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Trump Declares Venezuela Unready for Elections Amid $19.6B Quake Damage

7/25/2026

50 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Trump Critiques Venezuela

On July 24, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuela is not yet ready for elections.
He praised Acting President Delcy Rodriguez as doing “fantastic” work after she became interim president following the Jan. 3, 2026 capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Trump said the United States is taking a large amount of Venezuelan oil, reflecting a very good relationship.
He said some political prisoners were released after Maduro’s capture.

Summary

Machado Supports Survivors

A magnitude-7.2 quake and a magnitude-7.5 quake struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
On July 8, 2026, residents carried U.S. humanitarian aid that arrived in La Guaira through the city.
The World Bank estimated the earthquakes caused $19.6 billion in damages.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado traveled to Panama after the quakes, saying she could not reach Caracas but stood with grieving families.

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Trump Critiques Venezuela

On July 24, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuela is not yet ready for elections.
He praised Acting President Delcy Rodriguez as doing “fantastic” work after she became interim president following the Jan. 3, 2026 capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Trump said the United States is taking a large amount of Venezuelan oil, reflecting a very good relationship.
He said some political prisoners were released after Maduro’s capture.

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