By Tony Czuczka

Bloomberg News

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump signaled that he’s confident a transition of power in Venezuela is underway as the U.S. presses for opposition leader Juan Guaido to take over.

Use of U.S. military force in Venezuela remains “an option” and he isn’t inclined to negotiate with President Nicolas Maduro to persuade him to leave, Trump said in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday. At the same time, “I think the process is playing out” as Venezuelans take to the streets to protest, he said.

“If you talk about democracy, it’s really democracy in action,” Trump said.

Supporters of Maduro and Guaido, who Venezuelan lawmakers named interim president in January, marched in demonstrations Sunday in Caracas, the capital. The U.S. and two dozen other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader and are stepping up pressure on the ruling socialists to cede power.

European Union countries signaled that they’re moving toward backing Guaido’s legitimacy.

France will recognize him as interim president if Maduro didn’t announce a new presidential vote by Sunday night, European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Guaido had “our full support to restore democracy in Venezuela.”

Both men have made a point of reaching out to the military, the country’s most powerful institution. After an air force general broke with Maduro Saturday, Guaido appealed to the armed forces for support at a rally.

“I have absolute certainty that change is very near in Venezuela,” Guaido told the crowd of thousands.

Maduro, elected president in 2013 and who rigged his re-election last year, told a crowd of thousands of red-clad supporters and soldiers: “Venezuela doesn’t surrender. Venezuela charges forward.”