An author and Latin America expert is praising President Donald Trump for his warnings about Venezuela and the perils of socialism.

During a Monday night address in Miami at Florida International University, President Donald Trump pleaded with Venezuela's military to support opposition leader Juan Guaid, and he issued a dire warning if they continue to stand with President Nicolas Maduro's (pictured above) government.

"You will find no safe harbor, no easy exit and no way out," he warned the military leaders. "You will lose everything."

Humberto Fontova, who fled Cuba in 1961, tells OneNewsNow that Trump's tough words were praised from the Latin American community. More than 100,000 Venezuelans and Venezuelan-Americans live in South Florida.

"Because he finally called a spade a spade and a puppet a puppet," Fontova explains. "He called Nicholas Maduro a Cuba puppet. That's all he is. He is not the legitimate president --- leader --- of Venezuela."

Fontova says Trump is right that Venezuela's military could play a decisive role in a peaceful transition but military leaders are loyal to Maduro.

"I'm still looking for the guys with the guns," he says. "I'm still looking for a few people higher up in the Venezuelan military to defect because, until that happens, I'm afraid that he is still secure."