Trump Demands End to Maduro Regime in Broad Attack on Socialism

Donald Trump on Feb. 18. Photographer: Alicia Vera/Bloomberg

The U.S. president demands that the Maduro regime ends with a generalized attack against socialism. Trump has asked the Venezuelan army not to support the Maduro regime. Since the army has remained loyal to this regime. Likewise, in a speech offered in Miami, he has criticized socialism while foreseeing attacks that could be deployed against the Democrats in his re-election campaign.

In this way, Trump expressed before an audience at the International University of Florida, “The twilight hour of socialism has reached our hemisphere and, frankly, in many, many places in the world”, and likewise said, “The days of socialism and communism are numbered, not only in Venezuela but also in Nicaragua and Cuba”. It should be noted that in his speech offered on Monday, Trump did not directly link socialism with the Democratic party or any of its politicians. However, he repeatedly pledged to prevent the ideology from becoming entrenched.

While Trump said that this would not happen with the United States, he expressed “Socialism is a sad and discredited ideology, rooted in the total ignorance of history and human nature, which is why socialism should always eventually lead to the tyranny, as it does”.

Trump’s demands

Last month, the United States, as well as 30 other countries, recognized the leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, as interim president of the country. The Trump government has moved quickly to try to shore up the government of Guaido pending. However, it remains in a struggle to transfer the promised humanitarian aid to Venezuela.

This is really difficult considering that Maduro still has control over the military, which has remained loyal to the regime.

For his part, Trump demanded that the Venezuelan military stop blocking aid, claiming “We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open”.

Similarly, Trump warned Venezuelan military officials that “we know who they are and we know where they keep the billions of dollars they have stolen”. So affirm, “They are risking their lives and the future of Venezuela for a man controlled by the Cuban government”.

While the opposition leader Guaido thanked the president “for his determination and clear leadership in support of democracy and just causes in response to what is happening now in Venezuela”.

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Source: Margaret Talev | Bloomberg