Trump Says Venezuela Is “Not Yet Ready” for New Elections

Donald Trump says Venezuela should hold elections, but not yet. After the U.S. military detained Nicolás Maduro in January and declared his dictatorship over, Trump now says the country is still unprepared for a vote.

“

I simply don’t think they’re ready for it yet.

“I simply don’t think they’re ready for it yet,” Trump said. “We freed them from a dictatorship, and we’re getting along great with the government.” He added: “We want that. And they want that too,” referring to possible elections.

Maduro was arrested during a U.S. military operation and flown to the United States. He is being held in New York, where he is due to face trial on charges of “drug terrorism.” Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president and close ally, succeeded him as interim president.

“

We freed them from a dictatorship, and we’re getting along great with the government.

Rodríguez has also said she supports elections in principle. Her government signed an oil agreement with Washington only days ago. The deal is intended to give the United States control over about one-fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves, although its details have not been disclosed. Some observers have warned that the arrangement could disadvantage Venezuela, while Rodríguez has insisted that the country retains full “sovereignty over its resources.”

“

We want that. And they want that too.

The United States has not involved María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s most prominent opposition politician, in government-opposition talks it helped mediate. Machado had sought to assume power after Maduro’s detention. Her relationship with Trump may also have been affected by the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received after Trump had claimed he deserved it. During a January White House meeting, Machado gave Trump her Nobel medal as a symbolic gesture of recognition.

“

sovereignty over its resources