Trump recognizes Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaid as interim president [View all]

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: NBC News

Trump recognizes Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaid as interim president

Jan. 23, 2019, 1:30 PM EST
By Carmen Sesin

President Donald Trump officially recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaid as interim president after Guaid declared himself the country's leader amid cheers from thousands who were protesting in the streets.

"In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country's constitution to declare Nicols Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant," said Trump in a statement. "The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law."
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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-recognizes-venezuela-opposition-leader-juan-guaido-interim-president-n961771

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Hat tip, the White House. See? I said you had to pay attention to these things.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-donald-j-trump-recognizing-venezuelan-national-assembly-president-juan-guaido-interim-president-venezuela/

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Statement from President Donald J. Trump Recognizing Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela

FOREIGN POLICY Issued on: January 23, 2019

Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela. In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country's constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant. The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.

I will continue to use the full weight of United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. We encourage other Western Hemisphere governments to recognize National Assembly President Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela, and we will work constructively with them in support of his efforts to restore constitutional legitimacy. We continue to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime directly responsible for any threats it may pose to the safety of the Venezuelan people. As Interim President Guaido noted yesterday: "Violence is the usurper's weapon; we only have one clear action: to remain united and firm for a democratic and free Venezuela."