Rubio Declares That Maduro Is NOT The President Of Venezuela

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the Venezuelan government is "illegitimate" and that President Maduro is not the legitimate president of Venezuela. Rubio stated that Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization that has taken control of the country. Maduro is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States. This declaration is reminiscent of the Trump administration's previous attempts to recognize Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela. The Biden administration had also rejected Maduro's reelection win, citing alleged election rigging. The US Treasury Department recently designated the Cartel de Los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, accusing Maduro and his regime of leading the group and supporting major drug cartels. This designation blocks all property and interests of the group within US jurisdiction and prohibits Americans from engaging in transactions with it. Despite previous attempts at regime change, Trump officials have recently been pursuing behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Maduro, even securing the release of American prisoners. The US has also seized a Venezuelan government-owned plane in the Dominican Republic. The Trump administration's stance on Venezuela is seen as a continuation of its previous policies, with a focus on isolating and pressuring the Maduro regime.