Trump issues new threat to interim leader of Venezuela

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, telling The Atlantic that “if she doesn’t do the right thing, she’s going to pay a very heavy price, probably higher than Maduro.”

Rodríguez had served as Venezuela’s vice president under President Nicolás Maduro, and the country’s Supreme Court said she would immediately assume the role of interim president after U.S. forces captured Maduro and brought him to the United States.

Trump’s comments mark a change in rhetoric from the day before, when he told reporters that Rodríguez had a “kind” conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“She had a long conversation with Marco and she said, ‘We’ll do whatever you need,'” Trump told reporters Saturday. “I think she’s been very gracious, but she really has no choice. We’re going to make this right.”

However, later on Saturday, Rodríguez said Maduro was “the only president of Venezuela” and called for his “immediate release.”

Rubio said in an interview on ABC News’ “This Week” that “we don’t believe this regime in place is legitimate through an election.”

“Ultimately, the legitimacy of their system of government will come through a period of transition and real elections, which they did not have,” he later added.

During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Rubio said conversations about possible elections in Venezuela would be “premature.”

Trump hinted Saturday at the possibility of future U.S. military strikes in Venezuela, telling reporters at the press briefing that the United States is “prepared to mount a second, much larger attack if we need to.”

Trump also said during the briefing that “we are rebuilding” Venezuela, adding: “We have to rebuild their entire infrastructure. The infrastructure is rotten. »

In the interview with The Atlantic, which the outlet said was conducted Sunday morning by telephone, Trump again referenced rebuilding the country.

“You know, the rebuilding there and the regime change, whatever you want to call it, is better than what you have right now,” he told The Atlantic. “It can’t be worse.”

The president also referenced his ambitions to see the United States control Greenland, which is part of NATO ally Denmark.

“We absolutely need Greenland,” he told journalist Michael Scherer. “We need it for defense.”

In the hours following the US military operation in Venezuela, Katie Miller, a right-wing podcast host and wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, also hinted at a new target in Greenland.

“SOON,” she wrote in a post on X with an image showing an American flag superimposed on a map of Greenland.

Jesper Møller Sørensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, responded to Miller’s post, writing: “Just a friendly reminder about the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark: we are close allies and should continue to work together as such. »

“And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he wrote at the end of the message.

Just under a year ago, before taking office, Trump refused to assure the public that he would not use military coercion against Greenland or Panama.

“No, I can’t guarantee either one, but I can say this: We need it for economic security,” he said at the time in response to a reporter’s question.