US SECRETARY of State Mike Pompeo has admitted that attempts to present a united front against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro were a facade for public consumption.

He was caught in a secret recording leaked by the Washington Post today saying that the “conundrum” of uniting the opposition had proved “devilishly difficult.” 

“Since the day I became CIA director, this was something that was at the centre of what President Trump was trying to do: we were trying to support various religious ... institutions to get the opposition to come together,” he said.

Washington has publicly backed the usurper Juan Guaido – who declared himself Venezuela’s interim president in January – in its failing attempts to oust the democratically elected government of Mr Maduro.

However, Mr Guaido has failed to garner support inside the country with the people and the armed forces remaining loyal to Mr Maduro.  

“You should know, [Maduro] is mostly surrounded by Cubans. He doesn’t trust Venezuelans a lick. I don’t blame him. He shouldn’t. They were all plotting against him. Sadly, they were all plotting for themselves,” he said.

Washington has yet to comment on the leaked recording.