The president who routinely derides his nation’s duly proceeding justice system, claims that in some cases we need to “get rid of judges,” and claims a widespread conspiracy against him without evidence would like us to take him as a serious voice on global democracy. This Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trump tweeted in support of the Venezuelan opposition, as led by Juan Guaidó, which began a widespread coup operation to oust Nicolas Maduro from power, who has refused to cede control in the wake of what many observers have denounced as a completely illegitimate election.
He shared:
‘I am monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely. The United States stands with the People of Venezuela and their Freedom!’
It’s ironic that he made this statement considering not only his past antagonism of his own country’s due legal processes but also his claim at one point that protesting itself should be outlawed in the United States. Suddenly he has morals.
Reportedly, the operation underway this Tuesday had been planned for some time, but its implementation date got moved up after the regime planned to arrest Guaidó. Demonstrations are rocking the nation this week, where the National Guard has been shooting rubber bullets and accused of using live fire to quell protesters.
Guaidó serves as the head of the Venezuelan national legislative body, on which he has based his claim to the nation’s presidency considering its acting president reeks of illegitimacy. U.S. authorities have already recognized him as the legitimate leader of the country and have imposed tough sanctions on the Maduro regime in an effort to pressure it out of power. The sanctions have targeted everything from the country’s state-owned oil company to its banking sector, which were set to “potentially shut Venezuela out of international financial markets,” according to a U.S. official speaking to McClatchy DC.
Hours before Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had already asserted the United States’ support for the “coup” operation, which has been termed “Operación Libertad.” Pompeo tweeted:
‘The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated.’
Check out Twitter’s response to Trump…
Featured Image via screenshot
