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Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

Full play-by-play of Trump's Venezuela invasion press conference here:

Dave Keating@davekeating.substack.com

Trump at his press conference on the #Venezuela invasion just now: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. We don't want someone else to get in and we have the same situation."

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

Now that it has been made clear that this isn't simply a leader kidnapping but actually a full-on invasion and occupation of a sovereign state, our European leaders who said they were "closely monitoring the situation" have apparently now gone into hiding.

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez is 1st European leader to make a stronger statement following Trump's press conference where he said the US will run Venezuela and take its oil. Sanchez has been ostracised by other 🇪🇺 leaders for his past criticism of Trump. Will they listen to him now?

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

Even after watching Trump's press conference openly admitting 🇺🇸has invaded Venezuela in order to run it and take its oil, 🇫🇷President Macron has released a statement appearing to endorse US actions (as opposed to Le Pen who condemned 🇺🇸invasion). Where does this leave Europe's credibility on Ukraine?

20 reposts78 likes

jke-il.bsky.social
@jke-il.bsky.social

Not sure he endorsed the action He raised hope for Venezuelans, did NOT endorse trump or u.s. running country/stealing the oil Rather Endorsed winner of 2024 election take control asap for stability Just cuz Macron didn't overtly *condemn* I didn't read endorsed trump or his actions at all

Essaieh
@sisiemm.bsky.social

Canada has also let us all down in this. Are these European leaders going to be singing the same tune when Emperor Trump comes for them? He's already threatened NATO members Denmark and Canada. Beyond shameful.

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

OK we can see the way this is going. Sanchez is out in the political wilderness again in his wilingness to criticise Trump. Germany's chancellor apparently watched that press conference and decided it's "complex and requires careful consideration". They're all falling into line.

Marsanges
@marsanges.bsky.social

The Netherlands: "(The NL) does not recognize the Maduro regime and suggests a return to democracy as fast as possible. NL calls on all parties to avoid further escalation and to follow international law."

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

🇮🇹PM Meloni sounds same as Macron, Starmer & Merz in giving stamp of approval to 🇺🇸invasion of Venezuela (though she's going extra step pretending she believes absurd claim that this is about drug trafficking) Throughout Europe, only opposition figures are criticising 🇺🇸. Anyone in power is too scared

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

And here it is. Starmer's post-press-conference statement manages to be even more cowardly than his initial response. Vague call for international law to be respected. Ignores that it has *already been violated* this morning. No mention of US.

Marsanges
@marsanges.bsky.social

well he mentions the US right there. They will discuss with the lawbreakers how to set up a regime Scared, I think, is the correct reading. Could you find the reaction of Denmark? For some reason this would be interesting

dmischo
@dmischo.bsky.social

Wow! So he's got no problem with kidnapping foreign leaders if he doesn't like them?! Noted, but that's not a good look, Starmer. I f-ing hate Trump and the damage he's doing to our country and to the world. But I want him to face justice right here. Countries remain sovereign and must be so.

Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

A reminder: it doesn't have to be this way. Mexico has a hell of a lot more to lose than Europe by angering Trump. Yet this is the response of its president just now. This isn't a global phenomenon. Why have Europeans proven to be so uniquely cowardly over the past year?

Nicolas Lorach
@nicolaslorach.eurosky.social

A very slight difference between Merz and Macron. Merz says "the objective is an orderly transition", Macron "the upcoming transition must be peaceful" implying there will be a transition, which is not certain. As often Macron knows how to be one notch less insightful.