Obama: Chávez has not posed a 'serious' national security threat

Obama and Chavez met in 2009 at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

President Obama said Monday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has not posed a “serious” national security threat, in an interview with WJAN in Miami:

OBAMA: We’re always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe. But overall my sense is that what Mr. Chávez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us. We have to vigilant. My main concern when it comes to Venezuela is having the Venezuelan people have a voice in their affairs, and that you end up ultimately having fair and free elections, which we don’t always see.

The Washington Free Beacon