Comment by Terr_

P.S.: In that scenario, it's quite possible for both groups of conspirators to benefit from denying it and saber-rattling:

* The (remaining) Venezuelan government gets to point to Big Evil America to unify (or crack-down-upon) an unhappy public, and they avoid being personally tarred as unpatriotic.

* Trump et al. get to "wag the dog" as distraction from crimes and mismanagement back home.