Condemnation continues to pour in as the world reacts to last weekend's Venezuelan presidential election. After exit polls indicated that the opposition had decisively won the election, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro declared himself the winner, ushering six more years of control over the country. Blaming the Biden-Harris Administration, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) accused the current administration of emboldening Maduro's reign.
Earlier this year, the Biden Administration negotiated a deal with Venezuela wherein sanctions would be lifted as the country had committed to hosting free and fair elections. However, things took a turn after Maria Corina Machado, who was set to face Maduro, was declared ineligible to compete by the country's Supreme Court. This generated widespread outrage from lawmakers in Florida.
On social media, Senator Rubio called the election held over the weekend "another foreign policy fiasco from the Biden-Harris team."
Another foreign policy fiasco from the Biden-Harris team
They gave Maduro relief from Trump oil sanctions and released his top money launderer & his two convicted drug dealer nephews in exchange for a “promise” to hold fair elections monitored by neutral international observers…
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 29, 2024
"They gave Maduro relief from Trump oil sanctions and released his top money launderer & his two convicted drug dealer nephews in exchange for a 'promise' to hold fair elections monitored by neutral international observers," Rubio explained, adding that "Maduro did exactly what I warned he would do." "He took the benefits, banned neutral observers from entering Venezuela and carried out a blatantly fake election."
"America’s foreign policy is in the hands of clowns."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the election results in the early hours of Monday, citing "concerns" over the results. The administration now faces criticism as Vice President Kamala Harris (D) campaigns against President Donald Trump (R).
Republicans are now calling on the United States to impose sanctions against Venezuela, adding that the U.S. should impose "targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for subverting Venezuela's once democratic" system.
Florida Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R), Maria Elvira Salazar (R), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R) sent a letter to Vice President Harris with the request.
