nicholas madero says his forces have captured more than 100, quote, terrorist mercenaries including two american citizens. madero claims the group is looking to participate in a plot to kill him. madero waved two us passport across the cameras and accused donald trump of being involved in the plan. the two americans captured by madero's forces are luke denman and erin barry, they previously served as us special forces soldiers. the us justice department has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the venezuelan dictator, donald trump is denying any involvement in this recent operation. mark as per addressed the situation on tuesday. >> the united states government had nothing to do with what happened in venezuela the last few days. the view remains that madero is a brutal corrupt leader who oppress the people of venezuela, they deserve better and we will make the case that he should step aside. >> the parents of one of the americans captured described her son as not political, securing his release may serve to be extremely difficult. as we've seen in the

it is a tool of president nicholas madero and he is using our captured former special forces soldierss a propaganda tool right now and there's no evidence that they were at all linked with the us government but madero would like to portray them as such because he wants to brand his opposition, legitimate opposition has us puppets. >> you say this is a page out of castro's book. can you elaborate on that? >> far from being any elaborate crew attempt against madero, reportedly an effort by this roughly 60 venezuelans in two us special forces soldiers to take the airport and capture madero, very small incursion and what madero understands if he portrays it as something larger than he will whip up popular support, he knows he has been guilty of fraudulent elections and massive human rights violations in a country suffering from low oil prices and he believes this will give them a chance to direct the eye or of his population outward against the united states rather than where it should be directed which is against him. >> the interview claims the president hired them to do this thing. is

what is the latest. >> the trump administration has been very open that they want nicholas madero out of power but today multiple officials including the president himself shot down the idea that the us government had anything to do with this plot. >> we just heard about it. whatever it is we will you know but it has nothing to do with our government. [speaking spanish] >> translator: who are they fighting for? donald trump. it is as simple as that. >> madero is accusing two former green berets of playing rambo in a former incursion to remove him from office. venezuela officials claim six attackers were killed in a patented beach landings, security forces arrested 13 others including the two americans identified as aaron barry, a former green beret sissy orchestrated the entire botched mission from colombia working with former venezuelan soldiers who defected on his own and without any government support. their goal, he says, was to capture madero and free venezuela but a former navy seal who was not involved in the operation but spent two weeks providing the group basic medical train

jillian: a plan to kidnap nicholas madero. >> an insane story with 2 americans now captured, what the trump administration has to say about this cowboy quest. ♪ jillian: as we celebrate national nurses week, one young girl's song is inspiring frontline workers across the country including her mom. rob: "fox and friends first" continues right now. good morning, you are watching "fox and friends first" on wednesday morning. thanks for starting the day with us. changing course, donald trump indicating a white house task force may soon take a different form focusing on getting america back to work. >> a shocking report out of new york reveals hundreds of undisclosed death that nursing homes. jillian: what states are lifting restrictions today. >> great to see you. putting americans back to work. and making sure, without pushing doctors out. especially as vaccines become a bigger factor. when a comment from andrew cuomo, grabbing all the headlines. >> decisions on reopening are profound decisions. the fundamental question, how much is a human life worth. how much do you think a human life

in venezuela speaks out on state tv, luke desmond describing his role in an attempted coup on nicholas madero. he was speaking under duress in the edited video. venezuela is calling it a confession was he was detained there and very, former us special forces, they will be tried in a venezuelan civilian court, the us has denied any involvement. jordan goodrow who claimed responsibility for the failed mission is under federal investigation for arms trafficking. rob: family calling for rest in the deadly shooting of an unarmed black man in georgia. >> we demand the least we can ask at this moment that these men be arrested. rob: he was shot and killed by two men in february. the men say they thought he was a robber. his family says he was just out on a jog. video posted online shows him passing their truck on the road. his mother remembering her son. >> reporter: i saw my son come into the world and seeing him leave the world is not something i want to see ever. >> a terrible story, prosecutor recommending a grand jury review at this point, no charges and file. >> a massive swamp fire forces mor

rob: a wild story, venezuela detaining two americans among a group of mercenaries targeting nicholas madero. police arresting the group after foiling their betrayed plot the intention of which was to capture the socialist leader of that country. both americans are former us special forces soldiers we are told. a former green beret is claiming responsible for this botched operation saying he was working with those two to detain madero and, quote, liberate venezuela. madero blaming the attacks on the trump administration and colombia but both countries have denied any involvement. jillian: coronavirus outbreak from the us worship came from a counter drug operation according to defense secretary mark esper, the us this kid is currently docked in san diego to be cleaned after nearly 100 crewmembers tested positive for covid-19. the pentagon chief says the navy hospital ship mercy is expected to leave los angeles soon after bringing relief to hospitals overwhelmed by the virus. >> a miami beach park once again closing up, nearly 9000 people, listen to this, violated facemasks and social distanci

disputed venezuelan president nicholas madero says it was a band of mercenaries aiming to topple hisrove they have the americans in custody, the government tweeted out this photo showing their passports and military ideas and also posted this video of surrender, with the military helicopter buzzing overhead. according to the u.s. state department former green beret gordon goudreau who owns the private security firm silver corporation took responsibility for the incursion claiming a force of 60 venezuelans and two former green berets were involved. another american, a former navy seal who provided medical training for the group of resisters confirms that was to overthrow madero but he said within 5 minutes he thought the planning was poor and foolhardy. >> looking at the stuff they were telling me especially looking into silver corporation, i thought this is not legit. they were being misled by jordan goudreau and these other guys. >> venezuela blames columbia as well as the u.s. for being behind all of this and of course the u.s. and columbia deny it. >> ed: phil, thank you. sandra?