Last week, the US, along with a number of allies including Paraguay, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru and Canada, declared Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of the South American country, despite protests from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The move came after Guaido declared himself interim president on Wednesday.
However, in the following hours, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino took to Twitter, announcing that the Venezuelan military wouldn't accept an imposed or self-proclaimed president. He stressed that servicemembers would continue to defend the Venezuelan constitution and act as a guarantor of national sovereignty.
Prior to the Monday appearance, Bolton tweeted on Sunday, saying that "any violence and intimidation against US diplomatic personnel, Venezuela's Democratic leader, Juan Guaido, or the National Assembly" would be "met with a significant response."
Maduro welcomed back home several Venezuelan diplomats late Monday during a televised national address. He also indicated that he'd approved visas and diplomatic immunity for seven American diplomats in order to "have an office here in Venezuela with which I could talk."