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Trump repeatedly suggested that US should invade Venezuela - report

A top US official told The Associated Press that the President made the suggestion at a meeting in August.

Trump Evan Vucci via PA Images Evan Vucci via PA Images

AS A MEETING last August in the Oval Office to discuss sanctions on Venezuela was concluding, President Donald Trump turned to his top aides and asked, why can’t the US invade the politically unstable Venezuela?

The suggestion stunned those present at the meeting, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser HR McMaster, both of whom have since left the administration.

This account of the previously undisclosed conversation comes from a senior administration official familiar with what was said.

In an exchange that lasted around five minutes, McMaster and others took turns explaining to Trump how military action could backfire and risk losing hard-won support among Latin American governments to punish President Nicolas Maduro for taking Venezuela down the path of dictatorship, according to the official.

Colombia: Venezuelan Opposition Protest in Bogota SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

But Trump pushed back. Although he gave no indication he was about to order up military plans, he pointed to what he considered past cases of successful gunboat diplomacy in the region, according to the official, like the invasions of Panama and Grenada in the 1980s.

The idea, despite his aides’ best attempts to shoot it down, would nonetheless persist in the president’s head.

The next day, on 11 August, Trump alarmed friends and foes alike with talk of a “military option” to remove Maduro from power.

New York Times New York Times New York Times

The public remarks were initially dismissed in US policy circles as the sort of martial bluster people have come to expect from the reality TV star turned commander in chief.

But shortly afterward, he raised the issue with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, according to the US official. Two high-ranking Colombian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid antagonising Trump confirmed the report.

Then in September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump discussed it again, this time at greater length, in a private dinner with leaders from four Latin American allies that included Santos, the same three people said and Politico reported in February.

The US official said Trump was specifically briefed not to raise the issue and told it wouldn’t play well, but the first thing the president said at the dinner was, “My staff told me not to say this”.

Trump then went around asking each leader if they were sure they didn’t want a military solution, according to the official, who added that each leader told Trump in clear terms they were sure.

Eventually, McMaster would pull aside the president and walk him through the dangers of an invasion, the official said.

UPI 20170516 National Security Advisor HR McMaster. UPI / PA Images UPI / PA Images / PA Images

The White House declined to comment on the private conversations.

But a National Security Council spokesman reiterated that the US will consider all options at its disposal to help restore Venezuela’s democracy and bring stability.

Under Trump’s leadership, the US, Canada and European Union have levied sanctions on dozens of top Venezuelan officials, including Maduro himself, over allegations of corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses. The US has also distributed more than $30 million (around €25.7 million) to help Venezuela’s neighbours absorb an influx of more than 1 million migrants who have fled the country.

For Maduro, who has long claimed that the US has military designs on Venezuela and its vast oil reserves, Trump’s bellicose talk provided the unpopular leader with an immediate if short-lived boost as he was trying to escape blame for widespread food shortages and hyperinflation.

Within days of the president’s talk of a military option, Maduro filled the streets of Caracas with loyalists to condemn “Emperor” Trump’s belligerence, ordered up nationwide military exercises and threatened with arrest opponents he said were plotting his overthrow with the US.

VENEZUELA-CARACAS-PRESIDENT-PARDON PROPOSAL Xinhua News Agency / PA Images Xinhua News Agency / PA Images / PA Images

“Mind your own business and solve your own problems, Mr Trump!” thundered Nicolas Maduro, the president’s son, at the government-stacked constituent assembly.

“If Venezuela were attacked, the rifles will arrive in New York, Mr Trump,” the younger Maduro said. “We will take the White House.”

Even some of the staunchest US allies were begrudgingly forced to side with Maduro in condemning Trump’s sabre rattling. Santos, a big backer of US attempts to isolate Maduro, said an invasion would have zero support in the region.

The Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Brazil and Argentina, issued a statement saying “the only acceptable means of promoting democracy are dialogue and diplomacy” and repudiating “any option that implies the use of force”.

But among Venezuela’s beleaguered opposition movement, hostility to the idea of a military intervention has slowly eased.

A few weeks after Trump’s public comments, Harvard economics professor Ricardo Hausmann, a former Venezuelan planning minister, wrote a syndicated column titled “D Day Venezuela,” in which he called for a “coalition of the willing” made up of regional powers and the US to step in and support militarily a government appointed by the opposition-led national assembly.

Mark Feierstein, who oversaw Latin America on the National Security Council during the Obama administration, said that strident US action on Venezuela, however commendable, won’t loosen Maduro’s grip on power if it’s not accompanied by pressure from the streets.

However, he thinks Venezuelans have largely been demoralised after a crackdown on protests last year triggered dozens of deaths, and the threat of more repression has forced dozens of opposition leaders into exile.

“People inside and outside the administration know they can ignore plenty of what Trump says,” Feierstein, who is now a senior adviser at the Albright Stonebridge Group, said of Trump’s talk of military invasion of Venezuela.

The concern is that it raised expectations among Venezuelans, many of whom are waiting for an external actor to save them.

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    Mute Ray James Franco Browne
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:54 PM

    In my bedroom/living room in front of my tv because I live in a bedsit. If I had a separate dining room I would eat there, just to have something different.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Ray James Franco Browne:

    That’s a bit like me. I usually have my breakfast in the breakfast room, my lunch in the sunroom and my dinner in the dining room. Our breakfast room is currently under refurbishment so I now have to eat my breakfast in the dining room! It’s like a madhouse at the moment! I’ve put Geoffrey on notice and told him that I don’t know how much longer I can put up with it

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:59 PM

    Usually have my dinner in the alley behind McDonald’s. You’d be surprised with how many perfectly good chicken mcnuggets they leave in the dumpsters back there.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:25 PM

    but how many “kitchen-eaters” have a telly in their kitchen or use their phone/tablet/laptop??

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:59 PM

    @Matt Connolly: ah but that’s not the question being asked .. that makes for a whole different poll .

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Aug 1st 2017, 7:41 PM

    @Matt Connolly: I don’t it’s a good time to talk with your family

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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:47 PM

    In the kitchen, in the middle of the day.

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    Mute Jamie
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:02 PM

    In the toilet

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    Mute Harry Corry
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:08 PM

    @Jamie: That’s not surprising Jamie. It’s been quite obvious from your comments that you dwell in a toilet. Most trolls do…

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    Mute George Salter
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:37 PM

    @Harry Corry: I thought trolls preferred under bridges? Or is The Billy Goats Gruff a myth like Santa?!

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    Mute mark kenny
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:10 PM

    @Harry Corry:

    Just a thought,but why do people reoly to trolls?

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    Mute mark kenny
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:18 PM

    @mark kenny:

    * reply

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    Mute @UK
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:27 PM

    What’s a dining room?
    In open plan living/kitchen areas most people probably eat at the table in front of the telly

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    Mute Spilt Pint
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    Jul 31st 2017, 10:21 PM

    @UK; When I was growing up in our house we only really used it at Christmas. It was a room with a long table, sideboard for the china & silverware and a service hatch through from the kitchen. No TV or distractions and very old-fashioned.

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jul 31st 2017, 12:59 PM

    Mind your own business it has nothing to do with you

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    Mute Sean Kelly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Alan Scott: I think your taking it a bit too literally. Its a poll. Don’t take it so seriously. For example I eat my dinner whilst on the jax in the middle of a cliffhanger. No need to be so aloof my friend…

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:14 PM

    @Sean Kelly: Just a bit of fun Sean on a Monday am. Don’t take me to seriously I am sorry to anyone who might have the same view as Sean. I will try and conduct myself on the next poll.

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:21 PM

    @Alan Scott: now I really do want to know where you eat your dinner.

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    Mute Gordon Hughes
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:21 PM

    In my mouth most of the time . But there is the occassional “10 second rule” applied to food that managed to hit the deck first

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:16 PM

    @Gordon Hughes: it’s a 5 second rule …

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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:31 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Not when you have a dog which makes it a split second rule.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:58 PM

    @Jho Harris: lol very true !

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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:40 PM

    @Jho Harris: well that’s just called ‘sharing’. But don’t let the dog get used to anything fancy. Don’t want them having notions because you dropped a bit of steak once!

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    Mute PaulOD
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:32 PM

    Off a plate

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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:05 PM

    Slow news day.

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    Mute Karl Bauer
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:33 PM

    I haven’t eaten dinner in about 4 years. Decent breakfast, Decent lunch, at most a cuppa with a bit of toast at dinner time.

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    Mute Don Juan
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:12 PM

    Standing up

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jul 31st 2017, 1:45 PM

    tomorrow. “When do you usually poop?

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:03 PM

    @Rui Firmino: Between 6:30 am and 7am. Before I have to leave for work.

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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Jul 31st 2017, 3:38 PM

    @Thomas Maher: not long after a coffee. Always greases the wheels.

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:40 PM

    @Thomas Maher: Me too!!

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    Mute Gerben Uunk
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    Jul 31st 2017, 2:48 PM

    Skipping dinner included too? Breakfast is most important meal of the day anyways. A healthy lifestyle vital ! Our mental body is in a constant Go-Go mode, but our
    physicial structure requires some rest too, and no foods are needed a small while before sleep, often its just so-called comfort eating.

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    Mute gerry fallon
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:43 PM

    On my lap!

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    Mute Danny Halpin
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:32 PM

    It should always be eaten in kitchen

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:24 PM

    In my mouth.

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    Mute Ronan Kealy
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    Jul 31st 2017, 6:10 PM

    On a plate.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:25 PM

    Don’t bother with dinner .

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Jul 31st 2017, 4:09 PM

    Off of a plate

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Aug 1st 2017, 4:19 AM

    In the attic with sandals and a crude candle

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    Mute Johanna Donohue
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    Jul 31st 2017, 9:46 PM

    In the bathroom

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jul 31st 2017, 7:40 PM

    On my penny farthing sashaying through dalkey

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    Mute Spilt Pint
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    Jul 31st 2017, 10:27 PM

    @Ken; I’d be curious to see someone sashay on a bike, it’s normally descriptive of walking/dancing.

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