HISTORY BEING MADE TONIGHT.
VENEZUELA TAKING ONE GIANT LEAP
TOWARD FREEDOM AS HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS TAKE TO
THE STREETS DEMANDING EMBATTLED
SOCIALIST DICTATOR NICOLAS
MADURO STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
THE CURRENT LEADER OF THE
OPPOSITION.
35-YEAR-OLD JUAN GUAIDO SWEARING
HIMSELF IN FRONT OF TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
HE IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF
VENEZUELA.
THIS HAPPENED JUST HOURS AGO IN
THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS.
ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FREE
WORLD, PRESIDENT GUAIDO HAS THE
BACKING OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZING HIM AS THE COUNTRY'S
OFFICIAL LEADER ALONG WITH
CANADA, BRAZIL AND OTHER
NATIONS.
BUT TONIGHT SOCIALIST LEADER
NICK HAS MADURO IS FIGHTING
TOOTH AND NAIL TO HOLD ON TO HIS
DICTATORSHIP BY BREAKING OFF
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED
STATES.
I SAT DOWN WITH VICE PRESIDENT
MIKE PENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FREEDOM, HE SAYS IS WINNING.
WATCH.
A NEW PRESIDENT NOW IN
VENEZUELA.
PRESIDENTE GUAIDO.
YOU RECOGNIZED HIM, THE
PRESIDENT RECOGNIZED HIM, AND
MILLIONS TOOK TO THE STREETS
TODAY IN VENEZUELA.
TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT
COUNTRY AND WHY IT MANY
IMPORTANT THEY HAVE CHANGE.
>> THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA
SUFFERED SEE MUCH UNDER THE
MADURO REGIME IT'S AMAZING TO
THINK THAT 9 OUT OF 10
VENEZUELANS LIVE IN POVERTY.
WHEN WE TRAVELED IN 2017 TO
COLOMBIA WE MET WITH REFUGEES.
A GRANDMOTHER WITH HER FOUR
GRANDCHILDREN HARD ALL THE WAY
ACROSS VENEZUELA TO GO TO
COLOMBIA BECAUSE SHE SAID IT HAD
GOTTEN SO BAD IN THEIR SMALL
TUNE THAT THE CHILDREN HAD TO
RISE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING TO
ONE TICKET TO BUY A PIECE OF
BREAD THAT 4:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON.
THE MADURO REGIME OPPRESSED ITS
PEOPLE.
IT'S BECOME A HAVEN FOR
CRIMINALS AND NARCO TERRORISTS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BROUGHT
SANCTIONS ON OFFICIALS IN THE
MADURO REGIME.
WE ISOLATED THE REGIME
ECONOMICALLY AND DIPLOMATICALLY.
TODAY FREEDOM BROKE OUT IN
VENEZUELA WITH THE RECOGNITION
OF THE NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT IN
JUAN GUAIDO.
A COURAGEOUS MAN WHO STEPPED
FORWARD.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY WHO TOOK THE OATH OF
OFFICE.
THE UNITED STATES BECAME THE
FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO
RECOGNIZE PRESIDENT GUAIDO, AND
NOW OTHER NATIONS JOIN US AS
WELL.
THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE
TO BRING THE FULL WEIGHT OF OUR
ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC PREY
PRESSURE UNTIL FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRAT STAIN FREE ELECTIONS
ARE RESTORED FOR THE PEOPLE OF
VENEZUELA.
TRISH: AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS,
AND IT MAY CHANGE BY THE TIME WE
ARE ON THE AIR THIS EVENING.
BUT AS IT STANDS, NICOLAS MADURO
THINKS HE'S PRESIDENT.
WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM IN THIS
INTERIM?
THE WORLD RECOGNIZES PRESIDENT
GUAIDO.
THE PEOPLE SEEM TO, JUDGING BY
THE MILLIONS IN THE STREETS.
BUT WHAT IF NICOLAS MADURO SAYS
I'M NOT LEAVING?
>> HE'S A DICTATOR.
THROUGH THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL
SYSTEM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT
JUAN GUAIDO.
IT REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE.
YOU SAW THAT WILL LITERALLY,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
IN DEMONSTRATIONS ALL ACROSS
VENEZUELA TODAY.
IT WAS TRULY INSPIRING TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ME TO SEE
THE WAY PEOPLE ARE RISING UP,
RECLAIMING THEIR BIRTHRIGHT OF
LIBERTY.
OUR REACTION IS WE ARE WITH YOU.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STAND WITH
YOU.
WE SEE THIS AS A HEMISPHERE OF
FREEDOM.
AND WE'LL STAND WITH THE PEOPLE
OF VENEZUELA UNTIL THEY RECLAIM
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY FOR THEIR
PEOPLE.
TRISH REQUIRE WANT TO GET TO
THAT HEMISPHERE ISSUE.
BACK TO NICOLAS MADURO.
DOES HE STILL HAVE ENOUGH
CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY?
AND IF SO, HOW CHALLENGING COULD
THAT MAKE THE COMING DAYS AHEAD.
IT WAS TRIED WITH HUGO CHAVEZ IN
2002.
IT ONLY LASTED A COUPLE DAYS.
THINGS WERE DIFFERENT THEN AND
HE DIDN'T HAVE QUITE AS MANY
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND ON HIS
SIDE.
BUT IT WAS FLEETING.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THIS IS A
LASTING CHANGE?
>> I THINK THE OUTPOURING OF
SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT GUAIDO
TODAY, FOR A DEMOCRATICALLY
ELECTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
ONLY IN THE MADE AN IMPRESSION
ON THE WORLD.
BUT WE HOPE THAT NICOLAS MADURO
WILL ACCEPT A PEACEFUL
TRANSITION OF POWER IN
VENEZUELA.
THAT HE'LL ACCEPT THE WILL OF
THE PEOPLE TO MOVE HIS COUNTRY
FORWARD AND EMBRACE THEIR NEW
PRESIDENT.
AS PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID TODAY,
THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA HAVE
SUFFERED ENOUGH.
3 MILLION VENEZUELANS HAVE FLED
THEIR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF
DEPRIVATION AND OPPRESSION AND
POVERTY.
2 MILLION MORE ARE EXPECTED TO
FLEE VENEZUELA IN THE NEXT YEAR
ALONE.
THE COUNTRY IS LITERALLY A
FAILED STATE.
AND WHAT PRESIDENT GUAIDO
REPRESENTS IS A NEW BEGINNING
FOR THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA.
AND THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
LEADERSHIP, THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA IS STANDING WITH THE
GOOD PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA FOR
THAT NEW BEGINNING.
IT'S REMARKABLE.
YOU COVERED THIS MORE THAN
ANYONE ELSE ON THE AIRWAYS,
TRISH.
HERE IS A COUNTRY THAT WAS
ARGUABLY THE SECOND MOST OF
PROSPEROUS NATION IN OUR
HEMISPHERE, AND ITS ONLY
RESERVES ARE SECOND ONLY TO
THOSE WE FIND IN SAUDI ARABIA,
YET BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSION,
THE DEPRIVATION, THE
DICTATORSHIP, THE SOCIALIST
MADURO REGIME, WE HAVE SEEN
POVERTY THE LIKES OF WHICH LATIN
AMERICA HAS NOT SEEN FOR DECADE.
THAT CAN CHANGE.
THE BEGINNING OF THAT CHANGE WE
HOPE AND PRAY IS TODAY.
WITH THE OH APPOINTMENT OF A NEW
INTERIM PRESIDENT, MEN MOVING TO
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA ROSE UP
TODAY AND THEY SHOULD KNOW THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE STAND WITH THEM.
TRISH: WHAT WAS REALLY
REMARKABLE TO SEE, AND SOME VERY
BRAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND
RISKING THEIR LIVES TO DO THAT.
AND IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT
AMERICA STANDS FOR FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY.
AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE GET THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.
THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY HAS BEEN
SEEN BY SOME TO BE SOMEWHAT
ISOLATIONIST.
HE SAYS WE DON'T NEED TO BOTHER
BEING IN PLACES WE DON'T NEED TO
BE.
BUT HE DOES THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
AND YOU THINK IT' IMPORTANT TO
TAKE A STAND ON VENEZUELA.
WHY?
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE NO
SECRET OF THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT
A FAN OF AMERICAN DEPLOYMENTS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND AMERICAN ENTANGLEMENTS.
OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, GEORGE
WASHINGTON ON, HAD THE SAME
CONCERNS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP UNDERSTANDS THE
UNITED STATES HAS A SPECIAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT AND
NURTURE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN
THIS HEMISPHERE.
THAT'S A LONGSTANDING TRADITION.
TRISH: THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
>> THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT
PROMOTING THE IDEA OF FREEDOM.
A FAILED STATE HAS NO BORDERS.
VENEZUELA IS A FAILED STATE.
IT HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR
NARCOTICS AND INTERNATIONAL
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
PART AND PARCEL OF THE ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION CRISIS THAT WE ARE
CONFRONTING AT OUR SOUTHERN
BORDER.
ANOTHER CARAVAN IS BEGINNING TO
MAKE ITS WAY NORTH.
IT REACHED THE BORDER OF MEXICO
AND GUATEMALA.
THERE IS NO QUESTION HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS AND NARCOTICS AND
DRUG CARTELS IN CENTRAL AMERICA
ARE DRIVEN IN PART BY THE MALIGN
INFLUENCE OF THE FAILED STATE IN
VENEZUELA.
THE UNITED STATES STANDS FOR
PROSPERITY AND THE RULE OF LAW
AND DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE OF
VENEZUELA.
BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE IT'S IN THE
INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA FOR VENEZUELA TO RETURN
TO THE RULE OF LAW, TO RETURN TO
DEMOCRACY, AND BECOME A FULL
PARTNER IN ADVANCING THE
SECURITY OF ALL THE COUNTRIES IN
THIS REGION.
TRISH: WHEN WE SEE THESE CARE
VANS MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE
U.S.
THE REASON ITSELF NEEDS TO HAVE
THE BEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PROSPERITY, WHICH MEANS YOU
NEED A FREE ELECTION SYSTEM, AND
YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THE
CORRUPTION, ETS.
VENEZUELA COULD HAVE A HAND IN
THAT.
YOU TOLD ME A COUPLE MONTHS BACK
THAT ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH
THESE CARAVANS IS THEY WERE
BEING FINANCED AND ENCOURAGED BY
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE BEST
INTENTIONS FOR AMERICA.
A LOT OF RADICAL LEFTISTS.
AND VENEZUELA WAS IN THAT BUNCH.
HAVING A NEW GOVERNMENT, A NEW
LEADER IN VENEZUELA, HOW DOES
THAT CHANGE THINGS AS FAR AS THE
CARAVANS GO?
>> IN MY CONVERSATION MORE THAN
A WEEK AGO WITH JUAN GUAIDO, NOW
PRESIDENT GUAIDO OF VENEZUELA,
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NEW
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND VENEZUELA.
AND WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IS
STRONGER ECONOMIC TIES FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR PEOPLE AND
GREATER COOPERATION TO MEET
HUMANITARIAN AND THE SECURITY
CHALLENGES THAT BOTH OF OUR
COUNTRIES FACE.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NOW.
A MONTH IN THE MAKING BECAUSE
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ABSOLUTELY
DETERMINED TO SECURE OUR BORDER,
TO BUILD A WALL, TO GET OUR
BORDER AGENTS AND OUR HOMELAND
SECURITY THE RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED.
TO ENFORCE OUR LAWS AND SECURE
OUR BORDERS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO
OFFER COMMON SENSE AND
BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS.
WE REMAIN HOPEFUL.
BUT BETTER PARTNERSHIPS IN
CENTRAL AMERICA.
IF I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF
HONDURAS THIS WEEK ON JUST THIS
TOPIC AND A STRONGER PARTNER.
STRONGER PARTNER IN VENEZUELA