Venezuela blasts US ‘aggression’ after Trump UN speech

The Venezuelan government on Tuesday said it would defend itself against the United States after President Trump lambasted the country’s socialist government at the United Nations.

In a statement, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the U.S. and its allies of threatening the country’s sovereignty, and said it was prepared to defend its independence from the U.S.’s “racist government.”

The statement came after Trump railed against the repressive government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a speech before the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

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“Maduro has defied his own people, stealing power from his elected representatives to preserve his disastrous rule,” Trump said, urging the U.N. to help the Venezuelan people “regain their freedom and recover their country and restore their democracy.” 

The Trump administration has taken action against Venezuela in response to Maduro’s decision to hold an election for an all-powerful Constituent Assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution and solidify his power.

In the months before the July election, violent protests erupted in the streets of Caracas, the country’s capital, and the government’s approval has fallen amid severe food and medicine shortages.

Last month, Trump floated the prospect of military action against Maduro’s embattled government, but has not detailed a plan.