Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall, Governor Ron DeSantis has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration to support Florida's response and recovery efforts. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and members...
Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall in Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined the U.S. Coast Guard to survey impacted areas across the State. Photos are courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office. Senator Rubio joins the U.S. Coast Guard for a flyover...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida, bringing with it devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. The Seminole Tribe of Florida should have access to the federal resources required for emergency response and recovery preparations on...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to potentially hinder or obstruct the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio...
Did U.S. policy help Nicolás Maduro?
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
August 1, 2024
Foreign policy doesn’t rank among the most important issues for Americans…. But while a strong, America First foreign policy may not fix [domestic] problems, a bad Biden-Harris foreign policy will make them even worse.
Just look at what’s happening in Venezuela. The Biden-Harris administration has “serious concerns” [about] dictator Nicolás Maduro’s [false] announcement of electoral victory…. But such an outcome to this sham election was entirely predictable from the start [and] was made more so by three years’ worth of concessions to and negotiations with the Maduro narco-dictatorship….
The Biden-Harris Administration framed these actions as steps to “free and fair elections” in Venezuela, but without any indication that Maduro would permit those elections. Even when Maduro banned the leading opposition candidate, María Corina Machado, from the ballot, they considered additional sanctions relief.
In short, the Biden-Harris Administration gave away every ounce of leverage we had over Maduro, then appeared surprised when he didn’t do what they wanted. It’s problematic to say the least, and not just for the people of Venezuela—or for opposition leader María Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo González, who are now facing threats of imprisonment—but for America.
In recent years, nearly eight million Venezuelans have fled their country. Many of them have crossed our southern border, and many more will do the same if Maduro retains power. The tyrant will also happily send dangerous criminals—like the brutal Tren de Aragua gang, which is already wreaking havoc on our streets—the United States’ way. None of this makes life easier for American communities….
Naively begging bullies like Maduro to play by the rules has hurt America…. [I]t’s time for this administration to admit its mistakes, ready sanctions against those involved in the anti-democratic electoral process, and start the hard work of rebuilding our reputation abroad.