Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said he would deploy 4.5 million militia members in response to the Trump administration raising the bounty on his head.

Earlier this month, the United States doubled the bounty on Maduro to $50 million over his alleged support for drug cartels. Accusing the U.S. of renewing "extravagant, bizarre, and outlandish threats," Maduro announced the mobilization of the militia members to protect Venezuela.

"This week, I will activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory — militias that are prepared, activated, and armed," he said in an address on state television.

Maduro urged his supporters to create more rural and industrial militias to protect against perceived threats from

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