Donald Trump repeatedly raised the possibility of a US invasion of Venezuela in meetings with top aides, according to a new report from the Associated Press. The president's private musings on the subject were far more extensive than his public comments, which included a threat of a 'military option' last August.
The report details an Oval Office meeting in August 2017 where Trump stunned officials, including then-national security adviser HR McMaster and secretary of state Rex Tillerson, by asking why the US could not intervene to remove the government of Nicolás Maduro. Both men have since left the administration.
Aides took turns trying to talk Trump out of the idea, arguing that military action would alienate Latin American allies who had backed US sanctions on the Maduro regime. Despite their efforts, Trump went public the next day, stating there were 'many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary.'
The White House later refused to take a call from Maduro, whose defence minister branded Trump's threat an 'act of craziness'. In the following weeks, Trump raised the invasion idea with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and again at a private dinner with Latin American allies during the UN General Assembly in September 2017.
At that dinner, Trump ignored his aides' advice, saying, 'My staff told me not to say this,' before asking each leader if they were sure they opposed a military solution. McMaster eventually convinced Trump of the dangers, and the president's interest subsided.
The report highlights Trump's erratic approach to military intervention, contrasting his threats against Venezuela and North Korea with his desire to withdraw troops from Syria and Europe.
