U.S. President Donald Trump says he is willing to meet with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, while hinting at other avenues for resolving the tension between the two countries.
“All options are on the table,” he said Wednesday before chairing a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. “Every one, the strong ones, and the less than strong ones. Every option - and you know what I mean by strong.”
Tuesday, the Trump administration placed sanctions on members of Maduro’s Cabinet, including his wife, Cilia Flores, while Trump suggested Maduro’s regime could easily be toppled by a military coup.
Maduro hit back on Venezuelan television, calling the sanctions a badge of honor for those around him.
"If you want to attack me, come at me directly. But don't touch Cilia and my family," Maduro said. "Her only crime is being my wife."