Posting as someone with direct family ties to Venezuela.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

[Anonymous]

Many of you haven’t been paying attention to the atrocities committed by the Maduro regime for years:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people who have been to boarding prep schools from the 1970s on can claim to have friends they lived with for 1-4 hears who are from Venezuela.

It is/was very regular to send girls from Asia, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia to US boarding schools. Often schools in other places stopped at 9th grade. The US would pay for children of US foreign workers to complete grades through 12 here.

Also, the international students were all full pay. At that time it was like "only 15K a year" but I got 100% scholarship to that school. Today I think it's like 70K+

I didn't pay a dime for my whole education at that school. I had work study. I wiped down some classrooms on the off hour and clapped some erasers and washed some blackboards. I lackadaisically patrolled books in the library on the Dewey Decimal system to see when kids had put back books in the completely wrong place.

The international students from Venezuela, Asia and Saudi Arabia financed my education.

Now I'm thinking of the kids from Venezuela because they all live in Caracas

Seriously doubt it, not in 2026. I have many, many Venezuelan friends and pretty much anyone with money has been fleeing for 20+ years. Whole neighborhoods of Bogota are like little Caracas since the early 2000s with tons of Venezuelan investment. Not to mention immigration into the US, a lesser extent Europe and other places. The rich boarding school set is in Paris and Miami and most of the educated middle class, which was never historically large, has been hollowed at as well. It's going to be an issue in rebuilding with major capital flight and a brain drain. But no to these rich heiresses sitting in Caracas right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of you haven’t been paying attention to the atrocities committed by the Maduro regime for years:

Then should we also go invade Israel because of all the atrocities the Netanyahu regime has been committing for years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

I've seen things suggesting the opposition has 70% of the people in support. And I believe Maduro clearly cheated in the last election. I do think the Chavistas need to step down, regardless of whatever the US wants. The stuff going on with Machado wasn't 5 CIA plants and fake protests. There's a genuine suppression of majority will in Venezuela. That is a totally separate issue from Trump wanting the oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Again:

I’m cautiously optimistic about what comes next. This could end worse, or it could end better. But the part many seem to miss is that under Maduro, the trajectory was already only “a lot worse.” There was no stable status quo—just continued decline.

Hope doesn’t mean certainty. It means recognizing that doing nothing guaranteed more suffering.

The dancing in the streets sight will be short lived if the conditions don’t stabilize. I hope that the VP (and now acting president) remains in power until the next election. My wife on he other hand wants a special election right away. I’m not sure what the US will do and understand that the more tinker with things the more it feels like we are installing a government. I definitely want to feel a sense of protection of American interests…oil and minerals…and potentially even US bases…but at the same time I want the people to have their own fair and true elections.

Jesus, when is enough, enough? Our military budget is already 2.2 trillion dollars. Let's just build more bases and police more countries around the world. I hope you served, and your children also serve because the kids with options are no longer interested in policing the world.
https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/department-of-defense?fy=2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t about drug trafficking or drug smuggling or corruption. It’s about oil. Power vacuums rarely lead to peaceful transitions of power. I hope your wife gets to visit her family sometime soon, but Trump doesn’t actually care about the people of Venezuela. See the hypocrisy of pardoning the Honduran president.

All of this....not to mention every day we are seeing more and more of our own country being destroyed by a convicted felon and wannabe dictator. He does not care about the people of Venezuela and he does not care about the people of America. Let's all wake up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

I've seen things suggesting the opposition has 70% of the people in support. And I believe Maduro clearly cheated in the last election. I do think the Chavistas need to step down, regardless of whatever the US wants. The stuff going on with Machado wasn't 5 CIA plants and fake protests. There's a genuine suppression of majority will in Venezuela. That is a totally separate issue from Trump wanting the oil.

What is with all the straw man arguments? no one thinks maduro isn’t a terrible guy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are wasting your breath on DCUM’s rich white progressives.

This wins the 2026 stupidest comment award. Good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of countries have oppressive regimes that persecute citizens. No one else is sitting on the world’s biggest oil reserve though. 🤔

h

+1
If this was about drugs, we’d be talking about Mexico.

+a million and let's talk about the Honduran president

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

I've seen things suggesting the opposition has 70% of the people in support. And I believe Maduro clearly cheated in the last election. I do think the Chavistas need to step down, regardless of whatever the US wants. The stuff going on with Machado wasn't 5 CIA plants and fake protests. There's a genuine suppression of majority will in Venezuela. That is a totally separate issue from Trump wanting the oil.

What is with all the straw man arguments? no one thinks maduro isn’t a terrible guy!

Exactly. There are terrible and oppressive governments all around the world. Putin, Xi, MBS, Kim Jong Il, Orban, Khamanei, El-Sisi, etc. Trump regularly pals around with many these people and even gives some of them tons of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

I've seen things suggesting the opposition has 70% of the people in support. And I believe Maduro clearly cheated in the last election. I do think the Chavistas need to step down, regardless of whatever the US wants. The stuff going on with Machado wasn't 5 CIA plants and fake protests. There's a genuine suppression of majority will in Venezuela. That is a totally separate issue from Trump wanting the oil.

What is with all the straw man arguments? no one thinks maduro isn’t a terrible guy!

This thread alone is FULL of Maduro apologists. It’s like, “but Hitler made the trains run on time!” all over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife is Venezuelan. She desperately wants to be able to go back someday—to visit safely, to see family, to recognize her own country again. Right now, that’s not possible. Much of her family is current or former military, and they want exactly what civilians want: freedom from an oppressive regime that destroyed their country from the inside.

She does not like Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. But let’s also stop pretending Venezuela is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It’s not.

Under Maduro, people were run over by armored vehicles. Protesters were shot. Elections were a farce. The country became a narco-state while ordinary people starved or fled. That reality didn’t change depending on who was in the White House.

And for those suddenly clutching pearls about U.S. involvement—Biden continued dealings with Venezuelan oil despite repeated warnings from human-rights organizations. So please spare us the selective outrage.

China and Iran didn’t embed themselves in Venezuela out of goodwill. They wanted oil, minerals, leverage. Everyone knows this. Acting shocked now is disingenuous.

Here’s what’s missing from most of these takes: the majority of Venezuelans want the regime gone, even if that comes with hard compromises. They understand the cost because they’ve already paid it.

This isn’t about loving Trump.
It’s about wanting Venezuela back.

Who gives a shit? There are people in every country who don't like their government. If China invaded the US and overthrew the government there would be Americans posting about welcoming their new Chinese overlords. People making claims like this does not justify the US military invading a sovereign country and taking it's president hostage.

+1

I've seen things suggesting the opposition has 70% of the people in support. And I believe Maduro clearly cheated in the last election. I do think the Chavistas need to step down, regardless of whatever the US wants. The stuff going on with Machado wasn't 5 CIA plants and fake protests. There's a genuine suppression of majority will in Venezuela. That is a totally separate issue from Trump wanting the oil.

What is with all the straw man arguments? no one thinks maduro isn’t a terrible guy!

This thread alone is FULL of Maduro apologists. It’s like, “but Hitler made the trains run on time!” all over again.

bless your heart! You are just trying your hardest to make that argument work, aren’t you?

[Anonymous]

getting rid of Maduro is a way for Trump to win back the affections of “Magalatinos” , especially the ones in Florida.