Vermont Independent and self-described Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledged on Thursday that the
"economy is a disaster" in
Venezuela --
but he cautioned against U.S. involvement in that county's affairs and
condemned what he called "inappropriate" past interventions.
Meanwhile, far-left Minnesota Democratic
freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar
tweeted Thursday, without evidence, that President Trump has personally
engaged in "efforts to install a far right opposition [that] will only
incite violence and further destabilize the region" and that "a US
backed coup in Venezuela is not a solution to the dire issues they
face."
Sanders, a fierce advocate for progressive proposals like
Medicare for All and boosting both corporate tax rates and the federal
minimum wage, made the comments in a
statement
and a series of social media posts as Venezuela, a socialist nation,
continued its descent Thursday into political and economic turmoil.
OMAR ALLEGES LINDSEY GRAHAM HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, OFFERS NO EVIDENCE
Venezuela's
government -- which in recent years has limited citizens' access to
foreign currency, implemented substantial subsidies and price controls
on food and other items, and fallen victim to sweeping corruption --
effectively collapsed this week. Some analysts have placed the
principal blame on the country's socialist policies, while others have
pointed to fallen oil prices and mismanagement.
Venezuelan
opposition leader Juan Guaido declared he was temporarily assuming
presidential powers in a bid to unseat Nicolas Maduro, whose powerful
loyalists
went on the offensive Thursday in support of the embattled leader.
"The
Maduro government has waged a violent crackdown on Venezuelan civil
society, violated the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly
and was re-elected last year in an election many observers said was
fraudulent," Sanders wrote. "The economy is a disaster and millions are
migrating."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro salutes as he arrives to the
Supreme Court for an annual ceremony that marks the start of the
judicial year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019.
Venezuelans are heading into uncharted political waters after the young
leader of a newly united opposition claimed Wednesday to hold the
presidency and Maduro dug in for a fight with the Trump administration.
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Sanders continued, "The United States should support
the rule of law, fair elections and self-determination for the
Venezuelan people. We must condemn the use of violence against unarmed
protesters and the suppression of dissent."
Sanders then seemingly
responded to suggestions that the U.S. might military intervene in the
county. President Trump reportedly considered a military strike in
Venezuela last summer, and top Republicans have refused to rule out an
armed response to the current crisis.
Florida Republican Sen.
Marco Rubio said this week that if Maduro harms any U.S. diplomats, the
consequences will be "swift and decisive."
As for Sanders, he
wrote: "We must learn the lessons of the past and not be in the business
of regime change or supporting coups—as we have in Chile, Guatemala,
Brazil & the DR. The US has a long history of inappropriately
intervening in Latin American nations; we must not go down that road
again."
Guaido has disappeared from view since swearing before
tens of thousands of cheering supporters to uphold the constitution and
rid Venezuela of Maduro's dictatorship, and his whereabouts remained
shrouded in mystery on Thursday.
A defiant Maduro, meanwhile,
called home all Venezuelan diplomats from the United States
and closed its embassy, a day after ordering all U.S. diplomats out of
the country by the weekend. Washington has refused to comply, but
ordered its non-essential staff to leave the tumultuous country, citing
security concerns.
The Trump administration says Maduro's order
isn't legal because the U.S. no longer recognizes him as Venezuela's
legitimate leader.
Tensions soared between the U.S. and
Venezuela after Trump recognized Guaido's leadership. Attention has been
on the military, a traditional arbiter of political disputes in
Venezuela, as a critical indicator of whether the opposition will
succeed in establishing a new government.
WATCH: LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYS OCASIO-CORTEZ 'HELL-BENT' ON MAKING US LIKE VENEZUELA
Venezuela's
top military brass pledged unwavering support to Maduro, delivering
vows of loyalty earlier Thursday before rows of green-uniformed officers
on state television.
A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro carries a
"Yankee Go Home" sign in Caracas on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ariana
Cubillos)
A half-dozen generals belonging largely to district
commands and with direct control over thousands of troops joined Maduro
in accusing the United States of meddling in Venezuela's affairs and
said they would uphold the socialist leader's rule.
Defense
Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, a key Maduro ally, later delivered his
own proclamation, dismissing efforts to install a "de-facto parallel
government" as tantamount to a coup.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said officials were closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela -- and he
took a swipe
at a proposal by another high-profile Democratic socialist in the U.S.,
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to implement a 70 percent
marginal tax rate on the rich.
Anti-government protesters tear off razor wire from a wall
surrounding a vacant lot, to make a barricade during clashes against the
Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard in Caracas. (AP Photo/Fernando
Llano)
"We’re looking at Venezuela, it’s a very sad
situation," Trump told reporters. "That was the richest state in all of
that area, that's a big beautiful area, and by far the richest -- and
now it's one of the poorest places in the world. That's what socialism
gets you, when they want to raise your taxes to 70 percent."
The
president's comments mirrored those of South Carolina Republican Sen.
Lindsey Graham, who charged on Thursday that Ocasio-Cortez "and her new
socialist colleagues seem hell-bent on making sure that our last 12
years will be spent as Venezuelan socialists, not Americans" -- a
reference to Ocasio-Cortez's claim that
the world will end in 12 years due to climate change.
Much
of the international community is rallying behind Guaido, with the
U.S., Canada and numerous Latin American and European countries
announcing that they recognized his claim to the presidency. Trump has
promised to use the "full weight" of U.S. economic and diplomatic power
to push for the restoration of Venezuela's democracy.
Meanwhile, Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba and Turkey have voiced their backing for Maduro's government.
China's
Foreign Ministry called on the United States to stay out of the crisis,
while Russia's deputy foreign minister warned the U.S. against any
military intervention in Venezuela.
Russia has been propping up
Maduro with arms deliveries and loans. Maduro visited Moscow in
December, seeking Russia's political and financial support. Over the
last decade, China has given Venezuela $65 billion in loans, cash and
investment. Venezuela owes more than $20 billion.