Washington D.C.: US President Donald Trump on Monday joked that he may consider running for president of Venezuela after completing his current term, claiming he would “poll higher than anybody” in the country.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said, “If I ran for president of Venezuela, I’m polling higher than anybody has ever polled,” adding that he would “quickly learn Spanish” to pursue the role.
The remarks came during a briefing primarily focused on foreign policy and military developments, but quickly drew attention for their unusual nature. Trump suggested he could run against acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership after the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
While the comments appeared light-hearted, this is not the first time Trump has floated the idea of leading Venezuela, previously calling it a “wonderful option” in earlier discussions.
Trump also contrasted his remarks with earlier statements, having said last month that he had no intention of learning a new language.
There has been no official indication that Trump intends to pursue political office outside the United States, and his comments were widely interpreted as a joke. However, they have sparked discussion amid ongoing US involvement in Venezuela’s political landscape.
