Despite setbacks last week, top Trump administration officials on Sunday said they’re sure socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ultimately will be driven from power and the country will have its “democracy restored.”
“These things sometimes take time,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
“We know it’s going to happen,” he said.
The U.S. and allies across the hemisphere recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful president and have urged Mr. Maduro to resign peacefully. Mr. Guaido last week called for a national uprising aimed at forcing Mr. Maduro out of office, and there were widespread reports that top Venezuelan military officials and other power brokers inside the country were prepared to turn on the incumbent and back Mr. Guaido.
In fact, U.S. officials have even said Mr. Maduro was prepared to flee to Cuba but was talked out of leaving by the Russians.
But Mr. Maduro hung on throughout the week and remains in control of the country.
Still, Mr. Pompeo argued that the country has come a long way since the U.S. formally recognized Mr. Guaido and that it’s only a matter of time until the opposition leader officially assumes power in Caracas.
“If you think about where this country was 90 days ago, the Venezuelan people should be very proud,” Mr. Pompeo said. “They’re much closer to having democracy restored and having their country back on the right track than they were 90 days ago.”
“I couldn’t tell you what day, but it’s going to happen,” he said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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