Miami Gathering Shows Support for Trump’s Reversal of Biden-Era Oil Deal with Venezuela
A significant show of support for former President Donald Trump’s recent decision to reverse a Biden-era oil deal with Venezuela unfolded in Miami, Florida. Representative Carlos Gimenez, the only Cuban-born member of Congress, spearheaded the event, bringing together Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó and prominent Venezuelan and Colombian community figures from across the United States. The gathering served as a platform to condemn Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorial regime in Venezuela and express solidarity with those seeking freedom from oppressive regimes in Latin America.
Representative Gimenez, a Republican representing Florida, hosted the event at a private lounge within Miami International Airport, underscoring the importance of the issue to his constituency and his personal connection to the struggle for freedom. He made clear that the situation in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua was "personal" to him, drawing parallels to his own family’s flight from Cuba’s communist regime.
Gimenez vehemently criticized the notion of the U.S. engaging in any deals with Maduro, emphasizing that the former President Joe Biden administration’s approach was misguided. He expressed strong support for Trump’s decision to terminate the Chevron oil agreement, which had allowed the company to operate in Venezuela. Trump cited Maduro’s failure to meet electoral conditions within Venezuela and his lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities regarding the deportation of violent illegal aliens as justifications for the reversal.
Gimenez Condemns Maduro, Links Venezuela to Cuba and Nicaragua
Addressing concerns about members of the Tren de Aragua gang wreaking havoc in New York City, Gimenez drew a clear distinction between Venezuelan civilians fleeing oppression and criminals illegally entering the U.S. He stated that individuals persecuted by dictatorial governments would always find a friend in him and fellow Florida Republicans Mario Diaz-Balart, Maria Salazar, Senator Rick Scott, and former President Donald J. Trump.
Gimenez highlighted the interconnectedness of dictatorial regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, describing them as "pretty much tied together" in their repression of their own people. He expressed hope that Trump’s action was "just the first step" in liberating these countries, emphasizing that the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua deserve freedom.
The Congressman further argued that the U.S. should aim to transform these "enemy states" into friends, citing national interest at multiple levels. He pointed out Cuba’s proximity to his district in Key West, located less than 90 miles away, and expressed confidence in Trump’s understanding of the importance of freedom and democracy in the hemisphere and around the world.
Guaidó Praises Trump, Slams Central American Despots
Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition leader, delivered remarks in Spanish, praising Trump and condemning what he characterized as Central American despots. He stressed the need for a "strong, prosperous, and safe Latin America" grounded in democracy and freedom. Guaidó expressed unwavering faith in Trump and his message to those who allegedly financed the coup d’état he claims was perpetrated by the Maduro dictatorship during the disputed re-election on July 28, 2024.
Guaidó further called for confronting the Maduro dictatorship and sending a clear message to those "usurping" power in Cuba and Nicaragua that they will not enjoy impunity.
Gimenez Expresses Confidence in Rubio’s Ability to Confront Regimes
Gimenez also expressed his full confidence in Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another prominent Miamian, and the State Department’s ability to confront the regimes in America’s hemisphere. He remarked that he and Rubio share an in-depth understanding of the situation in Cuba, joking that they "both have Ph.D.’s in that."
Trump’s Announcement on Venezuela Oil Deal
Trump’s decision to reverse the Biden-era oil deal with Venezuela followed his earlier announcement that he was "terminating Chevron’s Venezuela oil agreement." He cited the Maduro regime’s failure to meet electoral conditions and its lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities regarding the deportation of violent illegal aliens as the primary reasons for his action.
The reversal of the Chevron deal represents a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, signaling a return to a more assertive stance against the Maduro regime. The Miami gathering, spearheaded by Representative Gimenez and attended by key figures like Juan Guaidó, underscores the strong support for this policy shift among many in the Venezuelan and Cuban communities in the United States.
