Three Latino Republican Representatives influenced President Trump to revoke Chevron’s license in Venezuela following threats to withhold votes on a GOP budget deal. Trump expressed the urgency of their demands, while criticisms of Chevron’s operations centered on supporting an authoritarian regime. Venezuelan officials condemned the U.S. sanctions as harmful to both nations.
Recent reports indicate that three Republican Representatives, Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez, and Maria Elvira Salazar, played a pivotal role in convincing President Trump to revoke Chevron’s operating license in Venezuela. According to Axios, they threatened to withhold their votes on a GOP budget deal if their demands were not met, prompting Trump to act before the vote concluded.
Trump reportedly expressed his concern to confidants, stating, “They’re going crazy and I need their votes.” Following the budget deal’s passage, he announced Chevron would have until April 3 to cease operations in Venezuela, where the company has become significant, contributing to 20% of the country’s oil production and aiding its struggling economy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson later referred to the three Reps as the “three Crazy Cubans, as we affectionately call them” during a meeting with Republican donors. Gimenez and Diaz-Balart were present and chuckled at this description, demonstrating the camaraderie among the group.
Critics of Chevron’s operations argue that they are providing support to an authoritarian regime that gained power through dubious means. Trump highlighted Maduro’s failure to comply with promised electoral reforms and to return Venezuelan migrants to the U.S. swiftly. He stated, “We are hereby reversing the concessions that Crooked Joe Biden gave to Nicolás Maduro… which have not been met by the Maduro regime.”
In response to these developments, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the U.S. decision. She asserted that the sanctions against Chevron damage not only the Venezuelan people but also pose risks to American interests and question the legality of U.S. investments internationally.
In conclusion, the actions taken by Representatives Diaz-Balart, Gimenez, and Salazar effectively influenced President Trump’s decision to revoke Chevron’s Venezuela oil license. This bold move, while presented as a means to curb authoritarianism, has attracted significant criticism regarding its broader implications on both American and Venezuelan populations.
Original Source: www.latintimes.com
