Donald Trump Tells Venezuelan Military They 'WIll Lose Everything' if They Support Maduro

President Donald Trump sent a stern warning to the Venezuelan military Monday, saying it would "find no safe harbor" if it sides with President Nicolás Maduro's regime. Trump has sought a peaceful transfer of power to opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who has the support of most Latin American leaders.

"You will find no safe harbor, no easy exit and no way out. You will lose everything," Trump said Monday in Miami, speaking in front of American and Venezuelan flags during a speech at Florida International University. "We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open."

Maduro saw that as a threat and warned Trump to govern his own people, not the people of Venezuela. He addressed the nation Monday on state television, accusing Trump of using an "almost Nazi-style" approach.

"Who is the commander of the armed forces, Donald Trump from Miami?" Maduro asked, according to the Associated Press. "They think they're the owners of the country."

Trump used his speech to rally Venezuelans around Guaidó and to thwart Maduro's government and "socialist policies."

The United States recently led a mission to send humanitarian aid to Venezuela, including food and medical supplies, most of which sits in Colombia next to a bridge near a border crossing. Maduro has ordered the Venezuelan military to block it from entering the country.

"He would rather see his people starve than give them aid," Trump said of Maduro.

Trump has said that the United States recognizes Guaidó as Venezuela's president and that the U.S. condemns Maduro and his socialist practices.

Maduro is accused of fraudulently winning election to a second term, which has caused deep divisions in the country and among world leaders.

Maduro claimed he has continued backing from Russia, China and Turkey, according to the AP. Meanwhile, Trump said Maduro's socialist practices have led to a weakening Venezuelan economy and a starving population, with more than 2 million citizens seeking refuge in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Maduro insisted a humanitarian crisis doesn't exist in his country. Instead, he blamed conditions on Trump. Maduro said that Venezuela would bounce back because it sits on some of the world's most robust petroleum reserves and that it would flourish again once the "infected hand" of Trump was gone, the AP reported.

Speaking to a Miami community on Monday with several Venezuelans and Venezuelan-Americans in the crowd, Trump said democracy would reign again in the South American country.

"Socialism is dying, and liberty, prosperity and democracy are being reborn throughout the hemisphere," he said. "This will become the first free hemisphere in all of human history."

That statement triggered a response from Cuban officials, who called the U.S. president's speech "offensive" and humanitarian aid "a pretext for war."

Trump didn't waste time following up his speech, posting a tweet suggesting the Venezuelan military end the "nightmare of poverty."

"I ask every member of the Maduro regime: End this nightmare of poverty, hunger and death," Trump tweeted. "LET YOUR PEOPLE GO. Set your country free! Now is the time for all Venezuelan Patriots to act together, as one united people. Nothing could be better for the future of Venezuela!"

Later on Monday, Trump said that more countries had recognized what he called the rightful government of Venezuela. He said Venezuelans have rejected socialism.

"Today more than 50 countries around the world now recognize the rightful government of Venezuela. The Venezuelan people have spoken and the world has heard their voice. They are turning the page on Socialism and Dictatorship; and there will be NO GOING BACK!"