white house Trump on Russia dispute: 'Ultimately I'm always right'

President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his assertion that Russia had pulled personnel out of Venezuela, pushing back on Moscow’s denials that it had any plans to do so.

Trump last week tweeted that Russia “has informed us that they have removed most of their people from Venezuela,” where it’s backed the government of dictator Nicolas Maduro.


A day later, the Kremlin denied Trump’s tweet, telling reporters "there have been no official messages in this regard from the Russian side nor could there be any,” according to The Washington Post.

But Trump on Wednesday asserted he was not mistaken. When asked by a reporter about Russia’s denials, while meeting with the Polish president, Trump grew testy.

“Well, let's just see who’s right. You know what you’re gonna do? You're gonna see in the end who’s right. You just watch it. Okay?” Trump said. “And we'll see who is right.”

After a pause, during which another reporter began asking a new question, Trump interrupted: “Ultimately I'm always right.”

Tensions in the South American country have died down from their peak several months ago, when it appeared that opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has the backing of the U.S. and dozens of other countries, was close to toppling Maduro.

The Trump administration has repeatedly warned that use of military force to oust Maduro was never off the table, and despite appearing close to a military conflict at times, the White House has battled Moscow in a war of words over its involvement in the country. The White House has accused Russia of using Cuban forces as a front there in order to bolster their foothold in the Western Hemisphere, something Russia has also denied.

The conflict in Venezuela has caused severe shortages of basic necessities, and the unrest has prompted citizens to flee the country in staggering numbers. Trump on Tuesday told reporters that he was "very seriously" looking at giving Venezuelans in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status, allowing them to remain in the country until conditions back home stabilize.

The president on Wednesday also confirmed he would be meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit later this month, joking with reporters by asking if any of them wished to be in the room while the two leaders meet.

