Trump threatens another President, calls him sick man after arresting Maduro of Venezuela
Trump threatens another President, calls him sick man after arresting Maduro of Venezuela
President Donald Trump issued fresh warnings to governments across the Western Hemisphere over the trafficking of illegal drugs into the United States, signaling that his administration’s patience is running out.
Speaking a day after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and transferred him to the United States for trial, Trump said Washington would now press other countries he accuses of enabling the drug trade.
While speaking to reporters Sunday night aboard Air Force One, he singled out Colombia and its president, Gustavo Petro.
“Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States and he’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you,” Trump said. Petro, who has often criticized Trump, condemned the raid that led to Maduro’s capture.
Trump has repeatedly blamed foreign governments for the steady flow of narcotics into the US and has backed his complaints with economic and military measures.
His administration imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada over fentanyl trafficking and authorized operations in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean that resulted in US forces striking and sinking vessels accused of transporting drugs.
Turning back to Venezuela, Trump argued that the crackdown would also undermine Cuba, a close ally of Caracas, by cutting off financial support.
He said “a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday” during the US operation in and around the Venezuelan capital, noting that Cuban troops support Venezuela’s military.
“Cuba looks like it is ready to fall,” Trump said, citing the island’s fragile economy but offering no further evidence.
“I don’t think we need any action.”
Trump adopted a more measured tone when discussing Mexico, despite calling it one of the region’s most significant drug-trafficking corridors.
He has maintained a relatively cooperative relationship with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, even as he has urged stronger action against criminal groups.
“Mexico has to get their act together, because they’re pouring through Mexico. And we’re going to have to do something,” Trump said. He added that he has repeatedly proposed using the US military to “clean up” the problem, an offer Sheinbaum has publicly rejected.
“We’d love Mexico to do it. They’re capable of doing it,” Trump said.
“But unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico.”
