Donald Trump Says ‘My Own Morality’ Is ‘the Only Thing That Can Stop Me’ from World Dominance: ‘I Don’t Need International Law’

President Donald Trump suggested he would not feel bound by international law as he continues to publicly entertain the idea of expanding U.S. control across parts of the Western Hemisphere.

“I don’t need international law,” Trump said in a new interview with The New York Times. “I’m not looking to hurt people.”

When pressed, Trump said he understood his administration would need to abide by international rules, but added, “It depends what your definition of international law is.”

Trump said only one thing could restrain him: “My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

The comments come less than a week after U.S. forces, under Trump’s direction, captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores, amid what Trump described as “large-scale strikes” on the capital city of Caracas. The pair were brought to the United States to stand trial on multiple charges related to narco-terrorism.

Venezuela has since installed an interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, but Trump has repeatedly claimed the United States is now effectively running the country.

“It’s going to be run very judiciously, very fairly. And it’s gonna make a lot of money,” Trump said previously. “You know they stole our oil. We built that whole industry and they just took it over like we were nothing. So we did something about it. We’re late, but we did something about it.”

He later added, “We’ll be selling large amounts of oil [from Venezuela] to other countries… We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be.”

“We’re gonna make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of… You’re going to have peace, justice… you’re going to have a real country.”

Trump has also renewed his interest in annexing Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States. He acknowledged that taking Greenland could force a choice between maintaining alliances and pursuing the acquisition.

“It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said to reporters aboard Air Force One on Jan. 4. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

In his Times interview, Trump argued that control by an ally would not be sufficient, saying he wants outright ownership.

“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do with, you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document,” he said.

Trump Threatens to Come for Cuba, Colombia, Greenland, Iran and Mexico Next After Saying ‘Nobody Can Stop Us’
Donald Trump Announces U.S. Will Now ‘Run’ Venezuela After Ordering Capture of Venezuelan President and First Lady

Trump has also pointed to Colombia, Cuba, Iran and Mexico as additional targets of focus.

“You have to do something with Mexico. Mexico has to get their act together because they’re pouring through Mexico and we’re going to have to do something,” he said previously, referring to drug cartels.

“We’d love Mexico to do it. They’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico,” Trump added.

Referring to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Trump said the country is being “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long.”

Petro spoke with the Times before calling Trump to discuss the threats, expressing concern that the United States could carry out an operation in Colombia similar to what he said occurred in Venezuela.

“We are in danger,” the Colombian president said. “Because the threat is real. It was made by Trump.”