White House hopes uprising will oust Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – The White House says it hopes an attempted military uprising in Venezuela will be “enough to tip” leader Nicolás Maduro out of power.

National Security Adviser John Bolton says Tuesday that what’s happening “is clearly not a coup” because the U.S. and many other countries recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president. Bolton says President Donald Trump is monitoring developments “minute by minute” and wants a peaceful transfer of power.

Guaido took to the streets of Venezuela in what Bolton says is an “act of bravery” to lead the uprising against Maduro.

Bolton declined to discuss possible action – military or otherwise – by the U.S. Bolton says only that “all options are on the table.”

Trump tweeted that the U.S. stands with the “People of Venezuela and their Freedom!”