At a Glance
- Trump warns Venezuela’s interim president that she will face a “very big price” if she doesn’t act right.
- He hints at U.S. military strikes and calls for rebuilding Venezuela’s rotted infrastructure.
- Trump also signals interest in Greenland, sparking a diplomatic response from Denmark.
- Why it matters: The comments signal a potential escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela and raise concerns about regional stability.
After U.S. forces seized former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, President Trump has shifted from diplomatic tone to a stark warning to the country’s new interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez. His remarks come amid a tense debate over Venezuela’s legitimacy and the possibility of further U.S. military action.
Trump’s Dire Warning
Trump told The Atlantic that Rodríguez must do what is right or face a price “probably bigger than Maduro.” He followed up with a statement that the U.S. is “ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so.”
- Trump stated:
> “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”
- Trump added:
> “We’re rebuilding Venezuela. We have to rebuild their whole infrastructure. The infrastructure is rotted.”
- Trump said:
> “We’re ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so.”
Diplomatic Backlash and Greenland Ambitions
Rodríguez earlier praised Maduro as the sole president and called for his liberation, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the regime lacks legitimacy. Meanwhile, Trump hinted at acquiring Greenland, prompting Denmark’s ambassador to remind the U.S. of the importance of respecting Denmark’s territorial integrity.
- Marco Rubio said:
> “We don’t believe that this regime in place is legitimate via an election.”
- Marco Rubio added:
> “Ultimately, legitimacy for their system of government will come about through a period of transition and real elections, which they have not had.”
- Marco Rubio noted:
> “Conversations about a potential election in Venezuela would be premature.”
- Trump said about Greenland:
> “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”
- Denmark Ambassador wrote:
> “Just a friendly reminder about the US 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.”
- Katie Miller posted on X:
> “SOON”
- Trump earlier said:
> “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two, but I can say this: We need them for economic security.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s warning signals possible U.S. military escalation in Venezuela.
- The U.S. is calling for a rebuild of Venezuela’s infrastructure.
- Trump’s interest in Greenland has drawn a diplomatic response from Denmark.
The remarks underscore a sharp shift in U.S. strategy toward Venezuela and highlight growing tensions over regional influence and territorial ambitions.
