US President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that the United States last week “knocked out” a large plant as his administration ramps up regional pressure on Venezuela and leader Nicolas Maduro.

In a radio interview with supporter John Catsimatidis discussing the US’ military actions against drug trafficking in the region and tensions with Venezuela on Friday, Trump referred to a “big facility” being subjected to an American attack , stating that "they" had been hit “very hard.”

“But every time I knock out a boat, we save 25,000 American lives. It's very simple. And what's happening is they're having a hard time employment-wise, they can't get anybody."