U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 22 delivered a video message of support to the people of Venezuela who are protesting against President Nicolás Maduro. His message came just one day before President Donald Trump recognized Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela.In a Jan. 23 statement from the White House, Trump said Guaidó, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, is the only “legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people.”
The statement came not long after Guaidó declared himself “acting president” during a mass protest against Maduro’s presidency. In Pence’s taped message, he lambasted Maduro, describing him as a dictator who has no rightful claim to power.
