Venezuela's Defense Minister has termed US President Donald Trump's military threat against the country as "an act of madness" and "supreme extremism."

Condemning Trump's warmongering, Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that "there is an extremist elite that rules the United States."

Trump on Friday threatened military intervention in Venezuela, a surprise escalation of Washington's response to Venezuela's political crisis that Caracas disparaged as "craziness."

"The people are suffering and they are dying. We have many options for Venezuela including a possible military option if necessary," Trump told reporters in an impromptu question and answer session.

Reacting to Trump's remarks, the president of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly Delcy Rodriguez tweeted "We reject the cowardly, insolent and infamous threats of the US against the sacred sovereignty of Venezuela".

Likewise, the Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information, Ernesto Villegas, emphasized on Twitter "Trump's is the most serious and insolent threat ever made against the Bolivar homeland."

On August 9, the US imposed sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolas Maduro and the brother of former President Hugo Chavez. The sanctions were imposed due to last month's Constituent Assembly elections in Venezuela, which the US called "illegitimate." Approximately 8 million people voted for 545 candidates who will look to draft a new constitution for the country.

The US administration of Donald Trump has publicized its policy of pursuing regime change in Venezuela. Speaking in January before his confirmation, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared that he would pursue regime change in Venezuela. Tillerson was an executive in ExxonMobil when in 2007, late Venezuelan President Chavez ordered the nationalization of 22 major multinational corporations operating in the country including ExxonMobil. The top US diplomat is now leading schemes to oust the revolutionary Venezuelan government.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/7975

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