Venezuela opposition seeks army backing, leader to meet Biden
Raw StoryJan 08
Biden Hosts Venezuela's US-Recognized Pres.-Elect González at White House
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Above: Edmundo González Urrutia, Venezuela's opposition leader, speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6, 2025, after meeting US Pres. Joe Biden. Image copyright: Ting Shen/Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
Edmundo González, the exiled opposition leader who the US recognizes as Venezuela's president-elect after a disputed presidential election in July, met with US Pres. Joe Biden at the White House on Monday as part of his international tour to put pressure on his rival, Nicolás Maduro.
Later, González met with US Pres.-elect Donald Trump's designated national security advisor, Mike Waltz, and Republican Reps. María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart, as well as with the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
González is the rightful president-elect of Venezuela, and this meeting with Joe Biden further signals bipartisan support in the US for restoring democracy in the South American country. As Maduro and his allies plan to usurp power on the presidential inauguration, the free world must stand firmly with González and put further pressure on Caracas.
Establishment-critical narrative
Maduro won the presidential election through proper constitutional channels, and many countries have already recognized him as the legitimate president-elect. It's no surprise, though, that the US has sided with González and Machado, as installing a puppet regime in Venezuela has long been seen as a way to get its hands on the country's oil.
