cWhat it\u2019s shown me personally is sometimes even in the worst-feeling times in your life, you think that you\u2019re never going to come back from it. But you do.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Nicki<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Minaj also praised Vice President JD Vance, who was set to speak after her at the conference, by saying that both Vance and President Donald Trump have \u201ca very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.\u201d <\/p>\n

She also read some of her own social media posts about California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Kirk asked her to riff about the potential presidential candidate. <\/p>\n

\u201cDear Newscum, we don\u2019t have a problem cleaning up the scum if we have to. Please tread lightly,\u201d Minaj said. <\/p>\n

Some background: <\/strong>Sunday was not the rapper\u2019s first foray into politics. Minaj, who has offered her admiration for Trump before, spoke last month at an event in New York to draw attention to what some are saying is the plight of Christians<\/a> in Nigeria. At that event, she was introduced by the president\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, and thanked both Waltz and Trump. <\/p>\n

Rapper Nicki Minaj appeared as a special guest at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest conference, where she spoke with the organization\u2019s CEO, Erika Kirk, about the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”00:57″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/115962-minajtrumpdigvidclean-00-00-00-00-still001.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/115962-minajtrumpdigvidclean-00-00-00-00-still001.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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By Ileya Robinson-Williams<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 11:06 PM EST, Sun December 21, 2025 <\/div>\n

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Rapper Nicki Minaj appeared as a special guest at Turning Point USA\u2019s AmericaFest conference, where she spoke with the organization\u2019s CEO, Erika Kirk, about the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2025-12-22T01:02:25.646Z” data-video-section=”entertainment” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/12\/21\/entertainment\/video\/minaj-trump-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”minaj-trump-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”minaj-trump-digvid” data-video-tags> \"115962_MinajTrumpdigvidclean.00_00_00_00.Still001.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Rapper Nicki Minaj praises Trump in surprise Turning Point conference appearance <\/p>\n

00:57 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Rapper Nicki Minaj praises Trump in surprise Turning Point conference appearance<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

00:57 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate as US personnel are working to intercept another vessel near Venezuela today, a US official said. <\/p>\n

This is the second ship targeted this weekend as Washington increases pressure on leader Nicolas Maduro. On Saturday, personnel from the US boarded and seized a vessel<\/a> off the coast of Venezuela, according to an official familiar with the matter. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what some Republican senators are saying about the situation:<\/em> <\/p>\n

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