“Donald Trump is going to overthrow Maduro” - US Senator Graham

Senator Lindsey Graham said that US President Donald Trump will create conditions for the overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The South Carolina Republican said this on Fox News:

“Donald Trump is going to overthrow Maduro. Everyone was talking about how bad Maduro was. He will fall. He is a narco-terrorist, a drug trafficker, an illegitimate president, and Trump will create the conditions that will lead to his downfall.”

According to Graham, Venezuela is “a narco-terrorist state run by Maduro that has ties to Iran.” The senator specifically noted Trump's decision to strike ships transporting drugs from Venezuela, and added that the United States will now pursue not only the ships themselves, but also those who load them, as well as the country that provides refuge to “narco-terrorists running drug cartels.” Fox News host Sean Hannity recalled that Graham had previously discussed with Trump the possibility of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado coming to power in Venezuela.

Last week, Trump publicly confirmed reports that the Venezuelan leader had approached the United States with several proposals to ease tensions. Trump said on television:

“He offered everything. He offered everything, you're right. Do you know why? Because he doesn't want to get involved with the United States."

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been rising over the past few weeks. The United States is threatening Maduro and has already carried out a number of strikes against ships it claims are transporting drugs from Venezuela.