Videos of the Day: Trump Welcomes Colombian President Duque to WH: Venezuela on Agenda

Epoch Newsroom
2/13/2019
Updated:
2/13/2019

President Donald Trump welcomed Colombian President Iván Duque to the White House on Wednesday.

During remarks in the Oval Office, Trump said Venezuela would be the main topic of discussions between the two leaders.

US President Donald Trump (CR) and First Lady Melania Trump (R seated) greet Colombian President Ivan Duque and his wife Maria Ruiz (L) at the White House in Washington, on Feb. 13, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump (CR) and First Lady Melania Trump (R seated) greet Colombian President Ivan Duque and his wife Maria Ruiz (L) at the White House in Washington, on Feb. 13, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

President Trump said: “We are working on many things together. Eradication of drugs in Colombia and outside of Colombia and obviously Venezuela, the military. So many different elements, including trade, but I think today a lot of it will be devoted to discussing Venezuela and what’s happening in Venezuela.”

President Donald J. Trump meets with the President of Colombia Ivan Duque in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb. 13, 2019. (Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
President Donald J. Trump meets with the President of Colombia Ivan Duque in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb. 13, 2019. (Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Colombian President Duque said the United States and Colombia, “share values,” and both countries want to work together to end the regime of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.

Duque said: “President (Juan) Guaido, who is they the person about to lead this transition in Venezuela, has a strong support and we need to give him even stronger support. I think what happened with the EU has been very important. We will host the Lima group next week in Bogota. And we will all the countries, in the hemisphere, give him a stronger support. He needs to lead the transition in Venezuela.”

1.4 Million Households Drop Out of Food Stamp Program Under President Trump

The number of food stamp recipients has been dropping for four years, prompted by economic recovery, state-level welfare reforms, and curtailing waivers on work requirements.
A sign in a market window advertises the acceptance of food stamps in New York City, on Oct. 7, 2010. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A sign in a market window advertises the acceptance of food stamps in New York City, on Oct. 7, 2010. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In Alabama, food-stamp use fell by 85 percent in 13 counties after work requirements were imposed for childless adults. 21 counties in Georgia saw a significant reduction in food stamp recipients after work requirements were restored.

A bill introduced in Alabama would require some food stamp recipients to get a drug test, as well as to work, volunteer, or get an education.

Representative Tommy Hanes said: “It’s time to eliminate food stamp fraud.”

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Pence Re-Affirms Support for Poland as Agreement on New Rocket Artillery Signed

Vice President Mike Pence re-affirmed that the United States stands with Poland at an assembly of United States and Polish soldiers in Warsaw.

Pence told the assembly: “We are with you. We will stand with you, and the United States of America stands with Poland as a part of the most successful mutual defense alliance in the history of the world and we always will.”

Vice President Mike Pence and Polish President Andrzej Duda shake hands during a joint news conference at Belvedere Palace in Warsaw, Poland on Feb. 13, 2019. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)
Vice President Mike Pence and Polish President Andrzej Duda shake hands during a joint news conference at Belvedere Palace in Warsaw, Poland on Feb. 13, 2019. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Following Pence’s speech, Poland’s Defense Minister confirmed delivery of a new rocket artillery system.

Pence told the assembly that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers would help protect central and eastern Europe from attack for decades to come.