NEW YORK. – In an explosive interview with the American media company Politico, the president said Donald Trump returned Challenge your historic alliesdictated to him own reading of the war in Ukraine And left the door open for military action in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. In addition, he claimed his worldwide influence, cited Javier Milei and the Argentine parliamentary elections as an example of his “winning support” and reiterated that NATO only works if he controls it.
The North American president described Europe as A number of countries “in decline” led by “weak” leadersin a conversation in which he again questioned Washington’s historic allies about their question Inability to stop migration and end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He also assumed that he would not hesitate to support European leaders who share his own vision of the continent’s future.
These comments, indirectly but forcefully aimed at major European capitals, represent his most aggressive criticism yet of Western democracies and heighten the risk of a break with countries such as France and Germany, whose relations with the Trump administration are already going through a period of high tension.
The dialogue shows the president’s vision of order Internationally in collapse and his self-ascribed role as Architect of global stability.
In a passage intended to demonstrate his ability to influence election results, Trump mentioned Argentine President Javier Milei.
“He was losing, I supported him and he won by a big margin.“, he explained and placed him next to the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, as leaders who followed their vision of “resistance” against traditional political elites.
His reference to Milei is part of a strategic message: Trump wants to present himself as a key figure in the global advance of a new rightalso outside Europe or the United States.
Despite the domestic political turmoil and criticism of his economic diagnosis, Trump described himself in the interview as an indispensable international reference. “I have solved many wars. That would actually have been the easiest thing“, he assured about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Between attacks on former President Joe Biden, questions about Zelensky, warnings to Europe and veiled threats against Venezuela, the narrative that Trump is promoting upon his return to power emerged in the interview: a world divided between strong and weak leaders, where he positions himself as the only figure capable of restoring a global order that, according to his vision, is collapsing.
The American President emphasized this Russia has an “advantage” in war. in Ukraine and maintained a stronger negotiating position because of its skills and position on the ground as contacts sought to reach an agreement to end the invasion unleashed nearly four years ago.
Trump dismissed any ambiguity about the military balance in the war. “There is no doubt: Russia holds the strongest position. It’s a much bigger country” he said, arguing that Ukraine is “losing territory” and that “at some point size plays a role.”
Additionally, put the recent statements of his son Donald Trump Jr. into perspective: by declared that he could abandon his negotiating efforts.
“It’s not right, but it’s not entirely wrong either. If they (the Ukrainians) don’t read the agreements, the possible agreements, it’s not easy with Russia, because Russia has the advantage,” he argued.
Trump claimed to have sent Kiev a new draft of a possible peace deal, although he criticized the president’s draft Volodymyr Zelensky I haven’t read it yet. “It would be good if you read it. A lot of people are dying.”
Trump insisted that the war would not have started “if he had been president” and that the lack of negotiations was due in part to personal animosity between the leaders: “Putin and Zelensky hate each other.”
Trump too questioned Ukraine’s democratic legitimacywhich states that the country “hasn’t held elections for a long time” and that “people talk about democracy, but there comes a point when it’s no longer a democracy.” So he claimed that it was so “An important moment” for Ukrainians to vote and accused the government of using the war as an excuse to postpone the elections.
“The Ukrainian people should have this option,” he said. “Maybe Zelensky would win, I don’t know who would win. But there haven’t been elections for a long time,” he said.
Elections were supposed to have taken place in Ukraine last year, but they did not take place due to martial law.
A central part of the interview was dedicated to his tough vision of Europe. Trump described the continent as a series of decadent countries ruled by leaders hamstrung by their immigration policies. “Europe doesn’t know what to do“, he explained, denouncing that cities like London and Paris are “no longer viable” due to the presence of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.
He accused European governments of allowing massive uncontrolled immigration and used his own immigration policy as a contrast: “We have no people crossing our borders now. Zero. Seven months.”
The president defended and announced his new National Security Strategy – which European capitals see as direct interference due to his criticism of the Old Continent will continue to support future European candidates who share his ideological line.
“I supported people that many Europeans don’t like, like Orban,” he said.
Regarding NATO, Trump asserted his personal supremacy within the alliance: “NATO calls me “Papa”“, he asserted, alluding to a scene that went viral with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, claiming that only he can keep complex leaders like the Turkish president in check Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Whenever they have a problem with Erdogan, they ask me to call … and I solve it,” he said. With regard to Ukraine’s eventual accession, he recalled that “long before Putin there was agreement that Ukraine would not join.”
“Maduro’s days are numbered”
The Latin American chapter took up a significant part of the conversation. Trump again sharpened his tone towards Venezuela and made decisive threats Nicolas Maduro that – in his opinion – “His days are numbered”.
The President left open the possibility of sending US troops to Venezuelaamid escalating anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. “I don’t want to rule anything out” he said, warning that the attacks carried out at sea today “They will soon also be carried out on land“.
Trump took the opportunity to praise the “wealthy” part of Venezuelan immigration who voted overwhelmingly for him. In return, he accused the Nicolás Maduro regime of sending “prisoners, psychiatric patients and drug traffickers” to the United States.
“He sent them to our country where we had a very stupid president. Biden has a low IQ, especially now,” he said of the former Democratic president.
NICHOLAS KAMM – AFP/Venezuelan Presidency
Trump expanded his force doctrine to Mexico and Colombia, countries where he agreed to carry out attacks against targets linked to drug trafficking: “Of course I would do that.”
He also defended his pardon for the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, convicted of drug trafficking and claimed that “very good people” convinced him that he was a victim of political persecution.
ANSA, Reuters and DPA agencies
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