In a recent interview with NBC News, U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that Venezuela will not see elections in the immediate future. “First, we have to fix the country,” Trump stated, grappling with the harsh reality that, for now, Venezuelans are unable to exercise their right to vote.
The president emphasized that the road to recovery will be a long one. “No, it will take more time. We have to nurse the country back to good health,” he elaborated, underscoring the complexity of the situation.
In exploring potential solutions, Trump indicated that the U.S. may consider subsidizing oil companies as part of efforts to rebuild Venezuela’s devastated infrastructure. He confidently suggested that such an initiative could be accomplished in less than 18 months. “I think we can get it done in less time, but it will require a substantial amount of money,” he explained. “An enormous amount of investment is essential, with oil companies using those funds, and we will reimburse them either directly or through turnover.”
Further clarifying the United States’ position, the president asserted that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela and reiterated that he wouldn’t necessarily need Congressional authorization to redeploy troops to the country if he deemed it necessary.
In the course of the 20-minute segment, Trump outlined a team of key figures spearheading the U.S. response to the crisis in Venezuela. This group includes notable names such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. “It’s a coalition of expertise,” he noted, reflecting on the diverse skills within his team.
Yet when it came to pinpointing who holds ultimate responsibility for decisions regarding Venezuela, Trump’s response was succinct: “Me.”
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