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Former US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the outcome of the Venezuelan presidential election, in which incumbent President Nicolas Maduro secured a second six-year term. In a statement, Trump indicated that the US will not recognize opposition candidate Juan Guaidó as the country’s rightful leader, as he had been prior to the election.
The comments from Trump come as the international community grapples with the implications of Maduro’s re-election. Many countries, including the US, had not recognized the legitimacy of the election due to allegations of widespread voting irregularities and voter suppression. The electoral commission had reported that Maduro had secured around 68% of the vote, while his closest rival, Guillermo Ochoa, secured less than 10%.
However, Maduro’s victory will likely face resistance from some Western nations, with several countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada, having imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela in recent years in an effort to pressure the government to implement reforms.
Trump criticized the Maduro regime, describing it as an “illegitimate dictatorship” that “had to manipulate the vote to get its preferred candidate in power.” However, in line with his previous stance, Trump stated that he does not believe Juan Guaidó is now the rightful leader of Venezuela. “This is not a legitimate election,” Trump said in his statement. “The US will not recognize Maduro as the winner.”
Trump’s comments come as a shift from his previous policy on Venezuela, where he had recognized Guaidó as the country’s interim president in 2019, following widespread anti-government protests in the country. At the time, the US had imposed significant economic sanctions on Venezuela in an effort to pressure Maduro’s government.
Guaidó had been recognized by over 50 countries, including the US, as Venezuela’s rightful president, while Maduro was viewed as a puppet of the government of neighboring Cuba. However, the international recognition of Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela began to lose momentum following his failure to unseat Maduro through military force.
The Venezuelan opposition has stated that the election was rigged and called for a second round of voting. Maduro has described the opposition’s allegations as an “obscene farce.” The international community remains divided over how to respond to the outcome of the election, with some nations, including the US, vowing to continue to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela, while others are expected to maintain a more measured response.
The outcome of the Venezuelan election is likely to have significant implications for the country’s economy, which is facing severe hyperinflation and food shortages. The economic sanctions imposed on Venezuela by Western nations have exacerbated the crisis, resulting in widespread poverty and displacement for many Venezuelans.