In a press conference earlier today at Mart-a-Lago, President Donald Trump confirmed that the US has taken custody of unelected Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has been indicted by the Department of Justice over narco-trafficking to the US. President Trump also stated that US was to take over Venezuela during a transition before a democratically elected government enters office. In July last year, Edmundo Gonzalez won the presidential elections in Venezuela with a landslide.
Maduro remained in power with repression and also Russian military help. Iranian, Chinese and Russian air defences failed to engage US aviation that struck Venezuela. President Trump also confirmed during the press conference that María Corina Machado was not going to be the Venezuelan President because she doesn’t have popular backing.
President Trump said that the US can not allow foreign powers to take a foothold in the backyard of the US and condemned Maduro for inviting foreign powers into Venezuela. The US President reiterated that the US dominance in the Western Hemisphere will not be challenged and that he is re-instituting the Monroe Doctrine. Questioned on the costs of the operation President Trump also said that Venezuela will be paying back with its oil. He added that Venezuela should be able to prosper with its oil reserves and natural riches.
Venezuelans today were out in force celebrating the ousting of Maduro. Celebrations also took place across cities in Latin America and are ongoing in cities and towns in Spain and other European countries.
European leaders including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer all reiterated that Maduro is not the legitimate president of Venezuela but international law should be adhered to in the transition to democracy.
Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez held a meeting with Venezuela’s National Security Council and declared that Venezuela government is still in control of the country. Pro-government security forces were out in the streets of Caracas this night securing control of neighbourhoods and streets.
Below is footage of Caracas following the US attack.
Newsroom
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