WEBVTT 00:00.220 --> 00:03.250 - [Narrator] Ladies and gentleman, our 48th vice president 00:03.250 --> 00:05.870 and the second lady, a good neighbor, 00:05.870 --> 00:08.285 vice president and Mrs. Pence. 00:08.285 --> 00:11.118 (patriotic music) 00:48.770 --> 00:50.280 - Thank you Admiral Pollard. 00:50.280 --> 00:53.250 Thank you for that introduction and thank you for your... 00:54.120 --> 00:56.760 Pollard, thank you for that introduction and thank 00:56.760 --> 00:57.660 you for your 00:59.520 --> 01:03.640 great, great lifetime of service and leadership 01:03.640 --> 01:05.170 in the United States Navy. 01:05.170 --> 01:08.100 Would you join me in thanking the commanding 01:08.100 --> 01:10.008 officer of Southcom. 01:10.008 --> 01:12.258 (applause) 01:16.720 --> 01:19.790 And to colonel Azubuike and to all the men and women 01:19.790 --> 01:20.650 here at Southcom. 01:20.650 --> 01:23.610 Thank you for hosting us for this important event 01:23.610 --> 01:26.930 in the life of our nation and the life of this hemisphere. 01:26.930 --> 01:31.930 To Secretary Azar, Mayor Suarez, and to Ambassador Vecchio. 01:31.936 --> 01:36.936 And especially to all of the freedom-loving members 01:38.210 --> 01:41.567 of the Venezuelan community here in 01:41.567 --> 01:44.520 the United States of America. 01:44.520 --> 01:46.842 It is an honor to be with you all. 01:46.842 --> 01:49.092 (applause) 01:51.760 --> 01:54.340 Captain Debell, Captain Buckley and the officer 01:54.340 --> 01:56.669 corps and crew who will literally embark 01:56.669 --> 01:59.029 on a life-saving mission. 01:59.029 --> 02:02.470 It's my privilege to be here at the Port of Miami 02:02.470 --> 02:04.970 for the departure of the USNS Comfort, 02:07.950 --> 02:11.400 bringing the compassion of the American people 02:11.400 --> 02:14.950 to those suffering here in our hemisphere 02:14.950 --> 02:16.790 and around the world. 02:16.790 --> 02:19.178 Let's hear it for the crew of the Comfort. 02:19.178 --> 02:21.428 (applause) 02:27.090 --> 02:29.900 Allow me to bring greetings, but also gratitude 02:29.900 --> 02:31.523 from your commander and chief. 02:32.400 --> 02:34.980 A great champion of liberty, not only in this country 02:34.980 --> 02:38.930 but all across what he calls this hemisphere of freedom. 02:38.930 --> 02:41.090 I bring greetings from the 45th president 02:41.090 --> 02:44.944 of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. 02:44.944 --> 02:47.194 (applause) 02:55.640 --> 02:59.412 We're gathered here today because when the USNS Comfort 02:59.412 --> 03:02.786 pushes off tomorrow, she will be embarking on no 03:02.786 --> 03:04.683 ordinary mission. 03:05.570 --> 03:09.440 Her departure from this place will be their second 03:09.440 --> 03:12.570 deployment to Latin America in the last six months. 03:12.570 --> 03:15.200 And we want to express our great appreciation 03:15.200 --> 03:18.540 to the incredible men and women who are serving aboard. 03:18.540 --> 03:22.370 For the next five months the crew of the USNS Comfort 03:22.370 --> 03:27.080 will continue America's effort to bring desperately 03:27.080 --> 03:30.280 needed medical care to those in need, 03:30.280 --> 03:33.910 especially the men and women and children 03:33.910 --> 03:38.020 who are suffering under the unprecedented crisis 03:38.020 --> 03:40.413 and oppression in Venezuela. 03:41.380 --> 03:46.286 Tomorrow the generosity and the compassion 03:46.286 --> 03:49.610 and the care of the American people, 03:49.610 --> 03:53.910 for the struggling people of Venezuela will set sail 03:53.910 --> 03:58.720 again aboard the USNS Comfort. 03:58.720 --> 04:02.073 We are with our neighbors and we will stand with them. 04:03.665 --> 04:04.815 With care and strength. 04:05.847 --> 04:08.133 (applause) 04:08.133 --> 04:10.642 It's remarkable to think that for six long years 04:10.642 --> 04:12.540 the people of Venezuela have suffered under the 04:12.540 --> 04:13.790 heavy hand of oppression. 04:15.007 --> 04:17.582 The policies of Nicolas Maduro and his socialist regime 04:17.582 --> 04:21.393 have shrunk Venezuela's economy by nearly half. 04:22.780 --> 04:25.270 In what was once one of the wealthiest countries 04:25.270 --> 04:29.390 in our hemisphere, now nine out of 10 people 04:30.580 --> 04:31.543 live in poverty. 04:32.530 --> 04:35.110 The average Venezuelan has lost more than 20 pounds 04:35.110 --> 04:37.573 through deprivation and malnutrition. 04:39.780 --> 04:42.360 Thousands of Venezuelan children are starving 04:44.260 --> 04:47.983 and many are dying for lack of basic medical care. 04:49.100 --> 04:52.400 At this very hour it grieves my heart 04:54.200 --> 04:56.560 to say that in hospitals across Venezuela 04:57.910 --> 04:58.973 children are dying. 05:02.610 --> 05:05.920 Under the Maduro regime crime, violence, 05:05.920 --> 05:08.800 and lawlessness have spread like a virus. 05:08.800 --> 05:12.430 Vicious gangs and notorious Colectivos who have 05:12.430 --> 05:14.643 turned streets literally into war zones. 05:15.920 --> 05:19.190 Venezuela now has the highest murder rate in the world. 05:19.190 --> 05:23.333 More than 70 people are murdered every single day. 05:27.350 --> 05:28.973 As Ambassador Vecchio said, 05:32.400 --> 05:33.303 this must end. 05:34.710 --> 05:37.330 Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate 05:37.330 --> 05:40.574 claim to power and Nicolas Maduro must go. 05:40.574 --> 05:42.824 (applause) 05:50.670 --> 05:55.280 American efforts in the region, the economic sanctions 05:55.280 --> 05:58.400 that we've imposed, and the compassion that has sailed 05:58.400 --> 06:01.630 and will sail again aboard the USNS Comfort 06:02.620 --> 06:04.970 is all reflective of our deep concern 06:04.970 --> 06:06.713 for our neighbors in Venezuela. 06:08.759 --> 06:10.410 But the truth is the Maduro regime is not only 06:10.410 --> 06:13.010 a threat to the people of Venezuela, 06:13.010 --> 06:17.823 it's a threat to peace and security across our hemisphere. 06:19.080 --> 06:21.790 The rising desperation in Venezuela has fueled 06:21.790 --> 06:24.390 a mass exodus, the likes of which we literally 06:24.390 --> 06:27.073 have never seen in the western hemisphere. 06:28.090 --> 06:31.820 As I stand before you today, more than four million 06:31.820 --> 06:33.963 Venezuelans have abandoned their homeland, 06:34.940 --> 06:37.290 including more than one million in the last 06:37.290 --> 06:38.763 seven months alone. 06:39.690 --> 06:42.743 Fleeing deprivation and fleeing oppression. 06:44.500 --> 06:47.540 Today more than 1.3 million Venezuelans are sheltering 06:47.540 --> 06:50.964 in Colombia, near three quarters of a million 06:50.964 --> 06:55.964 sought refuge in Peru, 260,000 have fled to Ecuador, 06:56.440 --> 06:59.970 and hundreds of thousands more are scattered 06:59.970 --> 07:01.283 throughout Latin America. 07:03.380 --> 07:04.930 When Karen and I traveled through the region 07:04.930 --> 07:06.320 we actually spent time 07:07.230 --> 07:08.320 at some shelters 07:09.510 --> 07:12.480 with families who had fled the oppression and deprivation 07:13.600 --> 07:14.600 with small children. 07:16.490 --> 07:17.790 And we'll never forget it. 07:19.060 --> 07:21.183 We talked to a grandmother who told us that 07:21.183 --> 07:24.440 her grandchildren in the small town in which 07:24.440 --> 07:29.440 they lived in western Venezuela that the children 07:30.310 --> 07:32.400 were required to get up at four in the morning 07:32.400 --> 07:35.753 to get a single ticket to purchase a piece of bread 07:35.753 --> 07:37.423 at four in the afternoon. 07:40.500 --> 07:43.360 I remember speaking to a father who'd taken refuge 07:43.360 --> 07:46.253 in a border town in Brazil. 07:48.430 --> 07:50.740 And he told me as his two young boys stood 07:50.740 --> 07:51.983 next to him looking up, 07:55.010 --> 07:58.450 he said, it's a very hard thing to come home after 07:58.450 --> 08:01.450 a long day and tell your children 08:02.910 --> 08:04.283 we're not eating today. 08:08.410 --> 08:11.210 And when their father said it the two little boys nodded 08:12.780 --> 08:14.200 with harsh memories 08:16.260 --> 08:17.773 of days that they'd lived. 08:20.340 --> 08:22.560 I'm proud to report under President Trump's leadership 08:22.560 --> 08:24.310 the Untied States has taken action. 08:25.200 --> 08:28.900 We've positioned more than 500 metric tons of food 08:28.900 --> 08:31.970 and humanitarian supplies on the Venezuelan border 08:31.970 --> 08:33.810 to help address this crisis. 08:33.810 --> 08:38.110 We've provided nearly $260 million in aid 08:38.110 --> 08:41.193 to nations that are supporting displaced Venezuelans. 08:42.480 --> 08:45.247 And frankly many of the Venezuelan families 08:45.247 --> 08:48.070 need more than just food. 08:48.070 --> 08:49.333 They need medical care. 08:50.360 --> 08:52.870 In too many cases their host nations are not able 08:52.870 --> 08:55.440 to meet their needs. 08:55.440 --> 08:57.440 That's why, at President Trump's direction 08:57.440 --> 09:01.161 we announced last month the USNS comfort 09:01.161 --> 09:05.510 will deploy once again throughout the region 09:05.510 --> 09:09.740 of Latin America to address the suffering people 09:09.740 --> 09:10.753 of Venezuela. 09:12.242 --> 09:14.492 (applause) 09:20.946 --> 09:23.530 In the coming months the Comfort will make 14 ports 09:23.530 --> 09:27.574 of call in 13 partner nations, providing medical care 09:27.574 --> 09:30.950 to those that are suffering and especially 09:30.950 --> 09:33.253 the displaced people of Venezuela. 09:34.460 --> 09:36.620 The Comfort has one of the largest trauma facilities 09:36.620 --> 09:39.230 in the United States Navy, dozens of X-ray machines, 09:39.230 --> 09:41.440 CAT scan unit, pharmacy unity. 09:41.440 --> 09:44.336 Karen and I just walked through the ship and we marveled 09:44.336 --> 09:47.600 and its facilities and what it will bring to the region 09:48.620 --> 09:50.970 in medical capabilities. 09:50.970 --> 09:54.890 And nearly 1,000 extraordinary dedicated men and women 09:54.890 --> 09:58.910 in uniform and those in private and professional life 09:58.910 --> 10:00.873 will deploy aboard this ship tomorrow. 10:01.870 --> 10:03.670 Many of them will serve as medical professionals 10:03.670 --> 10:07.044 in the Navy, but they also include United States Army, 10:07.044 --> 10:10.910 Air Force, representatives of American Universities 10:10.910 --> 10:13.680 and several nongovernmental organizations. 10:13.680 --> 10:15.180 And while this mission will be lead by 10:15.180 --> 10:16.663 the United States of America, 10:17.540 --> 10:19.990 we're proud to report the support of friends 10:19.990 --> 10:23.240 across this hemisphere in the mission of the Comfort. 10:23.240 --> 10:25.260 The crew of the Comfort includes professionals 10:25.260 --> 10:29.046 from Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, 10:29.046 --> 10:31.050 and Costa Rica. 10:31.050 --> 10:34.863 And we thank you for your partnership in compassion. 10:34.863 --> 10:37.113 (applause) 10:44.090 --> 10:46.060 Let me say to all of those serving aboard 10:46.060 --> 10:48.700 the USNS Comfort in the months ahead, 10:48.700 --> 10:50.600 on behalf of your commander and chief, 10:51.900 --> 10:53.700 you're embarking on a vital mission. 10:55.200 --> 10:56.800 We're grateful for your service. 10:57.940 --> 11:02.723 You are fulfilling this nation's enduring promise, 11:04.480 --> 11:09.370 the very mission of Southcom to improve public health, 11:09.370 --> 11:11.740 strengthen security, and grow prosperity 11:11.740 --> 11:13.640 throughout this hemisphere of freedom. 11:14.917 --> 11:18.600 And you're doing it in a time of great duress, 11:18.600 --> 11:22.590 great challenge, not just for the people of Venezuela 11:22.590 --> 11:25.539 but for what is happening in Venezuela. 11:25.539 --> 11:28.210 You're doing it in a time of great burden 11:28.210 --> 11:29.623 on many of our neighbors. 11:30.636 --> 11:32.786 Freedom-loving people across Latin America. 11:33.810 --> 11:36.870 To our partners in this hemisphere, we thank you 11:36.870 --> 11:39.670 for joining us to give relief to those that are in need. 11:41.430 --> 11:42.493 To all the people, 11:43.837 --> 11:45.480 for all the people of Venezuela 11:48.240 --> 11:49.843 and all who call Venezuela home. 11:53.170 --> 11:54.143 Know this, 11:56.800 --> 11:59.700 under President Donald Trump we will continue 11:59.700 --> 12:04.010 to stand strong until freedom and democracy 12:04.010 --> 12:06.583 and the rule of law are restored. 12:07.491 --> 12:09.741 (applause) 12:18.120 --> 12:20.493 As we have said before, we say again, 12:21.724 --> 12:23.720 (speaking foreign language) 12:23.720 --> 12:27.340 we are with you and we will stay with you 12:27.340 --> 12:31.190 until your libertad is restored. 12:31.190 --> 12:34.190 So thank you all for being here for this momentous occasion. 12:35.110 --> 12:37.170 It's humbling for me to think of those who will embark 12:37.170 --> 12:39.220 on this five month mission of compassion. 12:43.130 --> 12:45.840 The Maduro regime often tries to blame others 12:45.840 --> 12:48.257 for the oppression that they've inflicted 12:48.257 --> 12:50.220 on their own people. 12:50.220 --> 12:54.341 Today the world once again will see 12:54.341 --> 12:58.203 that even as America stands strong for freedom, 12:59.660 --> 13:02.060 that we extend the hand of compassion are care 13:02.060 --> 13:03.620 to our neighbors. 13:03.620 --> 13:06.280 And that compassion and care will sail 13:06.280 --> 13:07.913 aboard the USNS Comfort. 13:10.133 --> 13:11.620 So God bless the USNS Comfort 13:13.360 --> 13:15.383 with fair winds and following seas. 13:18.140 --> 13:19.840 God bless the people of Venezuela. 13:21.440 --> 13:23.533 And may God bless America. 13:23.533 --> 13:25.783 (applause) 13:54.270 --> 13:57.170 - We'll now open it up for a few questions from the media. 14:03.570 --> 14:04.820 First question over here. 14:07.530 --> 14:09.710 - [Willard] Mr. Vice President, Willard Shepard with NBC 14:09.710 --> 14:11.210 here in Miami. 14:11.210 --> 14:13.590 Obviously this ship is going to provide a great 14:13.590 --> 14:16.200 comfort to people there and there are many people 14:16.200 --> 14:17.940 in our audience here today who have loved ones 14:17.940 --> 14:19.100 in Venezuela. 14:19.100 --> 14:21.630 In terms of the administrative aspect of this, 14:21.630 --> 14:24.470 and you talked about the aid that's on the borders. 14:24.470 --> 14:27.115 Peru took a step the other day in terms of demanding 14:27.115 --> 14:30.540 passports and Visas, which basically impossible 14:30.540 --> 14:32.850 for those Venezuelan residents to get. 14:32.850 --> 14:34.700 What's going on under the admirals command 14:34.700 --> 14:36.940 and also with state to try to deal with that 14:36.940 --> 14:39.900 administratively so that people can get to the aid? 14:40.943 --> 14:43.840 - Well let me say we've been working very closely 14:43.840 --> 14:47.660 with all of our allies in the region to make the aid 14:47.660 --> 14:49.370 that's been positioned along the border 14:49.370 --> 14:50.520 of Venezuela available. 14:52.970 --> 14:55.985 But the world saw just a few short months ago 14:55.985 --> 14:59.177 when interim president, Juan Guaido, 15:00.130 --> 15:02.840 made an effort to bring aid into Venezuela 15:02.840 --> 15:07.163 that literally the Dictator Maduro danced 15:09.400 --> 15:12.883 while food and medicine burned on a bridge coming 15:12.883 --> 15:14.743 in from Colombia. 15:15.996 --> 15:19.760 I want to assure you, and I can ask the secretary 15:19.760 --> 15:22.869 to step up that we'll, we're continue to position 15:22.869 --> 15:26.070 medical supplies and food along the border, 15:26.070 --> 15:28.730 we're continuing to work closely with our allies 15:28.730 --> 15:31.250 to facilitate the ability of Venezuelans 15:31.250 --> 15:32.653 to access that aid. 15:33.570 --> 15:36.270 But we're also, most importantly, going to continue 15:36.270 --> 15:41.270 to stand with the only legitimate president of Venezuela, 15:41.830 --> 15:45.620 interim president Juan Guaido, and stand with him 15:45.620 --> 15:50.049 as he seeks to bring that aid into Venezuela itself. 15:50.049 --> 15:52.830 (applause) 15:52.830 --> 15:55.640 - I would just like to comment that let no one 15:55.640 --> 15:57.080 fault the government of Peru. 15:57.080 --> 16:00.400 They have been unbelievably generous in receiving over, 16:00.400 --> 16:04.170 as the vice president said, over 700,000 refugees 16:04.170 --> 16:08.630 of the Maduro, the illegitimate Maduro regime's corruption. 16:08.630 --> 16:11.900 Just imagine that, imagine in Lima a system already 16:11.900 --> 16:14.090 stressed and overstretched in terms of healthcare 16:14.090 --> 16:16.667 delivery to their own people, 700,000 additional people 16:16.667 --> 16:19.430 flowing into four public hospitals. 16:19.430 --> 16:22.070 Imagine that stress on that system. 16:22.070 --> 16:24.904 So let us thank Peru for what they've been doing 16:24.904 --> 16:28.540 and we are grateful that the USNS Comfort will be 16:28.540 --> 16:30.840 going to be able to provide extra support for the 16:30.840 --> 16:33.280 care of Peruvians and Colombians and Ecuadorans 16:33.280 --> 16:36.590 and others, as well as the Venezuelan refugees. 16:36.590 --> 16:38.590 And the United States is working to help bring our 16:38.590 --> 16:40.180 western hemisphere partners together. 16:40.180 --> 16:42.140 One of the steps that we're taking is to help 16:42.140 --> 16:46.720 the flow of the Venezuelan refugees through South America. 16:46.720 --> 16:48.940 For instance, the universal vaccination card 16:48.940 --> 16:51.750 so that when individuals leave Venezuela and they go 16:51.750 --> 16:55.146 to Colombia or into Brazil they can be vaccinated. 16:55.146 --> 16:58.560 'Cause remember, the Maduro regime and the Chavez regime 16:58.560 --> 17:00.650 before, for many generations, has not vaccinated 17:00.650 --> 17:01.920 their people. 17:01.920 --> 17:05.070 So measles is becoming endemic, measles, diptheria, 17:05.070 --> 17:07.820 malaria are now being carried and spread with people 17:07.820 --> 17:09.810 that have not received basic public health 17:09.810 --> 17:11.420 for decades now. 17:11.420 --> 17:12.800 And that's what these neighboring countries 17:12.800 --> 17:14.990 are trying to do so we commend the generosity, 17:14.990 --> 17:18.560 we commend the welcome-ness of all of these neighboring 17:18.560 --> 17:21.080 countries that are trying to deal with the largest 17:21.080 --> 17:24.303 refugee crisis in the history of the western hemisphere. 17:25.270 --> 17:26.103 - Excellent. 17:27.930 --> 17:28.763 - Next question. 17:30.873 --> 17:32.660 - [David] I'm David Rodriguez from Telemundo 51 17:32.660 --> 17:33.510 here in Miami. 17:33.510 --> 17:35.960 Good afternoon, Vice President Pence and welcome to Miami. 17:35.960 --> 17:37.444 - Thank you. 17:37.444 --> 17:41.230 - [David] My question is when will be reality 17:41.230 --> 17:46.170 the PPX temporary protection status for Venezuelan 17:46.170 --> 17:48.200 here in the United States? 17:48.200 --> 17:51.440 - Well what I can say is that we've had discussions 17:51.440 --> 17:54.280 at the White House about temporary protective status. 17:54.280 --> 17:58.100 The objective of our administration is to see democracy 17:58.100 --> 18:00.719 and the rule of law restored in Venezuela so Venezuelans 18:00.719 --> 18:02.970 can go home. 18:02.970 --> 18:05.220 (applause) 18:09.880 --> 18:12.840 I will say that we've been working with members of 18:12.840 --> 18:16.110 Congress, I want to commend Senator Rick Scott, 18:16.110 --> 18:20.170 Senator Marco Rubio, for their efforts in this regard 18:20.170 --> 18:25.170 and we're addressing this through issues related 18:26.130 --> 18:29.370 to administration and enforcement. 18:29.370 --> 18:31.917 But again, we want to be very clear, 18:31.917 --> 18:34.680 the objective of the United States of America 18:34.680 --> 18:37.020 is to continue to call on the entire world community 18:37.020 --> 18:40.290 to join more than 50 nations in recognizing 18:40.290 --> 18:43.060 the government of interim president Juan Guaido. 18:43.060 --> 18:47.730 Make it possible for democracy to be restored. 18:47.730 --> 18:50.900 But let me be clear, it is the position of the 18:50.900 --> 18:53.270 United States of America and our allies that 18:53.270 --> 18:57.121 for democracy to be restored Nicolas Maduro must go. 18:57.121 --> 19:01.516 And once he is gone we believe there can be a pathway. 19:01.516 --> 19:03.766 (applause) 19:08.400 --> 19:10.900 - [Woman] Good afternoon Mr. Vice President. 19:10.900 --> 19:15.438 Internal factions in Venezuela are signaling Juan Guaido 19:15.438 --> 19:19.400 as a culprit of the United States lack of decisive 19:19.400 --> 19:22.040 military intervention in Venezuela. 19:22.040 --> 19:26.390 Is it because he has not asked for US military 19:26.390 --> 19:28.813 intervention to defeat Nicolas Maduro, 19:29.869 --> 19:32.600 or does the US consider that this is maybe not 19:32.600 --> 19:35.160 the right time for such an intervention? 19:35.160 --> 19:36.213 Thank you very much. 19:39.040 --> 19:40.690 - The United States of America was proud to be 19:40.690 --> 19:43.816 the first nation on earth to recognize Juan Guaido 19:43.816 --> 19:48.816 as the legitimate president of Venezuela. 19:49.910 --> 19:53.023 As I said, more than 50 nations have followed. 19:54.023 --> 19:57.580 We've brought, over the last two years, 19:57.580 --> 20:01.020 and unprecedented economic and diplomatic pressure 20:01.020 --> 20:05.490 to bare on the Maduro regime and we've continued 20:05.490 --> 20:07.750 to bring pressure on nations that are 20:07.750 --> 20:09.913 supporting that regime. 20:10.773 --> 20:12.163 And we'll continue to do that. 20:13.030 --> 20:15.830 All of that being said, President Trump's been clear 20:15.830 --> 20:18.303 from early on that all options are on the table. 20:19.420 --> 20:23.430 But I can tell you, having spent some time 20:25.290 --> 20:29.410 with President Guaido, a courageous young man 20:29.410 --> 20:33.343 and his courageous young wife, Fabiana, 20:34.730 --> 20:38.880 having seen them as I did in a visit to Colombia 20:40.000 --> 20:42.120 with Venezuelans who have been displaced by the 20:42.120 --> 20:43.883 oppression of the Maduro regime, 20:46.699 --> 20:51.620 I saw firsthand the connection that President Guaido 20:51.620 --> 20:52.870 has made with his people. 20:53.840 --> 20:57.890 The hope that he has inspired, the crowds that continue 20:57.890 --> 21:00.520 to come out and take to the streets, 21:00.520 --> 21:03.870 despite the brutality of the Maduro regime 21:03.870 --> 21:07.949 and it's Colectivo's violence that they perpetrate 21:07.949 --> 21:11.930 against those who oppose them, still the people come. 21:11.930 --> 21:15.717 And we are going to continue to stand with 21:16.970 --> 21:21.970 President Guaido and for the Bolivarian Constitution 21:23.240 --> 21:24.073 of Venezuela. 21:25.571 --> 21:27.840 That's our commitment, that's our loyalty. 21:27.840 --> 21:30.600 But I can assure you the United States of America 21:30.600 --> 21:34.900 respects the sovereignty of the duly elected president, 21:34.900 --> 21:37.660 the duly elected representatives of the people 21:37.660 --> 21:41.620 of Venezuela that will continue to guide our approach. 21:41.620 --> 21:44.450 But we're following their lead, 21:44.450 --> 21:48.570 even while we ensure that we look after our 21:48.570 --> 21:50.233 national interests in the region. 21:55.330 --> 21:57.210 The Maduro regime can be confident that we're gonna 21:57.210 --> 21:58.423 continue to stand firm. 21:59.980 --> 22:01.410 We truly do believe that 22:05.340 --> 22:07.773 as Simon Bolivar said long long ago, 22:09.450 --> 22:12.273 that people who desire freedom will, in the end, be free. 22:14.428 --> 22:16.428 And President Trump, our administration, 22:18.197 --> 22:19.600 and the American people know in our heart of hearts 22:19.600 --> 22:23.969 that some day soon Venezuela will be free. 22:23.969 --> 22:26.219 (applause) 22:32.490 --> 22:33.840 - This is the last one. 22:33.840 --> 22:35.200 - [Woman] Hi (mumbles), WPLG Local 10. 22:35.200 --> 22:36.970 Mr. Vice President, you touched on this earlier 22:36.970 --> 22:39.480 talking about other nations. 22:39.480 --> 22:41.900 We did see some new travel restrictions on Cuba 22:41.900 --> 22:44.500 because of its alleged involvement in Venezuela. 22:44.500 --> 22:47.190 What kind of further increased measures can we expect 22:47.190 --> 22:49.353 from the administration in regards to Cuba? 22:56.100 --> 22:57.670 - Well using the authority the president has 22:57.670 --> 23:00.678 under the Helms-Burton law, we recently took action 23:00.678 --> 23:04.173 regarding foreign investment in Cuba. 23:05.330 --> 23:10.330 And we've made it very clear that Cuba and other foreign 23:11.240 --> 23:15.620 nations that are standing in the way of freedom 23:15.620 --> 23:19.743 being restored in Venezuela need to stand down. 23:23.970 --> 23:26.303 Truth is, according to many observers, 23:27.760 --> 23:32.760 the Maduro regime is being propped up by secret police 23:32.930 --> 23:36.773 and military personnel from Cuba even as we speak. 23:37.610 --> 23:39.210 And it's the reason why President Trump took the 23:39.210 --> 23:41.013 action that he took against Cuba. 23:44.210 --> 23:46.263 We continue to stand for liberty in Cuba, 23:48.410 --> 23:50.140 but our message today is that 23:54.670 --> 23:58.470 the outside power that is impacting the destiny 23:58.470 --> 24:01.833 of Venezuela today is not the United States, it's Cuba. 24:03.170 --> 24:07.870 And Cuba should withdraw from Venezuela 24:07.870 --> 24:10.514 and allow the people of Venezuela to restore 24:10.514 --> 24:14.020 their freedom, their democracy, and the rule of law. 24:14.020 --> 24:16.490 And the United States is going to continue to bring 24:16.490 --> 24:20.312 diplomatic and economic pressure to bare on Cuba 24:20.312 --> 24:22.083 until they do. 24:26.110 --> 24:28.360 (applause) 24:39.630 --> 24:41.270 We'll talk right after. 24:41.270 --> 24:42.103 Any other reporters? 24:42.103 --> 24:43.999 You can ask one more. 24:43.999 --> 24:45.783 - One more question from a reporter please. 24:48.010 --> 24:50.810 - [Woman] Good afternoon Vice President Mike Pence, 24:50.810 --> 24:51.860 my name is (mumbles). 24:53.340 --> 24:56.520 I know you are a Christian and as a son of God, 24:56.520 --> 24:59.530 the word God said in James 4:17, 24:59.530 --> 25:02.577 if anyone then knows the good they owe to do 25:02.577 --> 25:05.810 and that doesn't do it, it is a sin for them. 25:05.810 --> 25:10.262 What is the response we have as a son of God 25:10.262 --> 25:13.120 to respond to God that we have to intervene 25:13.120 --> 25:14.473 militarily in Venezuela? 25:17.140 --> 25:18.463 - Well I love that verse. 25:21.300 --> 25:25.303 The good we can do in most respects we are doing. 25:27.160 --> 25:30.830 The United States moving hundreds of millions of dollars 25:30.830 --> 25:34.409 and tens of thousands of pounds of food and medical aid 25:34.409 --> 25:38.139 to the borders of Venezuela. 25:38.139 --> 25:40.980 The economic and diplomatic pressure that President Trump 25:40.980 --> 25:44.840 has brought on the Maduro regime, 25:44.840 --> 25:48.333 continuing to isolate them in the world community. 25:49.370 --> 25:52.230 I met this week with the Deputy Prime Ministry of Italy, 25:52.230 --> 25:54.153 we spoke first about Venezuela. 25:55.440 --> 25:57.460 The time has come for the European community 25:57.460 --> 26:02.460 to stand up for freedom in this hemisphere, as well. 26:02.550 --> 26:05.303 To stand firmly with the people of Venezuela. 26:06.970 --> 26:10.690 The USNS Comfort deployed for the second time to 26:10.690 --> 26:12.640 Latin America in this region shows the compassion 26:12.640 --> 26:14.440 and the care of the American people, 26:16.828 --> 26:18.650 but let me be clear, 26:18.650 --> 26:21.920 the United States is going to continue to stand 26:21.920 --> 26:25.370 with the people of Venezuela until freedom 26:25.370 --> 26:27.643 and democracy are restored. 26:28.864 --> 26:30.199 I promise. 26:30.199 --> 26:32.860 (applause) 26:32.860 --> 26:33.793 Thank you all very much. 26:43.620 --> 26:45.950 - Thank you for coming everybody, this completes the event. 26:45.950 --> 26:48.700 Please standby for the departure of the Vice President.