US President Donald Trump and Venezuela’s opposition leader Mara Corina Machado have something in common. And no, it’s not the Nobel Peace Prize. Both Trump and Machado share a common enemy: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In the past year, Machado, Maduro’s chief opponent, was forced into hiding due to constant threats to her life. In fact, she was briefly detained while leading thousands of protesters in the streets of Venezuela. Her protest was against Maduro being sworn in for a third six-year term following a controversial election marred by voter fraud.
Some top aides to Mr. Trump want him to approve a military operation to remove Mr. Maduro from power, The New York Times has reported.
On the other hand, Trump has grander plans for Maduro – a regime change, as The New York Times puts it. People close to Trump like Marco Rubio, have been urging him to remove Maduro forcefully from power.
His administration calls the Venezuelan President a “fugitive of American justice,” while Trump describes Maduro as a drug cartel leader and an illegitimate ruler.
So, Venezuela’s larger-than-life leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez, now has a big headache – both at home and abroad.
