What’s happening in Venezuela and what does it mean?

[theotherfossilsister]

I’m confused- has the US gone to war with them? What are the implications if so?

The whole circus should be allowed to play out fully.

A judge has been appointed in SDNY so we can all follow the Trial (unfortunately if it's a federal case it won't be televised) and see what conclusive evidence is presented. The fact that one of the charges is possession on firearms, should be interesting to see the response from pro second amendment folk.

Trump's behaviour and naked disregard of both domestic and international laws is just accelerating America's descent into pariah status. At at least he says and does out openly what many of his predecessors did behind closed doors in the past.

Next stop Cuba, whose expats in Miami released this banger in 2020 for Donroe.

@BelleHathor thank you for answering my question.

There’s always videos circulating, for whichever side.

It doesn’t override how Venezuelans feel.

What happens if Maduro is found 'Not Guilty'?

Exactly EasternStandard, however Venezuelan's are not a monolith they have diverse opinions and all those opinions must be listened to including :

• The Venezuelans in the streets demanding Maduro's return.
• The polls saying most people in Venezuela oppose US regime change.
• And the Venezuelan talking to Fox News from his mansion in Miami.

You missed the voters who wanted him out, and then he stayed anyway.

If anyone is arguing for Maduro to be returned they can explain to those impacted that they’ll have to suffer under the dictatorship.

• The Venezuelans in the streets demanding Maduro's return.

Who are the Venezuelans who want Maduro to return to power?
I can only assume those worked for him and had privileges not available to the majority like for example the Stasi and members of the Gestapo.
Also, those who assisted Maduro in torturing and repressing Venezuelans may fear the consequences.

Yup, all the people rallying in Venezuela worked for Maduro:

https://x.com/DavidPorrasP/status/2007998245277180330?s=20

"Here I leave you more videos of the mobilizations in support of the strangest dictator (due to the popular support he has) of our times, contrary to María Corina Machado, whom the same Trump recognized is not wanted in Venezuela."

From Telesur yesterday in Venzeuela:

What we are being fed in the West is a very curated, particular narrative.

And I forgot likely the families of the 80 people killed during this operation.

Edited to add, it's still Maduro's government in power, his deputy was sworn in as acting head of state.

If people wanted him in they would have voted for him.

If people want to put him back they may as well stand behind that and explain how they’d put it to those who suffered in Venezuela.

@BelleHathor ok, well maybe you’re right, maybe the Venezuelan people do want a return to Maduro’s rule.
However, as Eastern Standard says, why did the majority vote for the opposition in 2024 - which Maduro refused to recognise?

Maduro's "loss" in 2024 was based on an exit poll conducted by the American Company Edison Research (which has a history of working with American Government and intelligence fronts such as Voice of America)
https://www.edisonresearch.com/edison-research-conducts-exit-poll-in-venezuela/ . Edison predicted 65% for the opposition vs 31% for Maduro.

This was in contrast to another polling company in Venezuela which predicted a much closer result https://x.com/Hinterlaces/status/1817599369471799639?s=20 :
INTERLACES
EXIT POLL / 12:00 mediodía

📊 Participación proyectada: 61,5%

🔴Nicolás Maduro: 54,57%
🔵Edmundo González: 42,82%
⚪️Otros: 2,61%

And independent international observers:
https://nlginternational.org/2024/07/press-release-national-lawyers-guild-electoral-observers-praise-fairness-transparency-of-venezuelan-election-process-condemn-the-u-s-backed-oppositions-refusal-to-accept-the-outcome-of-de/

@BelleHathor around a quarter of Venezuelans fled the country under Maduro. Its’ average life expectancy is now below Syria’s. It has a negative economic growth rate worse than anywhere except Gaza. Inflation has topped 200%. A third of the country lives in appalling poverty.

All this from a country with the world’s largest oil reserves. But yeah, sure he was a popular guy with the voters.

How do you explain the mass fleeing of people and lack of food?

I’m a bit lost.

Was there an election in 2024 that Maduro lost?

Are we saying that the people actually want him to lead Venezuela.

Sorry but someone is going to have to clear this up for me.

I currently don't have the time to give you a full geopolitical history on intervention in Venezuela, but it boils down to Sanctions harm ordinary people. A lot of the people that left (as many do in other global south countries), did it in order to work and send money back to Venezuela.

When the American companies were kicked out by Chavez, Venezuela lost a lot of expertise and were unable to buy the required parts necessary to extract oil, hence a large hit to their economy.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2026/01/03/venezuela-maduro-and-the-long-shadow-of-oil-expropriation/

But don't worry it will be all fine now, gold lined Caracas ahead, now that Trump Donor Paul Singer's company was rewarded the control of the Oil company that used to belong to the Venezuelan people:

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2025/12/02/537526/judge-approves-sale-of-citgo-to-amber-energy/

@TheGrinchWasHere yes he lost. And no the majority of people in Venezuela do not want him as their leader. His VP remains in place because the Maduro and his cronies still have the support of the military at this stage.

@BelleHathor that’s what happens when a company can’t pay its debts.

Right. You are making posts for Maduro but have stopped short of wanting him returned, or do you?

Just say it’s in your hands, would you return him?

Lots of questions. Surely Rodriguez is no way more entitled to be in power than Maduro was.
Will the US allow/encourage Gonzalez to step in given he won last year?
I understand that constitutionally Gonzalez is entitled to be sworn in.
However, Machado was forced to step aside and therefore threw her weight behind Gonzalez. So shouldn't there be a further election to confirm his position?
Where does this leave the other opposition parties? Will they fracture or group together?
Should there be a government of national unity?
Who gets to decide what happens next?
Where is the plan for elections?

Presumably the country still owns their own resources - who gets to decide which oil companies get licences (I know Chevron have a limited licence already). Can those licences be revoked if there is a change in power? Is that a US decision or one for the Venezualan government in which case shouldnt they have an election (as above who runs it). etc etc

Where next? I see Colombia have been threatened by Trump earlier. And what about Greenland?

No, I am not making posts "for Maduro", I am simply presenting the other side.

And yes, the whole process started by Trump needs to be played out, sometime people need to be shown/learn the lesson the hard way. Just ask all those Libyan's and Iraqi's who welcomed their liberation by America.

His voters need to feel the consequences of his actions negative or positive.
If this results in Wall Street profiteering but ordinary Venezuelans (and by proxy Americans) not benefitting, then so be it.

Ok but you haven’t answered on the return or not.

As for Libya and Afghanistan there’s differences which have been noted as for why Venezuelans can be more hopeful.

Gonzales and Maria are out, in a strangely honest way during his press conference:

Trump says he won't back Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, because ‘She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country’.

Which is an interesting move as Maria had promised to open up Venezuela to American companies. However the only way that Trump would be able to insert her would be via American boots on the ground. It seems that the actual intelligent people within the Pentagon know that there are millions of armed militias and forces loyal to Maduro that would resist violently as would many of the ordinary Venezuelan population in Venezuela.

So right now it is the Status Quo with Maduro's VP and Army still in control. In fact his son was just sworn into the Venezuelan parliament:
https://x.com/upholdreality/status/2008222543958753483?s=20

"Dad, you made all of us int the family strong people. Here we are, fulfilling our duty until you return. The motherland is in good hands, Dad."

Thank you Belle. So on that basis an election and the opportunity for a change of regime won't be pursued.

I said I want the whole process to play out as instigated by Trump and let the cards fall where they may.

It doesn't matter whether Maduro is returned or not, Trump made him into a symbol, the Grey Nike Tracksuit he was wearing has nearly sold out, there are pictures of him next to DEA agents posing like a model.

It's has also opened the eyes of so many people as to the extent America will go to impose it's hegemony.