President Trump on Monday rallied support in the largest Venezuelan community in the United States for opposition leader Juan Guaidó, saying Venezuela’s current path toward democracy was irreversible — and would pave the way for similar breakthroughs in Cuba and Nicaragua.
“This will become the first free hemisphere in all of human history,” Trump said at Florida International University in Miami during a campaign-style event, with the crowd cheering Trump and chanting “USA! USA!” and “Trump! Trump! Trump!”
The president offered a passionate attack on socialism and a full-throated defense of democracy in an address that at times seemed aimed at his progressive Democratic foes in the US, such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“There’s nothing less Democratic than socialism, which always gives rise to tyranny” he said, calling the system “a failed ideology” that “shut down free markets, repressed free speech” and “destroyed the rule of law.”
Socialism, he said, was on the decline throughout the region while democracy was growing stronger.
“A new day is coming in Latin America,” Trump said after being introduced by his wife, Melania. “In Venezuela, and across the Western Hemisphere, socialism is dying, and liberty, prosperity and democracy are being reborn.”
Trump expressed “strong support” for Guaidó, whom the US recognized as the country’s rightful president after he declared that the job was his, and condemned President Nicolàs Maduro’s government and its socialist policies.
And he urged the country’s military — which so far has backed Maduro — to not stand in the way of a peaceful transition and to allow humanitarian aid to cross the border from Colombia.
“There are members of the Venezuelan military still supporting this failed dictatorship, risking their future, risking their lives and Venezuela’s future, for a man controlled by the Cuban military and a private army of Cuban soldiers. The eyes of the entire world are upon you. You cannot hide from the choice that now confronts you,” the commander in chief said, adding that military brass had “no easy exit, no way out, you will lose everything.”
Guaidó praised Trump on video in Spanish.
“I want to take this opportunity and venue to thank the people of the United States and President Trump for his determination and clear leadership in support of democracy and just causes in response to what is happening now in Venezuela,” he said, according to a White House translation.