Overton@overton_news
CNN’s Erin Burnett tried — AND FAILED — twice to get Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to trash President Trump over his comments about making Venezuela the 51st state.
Machado shut down both attempts with ease and Burnett quickly ended the interview when she realized Machado wasn’t going to take the bait.
BURNETT: “But Trump keeps talking about Venezuela as the 51st state. I just mentioned that social media post that he posted with the 51st state and the map of Venezuela.”
“He also talked about this in detail earlier this week to a Fox News reporter who was really a bit taken aback by it.”
“How do you even respond to that?”
MACHADO: “Well, I know President Trump really likes Venezuela and for good reasons. It is a beautiful country. But most of all of wonderful people.”
“But I’m sure he’s going to love it even better when we have a country that is free, prosperous, and democratic, and turns into the strongest ally in the Americas...”
“And look, Erin, from every perspective for the American people and for the Venezuelan people, a transition to democracy is a win-win solution...”
Just a few moments later, Burnett tried again.
BURNETT: “But when...when...when trump said to the Fox News reporter; ‘I’m very serious about this. So you can talk about this. I’m serious about beginning a process to make Venezuela the 51st state.’”
“You do not take him seriously?”
MACHADO: “Well, I think he’s sending a message to many people and certainly to the regime.”
“I mean, we, the Venezuelan people value, appreciate, share the values of the American people.”
“We are decisive to be a strong ally...and in terms of legacy, imagine what this will mean for the for the U.S. government and for your country, Erin, for the first time, we will have, once we move towards democracy and Venezuela is free, Cuba will follow, Nicaragua will follow.”
“We will have for the first time in the history of this continent, the Americans, free of communism and dictatorship.”
“This is huge!”
The look on Burnett’s face told the whole story. She ended the interview on the spot.
