Trump backs Juan Guaidó as ‘true’ president of Venezuela during State of the Union
For the first 30 minutes of President Donald Trump’s third State of the Union speech, the House of Representatives was divided. Republicans shot out of their seats to offer applause. Democrats largely sat quietly.
But Venezuela unified them, at least for a moment.
“The United States is leading a 59 nation diplomatic coalition against the socialist dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro,” Trump said about 30 minutes into his speech. “Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people. But Maduro’s grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken.“
Trump then looked up from the podium to acknowledge Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan lawmaker the U.S. recognizes as the country’s legitimate leader, as the room stood and cheered. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who previously sat silently, stood and applauded alongside Vice President Mike Pence.
“Here this evening is a man who carries with him the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of all Venezuelans,” Trump said. “Joining us in the gallery is the true and legitimate president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó. Mr. President, please take this message back to your homeland. All Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom. Socialism destroys nations. But always remember, freedom unifies the soul.”
Trump’s words were a symbolic victory for Venezuelan opposition efforts after Guaidó did not meet with the president during a Miami rally on Saturday, part of his first visit to the U.S. since he was recognized as Venezuela’s leader a year ago.
Guaidó sat near Ivanka Trump in a guest box for the president’s State of the Union guests. The White House did not announce his attendance in advance.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who met with Guaidó on Saturday and leads the Senate committee responsible for Latin American affairs, said the Venezuelan leader’s invitation “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for the people of Venezuela, Interim President Juan Guaidó, and the democratically elected National Assembly.”
“By inviting Interim President Juan Guaidó and the Special Envoy for Intelligence and Law Enforcement Mr. Iván Simonovis, one of Venezuela’s longest held political prisoners of the Maduro narco-dictatorship, the Trump administration has sent a clear message that the U.S. will continue to stand with the Venezuelan people as they work towards a free and democratic Venezuela,” Rubio said in a statement.
Simonovis, the former Caracas police chief, was imprisoned for 15 years before escaping Venezuela in 2019. Simonovis moved to South Florida, home to the country’s largest Venezuelan community.
Miami Rep. Donna Shalala, one of Guaidó’s most vocal backers among Democrats, criticized Trump for not offering enough specifics on his plan to implement free and fair elections in Venezuela.
“Even when he praises the work of democratic champions like Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó, he only offers platitudes and not the solutions that the people of Venezuela so desperately need,” Shalala said in a statement.
Eric Farnsworth, a former State Department official who is now a vice president of the Council of the Americas, said the response from Democrats and Republicans to Guaidó in the chamber puts the onus on both parties to work together on Venezuela policy, especially as they court voters in Florida ahead of the 2020 election.
“The thing about bringing Juan Guaidó to #SOTU is that US prestige is now squarely behind his success, on a bipartisan basis,” Farnsworth said in a tweet. “That could lead to some interesting decisions during this election year. Concrete follow up actions are required to support the interim govt.”
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott also tweeted a response: “Thank you Donald Trump for inviting and recognizing Venezuela’s rightful President Juan Guaido at tonight’s State of the Union.”
McClatchy White House correspondents Michael Wilner and Francesca Chambers contributed to this report.
