Trump says Venezuela "not ready" for elections after Maduro ouster

U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuela is not yet ready to hold elections following the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, while also defending his administration’s legal actions against journalists and a new round of tariffs.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump was asked when elections might be held in Venezuela. “They're not really ready for them yet,” he said, adding, “They're not ready yet for the elections, but at some point they will be.”

Trump also said the United States had delivered economic benefits to Venezuela, though he did not provide details or address the impact of recent major earthquakes in the country.

During the same remarks, Trump shifted to domestic issues, defending subpoenas targeting journalists from The New York Times. His comments came a day after his administration withdrew subpoenas that would have required three reporters to testify about confidential sources.

“We have a long way to go with that case,” Trump said, signaling continued support for the legal effort.

The subpoenas were issued in connection with a report about a Qatari-gifted Air Force One aircraft. Trump argued the measures were aimed at identifying sources of leaks rather than journalists themselves. “We're not after journalists, we're after leakers,” he said. “And the way you find them is through the journalists.”

Trump also defended tariffs announced this week targeting 60 economies, describing them as “very standard tariffs” that “follow the line,” and expressing confidence they would withstand legal scrutiny.

The measures are based on the administration’s claim that the affected countries have failed to adequately enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor. Referring to a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down his earlier “Liberation Day” tariffs, Trump said: “I thought the decision by the Supreme Court was not a good one, but we have many forms of tariffs.”

In addition, Trump said the United States would impose “a major tariff” on Mexico in response to a parasite linked to lettuce imports that has caused illness in multiple states. Asked when it would be safe to consume lettuce again, he said the government is “going to put a major tariff on tax on Mexico because of the lettuce.”

He added that Canada could also face new trade measures, stating the U.S. would “put a big tariff on Canada because of the smoke” from widespread wildfires that has drifted into the United States.

By Tamilla Hasanova