Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro said that incoming US President Donald Trump cannot do worse than his predecessor, Barack Obama, who will leave a mixed legacy.

Maduro said Obama would be remembered for crises in Africa and the Middle East, spread of terrorism and three coups in Latin America. The Socialist president reiterated he wanted to mend ties with Washington.

"International media speculated a lot about Trump, and we are surprised by a hate campaign against Donald Trump. I say let’s wait and see what happens … he won’t be worse than Obama," he told reporters on Monday, as quoted by the state-run AVN news agency.

Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States in Washington this Friday. In his election campaign, the billionaire businessman accused Venezuela’s Socialist government of damaging the nation and oppressing its people.