Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Sunday as Venezuela held municipal elections to fill mayoral positions and council seats. The municipal contests come one day before the one-year anniversary of Venezuela’s presidential election, which was deemed illegitimate by the United States and international observers. The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on Maduro, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accusing him of aiding terrorism against the U.S.
“One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner, the United States stands firm in its support for Venezuela’s restoration of democratic order,” Rubio stated. “Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not legitimate.”
Rubio continued to criticize Maduro for his involvement in narco-terrorism, stating that Maduro leads the Cartel de Los Soles, a designated terrorist organization. The Justice Department has charged Maduro and other Venezuelan officials with various criminal charges, including drug trafficking. The U.S. has not recognized Maduro as the Venezuelan president since 2019.
Rubio also condemned the manipulation of Venezuela’s electoral system by Maduro’s regime, emphasizing the importance of holding the corrupt regime accountable. The U.S. has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of the 2024 Venezuelan election due to allegations of fraud.
The Treasury Department recently sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” accusing the group of providing support to other terrorist organizations. The U.S. has classified Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as foreign terrorist organizations. The Treasury Department highlighted the cartel’s involvement in trafficking narcotics into the United States.
Overall, the U.S. government is focused on cracking down on violent organizations and individuals involved in narco-terrorism, including those linked to Maduro’s regime. The actions taken by the Treasury Department aim to prioritize America’s national security interests.
