President Donald Trump on Friday weighed in on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s attempts to temper American wrath amid U.S. strikes on several alleged drug trafficking vessels that are suspected to have originated from the South American leader’s country.
Recently, Maduro said he wants “peace” with the United States, amid reports that President Trump has authorized CIA operations inside his country to halt narco-terrorist operations. And, according to a report from The New York Times, Maduro recently offered the United States Venezuelan oil and other natural resources to avoid further conflict.
President Trump seemed to confirm that Maduro did indeed make such an offer on Friday, when a reporter in the White House asked about this report.
“He has offered everything, you’re right,” President Trump. “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”
This was the president’s final comment of Friday’s meeting, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the Trump administration continues to work toward brokering a peaceful resolution between Ukraine and Russia in Eastern Europe.
President Trump’s remark elicited laughter from Vice President J.D. Vance, who looked on with amusement as reporters began clearing out of the room.
Before the president’s comment on Maduro, he was asked about CIA operations in Venezuela. “Some interesting things are happening around the world, I’ll say that,” he said.
To this point, the United States has authorized a handful of strikes against reported narco-terrorist vessels in the Caribbean, the most recent taking place just this week.
On Tuesday, the president ordered a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization” in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. This strike took place just off the coast of Venezuela, according to President Trump, and was confirmed to be transporting narcotics.
