President Trump condemned “foreign efforts to undermine” Chile’s “democracy” after violent mass protests forced an international summit and Trump’s planned visit to be canceled.
Trump spoke with Chile’s conservative President Sebastián Piñera, a fellow billionaire, on Wednesday, the White House disclosed Thursday.
Chile’s government canceled the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Wednesday amid violence and arson in protests that began with opposition to a fare hike on mass transit.
Though protests have featured one million participants in the nation of 18 million, Chilean newspaper La Tercera said police identified Venezuelans and Cubans involved in violence.
Trump’s denunciation of foreign interference in Chile came as Democrats passed a resolution Thursday outlining impeachment proceedings centered on Trump requesting that Ukraine investigate Democrats.
In its statement, the White House said: “The United States stands with Chile, an important ally, as it works to peacefully restore national order. President Trump denounced foreign efforts to undermine Chilean institutions, democracy, or society.”
Trump has repeatedly canceled visits to Latin America. In April 2018, he canceled a trip to Colombia and Peru and sent Vice President Mike Pence instead. In November, he made his debut visit to the continent as president to attend the G-20 summit in Argentina but canceled a planned stop in Colombia.
