Trump says Venezuela must restore 'law and order' before elections after Nicolas Maduro's arrest

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump stated that Venezuela must first return to 'law and order' and restore economic discipline before any discussion of elections can occur. His remarks followed a operation that ended with the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.

Trump said the US would temporarily take charge of the country until a judicial transition is completed. He said, “We want peace, liberty and justice.” "We should run the country properly."

In an interview on Sunday, January 4, Trump dismissed questions about supporting opposition figures. This included opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. He said no current figure has the public backing required to govern. “I don’t think she’s got the support of the people that she has to have,” Trump said. “That’s all.”

Trump says fixing Venezuela’s economy must come before any elections 

Donald Trump said the US must help restore 'law and order' in Venezuela before elections can even be considered. He argued that the country’s deep economic and social collapse makes voting less important right now, as per the New York Post.

The president also stated that he is not concerned that the situation in Venezuela could escalate into a conflict for the nation. He said it would not repeat the kind of prolonged involvement seen in Iraq or Afghanistan.

When asked whether he would support opposition leader Maria Corina Machado if she won an election, Trump did not give a clear commitment. He said Venezuela’s current condition means elections are not the main priority.

“We should run the country properly,” Trump said. “We should run the country with law and order. We should run the country where we can take advantage of the economics of what they have, which is valuable oil and valuable other things.”

Trump added that Maria Corina Machado could not succeed politically without his backing. “She could only win an election if I did support her. But I like her very much. He also warned that Venezuela’s economy is close to total collapse after years of socialist control. The country is ready to be, it’s literally become a third-world country ready to fail,” he said.

He issued a warning to Delcy Rodriguez, saying she must follow US demands. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” he told The Atlantic.

US engages with Venezuelan leadership as officials urge calm and stability 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke directly with Delcy Rodríguez during ongoing discussions about Venezuela’s leadership crisis. According to Trump, Rodriguez signaled her willingness to cooperate with Washington.

“The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, spoke to Rodríguez, who told him ‘we’ll do whatever you need’,” Trump said. He added, “She, I think, was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice.”

In Caracas, senior government officials and military leaders demanded the return of Nicholas Maduro. At the same time, they expressed support for Rodriguez as a temporary leader. They also urged the country to move forward and restore stability.

On the other hand, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez addressed the nation on television. He called on citizens to return to their normal routines in the coming days. "I call on the people of Venezuela to resume their activities of all kinds, economic, work and education, in the coming days."