On the 4th, U.S. President Trump warned that if Venezuela’s interim leader Rodriguez does not cooperate with the U.S., she will 'pay a heavy price.'
In a phone interview with The Atlantic Monthly, he said: 'If she doesn’t do the right thing, she will pay a heavy price, possibly even worse than Maduro.'
Rodriguez has already been confirmed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military as interim president.
Trump told The Atlantic: 'Whether it's rebuilding or regime change—call it whatever you want—it’s better than the current situation. As for Venezuela, rebuilding is not a bad thing. The country is completely rotten, it’s a total failure, a disaster in every aspect.'
When asked what message U.S. military actions in Venezuela send to Greenland, Trump said: 'They have to figure it out for themselves, I honestly don’t know… But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.'
Cuba on the Brink of Collapse
In addition, on the 4th aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that the U.S. has 'taken control' of Venezuela and is now negotiating with the country’s newly established transitional leadership.
He said: 'We are dealing with those who have just been sworn in. Don’t ask me who is in charge, because if I answered, it would be very controversial.'
When pressed for clarification, Trump said bluntly: 'It means we’re in control.'
Regarding Cuba, Trump stated that the U.S. likely does not need to intervene militarily, because it 'looks like it is ready to collapse on its own.'
He said that during the capture of Maduro, some Cuban personnel responsible for Maduro’s security had been killed. 'You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday… There was unfortunately a large number of deaths on the other side.'
When asked whether the U.S. would take action against Colombia, Trump replied: 'Sounds good.'
If Venezuelan Leadership Acts Rightly, U.S. Willing to Cooperate
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that if Venezuela’s current leadership makes the 'right decision,' the U.S. is ready to work with them.
He said: 'We will judge according to their actions, and see what they do. I’m very clear: if they don’t make the right decision, the U.S. reserves several checks and balances.'