Trump addressed speculation about upcoming U.S. strikes on military installations in Venezuela while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to the White House from his estate in Florida. When asked if he had plans to attack Venezuela, the president ridiculed the journalist who asked this question, claiming that if he had such plans, he would not say about them.
— How can I answer such a question? Who would say that? Assuming you did, would I tell you this honestly? “Yes, we have plans. We do. We have very secret plans.” What kind of question is this? – the US president complained. “We'll see what happens with Venezuela,” he added. He pointed out, among others, on the alleged involvement of the Venezuelan authorities in sending illegal immigrants to the USA, including prisoners and patients of psychiatric hospitals.
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What specific countries did Trump mention in the context of intervention?
What did Trump say about the situation of Christians in Nigeria?
What are the US military's plans for Venezuela?
Who is accused by Trump of killing Christians in Nigeria?
“They are killing Christians”
On Friday, when asked whether reports that he was considering strikes against Venezuela were true, the president replied that they were not. Earlier, however, he announced that the US would carry out attacks against drug cartels on land. The US considers the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, to be the head of one of the cartels and brings charges of this nature against him. According to the Wall Street Journal, the US military identified military bases that were to be used by the cartel to smuggle drugs.
Trump also addressed his previous threats of military intervention in Nigeria on Sunday. When asked whether he could send troops there or conduct air attacks, he replied that it could be.
– I predict many things. In Nigeria they are killing a record number of Christians, and in other countries it is also very bad. You know that things are very bad in this part of the world. They are killing Christians and in very large numbers. We will not allow this, he declared. Trump accuses the Nigerian authorities of allowing the killing of Christians by jihadist militias.
Earlier, Nigeria was again on the list of countries monitored by the US administration due to concerns about the scope of religious freedom. She was previously included on the list for the same reason during Trump's first presidential term. A year later, former Democratic President Joe Biden removed it.
A few weeks ago, US senator from the Republican Party, Ted Cruz, stated that there are “mass murders of Christians” in Nigeria and appealed to Congress to recognize this country as a state violating religious freedom.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the decision did not reflect the actual situation on the ground, the AP reported. Since 2010, the Nigerian authorities have been fighting the Islamist organization Boko Haram, whose militias have been terrorizing the northern and central parts of the country, trying to introduce Sharia law throughout Nigeria. It is estimated that of the country's approximately 240 million inhabitants, 53.5 percent are followers of Islam, and approximately 46 percent are Christians of various denominations.
