The White House corrected a statement by President Joe Biden on Thursday, who, amidst apparent confusion, indicated that he supported the holding of new elections in Venezuela. The clarification came after Biden, in a brief exchange with the press before boarding the presidential helicopter Marine One, responded affirmatively to a question about his support for new elections in the South American country.
"Yes, I support it," Biden said, but the White House later clarified that the president did not hear the question correctly, citing news channel Univisión. "The president was referring to the absurdity of Maduro and his representatives not telling the truth about the July 28 elections," the statement emphasized.
The National Security Council (NSC) also clarified that Biden was merely making a general statement about the U.S. stance on Venezuela and reaffirmed that for the United States, Edmundo González was the candidate with the most votes.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby also denied that the U.S. had offered amnesty to Nicolás Maduro and reiterated the demand for a verified vote recount: "What we want to see are the actual vote counts, the data, and we haven't seen that yet. So we still need to see it," he insisted.
The confusion over Biden's position comes at a critical moment, as several countries, including Brazil and Colombia, have called for new elections in Venezuela as a solution to the political crisis. Unlike many nations that have recognized either Nicolás Maduro or Edmundo González as the winner, Brazil and Colombia have maintained a neutral stance, urging Venezuela's electoral body to publish the voting records that would show the definitive results.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado rejected the proposal for new elections, calling it an insult to the Venezuelan people and stating that "the elections have already taken place." Machado urged Maduro to accept the terms of a negotiated transition.
Questions and Answers About Biden's Statement on Venezuela
To provide further clarity on the situation, here are some key questions and answers regarding President Biden's statement on Venezuela and the subsequent clarification from the White House.
What did President Biden originally say about the elections in Venezuela?
President Biden initially indicated support for new elections in Venezuela during a brief press exchange before boarding Marine One.
Why did the White House issue a clarification?
The White House clarified that President Biden misunderstood the question and was actually referring to the falsehoods spread by Maduro and his representatives about the July 28 elections.
What is the U.S. stance on the Venezuelan elections?
The U.S. stance is that Edmundo González was the candidate with the most votes, and it demands a verified recount to see the actual vote counts and data.
How have other countries responded to the Venezuelan elections?
Countries like Brazil and Colombia have called for new elections as a solution, maintaining a neutral stance and urging the Venezuelan electoral body to publish the voting records.