Trump Considering Recognizing Opposition Leader as Venezuela's President

Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro began his second term last week, but the Trump administration slammed his inauguration as the "illegitimate result of a stolen election", while the State Department has also called for a new government.

According to CNN, Trump is considering whether to recognize Guaidó, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly and head of the opposition party, as the country's leader.

National Security Council Spokesman Garrett Marquis declined to comment to The Hill on deliberations regarding Guaidó, but did reaffirm the administration’s support of his effort to call for new elections.

“The United States has expressed its support for Juan Guaido, who as President of the democratically elected National Assembly has courageously declared his constitutional authority to invoke Article 233 and call for free and fair elections,” Marquis said, adding that "the United States supports the National Assembly as the only legitimate democratic entity in Venezuela”.

If the administration follows through, the move would raise pressure on Maduro, whose legitimacy has been questioned by both Republicans and Democrats, as well as by international bodies.

The Organization of American States, a regional bloc, voted last week 19 to 6 to not recognize Maduro's new term. The Trump administration has also levied severe sanctions against Maduro's government.

Guaidó and the National Assembly have had their role reduced by a parallel governing body packed with Maduro loyalists.

Guaidó and the assembly have called for Maduro's impeachment and his replacement by Guaidó, citing the Venezuelan Constitution, while he stated he will invoke Article 233 of the Constitution, which would let him call new elections.

Maduro defended the legitimacy of his presidency during his Saturday inauguration, saying in a televised address that "we're a real democracy and I, Nicolas Maduro Moros, I am a truly democratic president".

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