Three influential Cuban-American congress members in Washington, Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar, avoided any criticism of President Donald Trump on Thursday after his administration authorized the oil company Chevron to resume its crude extraction operations in Venezuela, a move that marks an unexpected political shift towards Nicolás Maduro's regime.
Instead of questioning Trump's apparent shift, the three lawmakers shared the same message—word for word—on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where they defended the president's image as a strong leader against authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere and assured that chavismo “will not receive benefits.”
The precise coordination of the message has sparked criticism from sectors that do not forget that, just a few months ago, it was Trump himself who ordered Chevron's exit from Venezuela and revoked the concessions granted by the Joe Biden administration.
“There is no greater friend of the cause for the freedom of the Venezuelan people than President Trump,” repeated the three congressmen, offering no explanation for their political leader's sudden change of stance toward chavismo.
From revoking licenses to reopening businesses
The resumption of Chevron's operations in Venezuela represents a reversal of the sanctions imposed by the U.S. president earlier this year.
In March, the Department of the Treasury ordered the complete cessation of Chevron's activities with PDVSA and gave a one-month deadline to leave the country. This decision was then celebrated by those who view Maduro as an illegitimate dictator, and by those who warned about the subsidized crude oil shipments from Venezuela to political allies like Cuba.
The new license granted to Chevron has been interpreted as an effort to balance U.S. energy priorities with the migration and geopolitical tensions in the region, amid pressure to reduce oil prices and enhance energy security.
According to press reports, the agreement was negotiated directly by high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Spokespersons for the State Department have stated that Maduro's regime "will not benefit" from the new license, although they have not clarified how this will be ensured in practice.
Frequently asked questions about Chevron's resumption of operations in Venezuela
Why did Chevron resume its operations in Venezuela?
The administration of Donald Trump authorized Chevron to resume its crude oil extraction activities in Venezuela to balance U.S. energy priorities with migration and geopolitical tensions in the region, as well as to try to reduce oil prices and enhance the country's energy security.
How did the Cuban-American congress members react to Trump's decision on Chevron?
The Cuban-American congress members Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar avoided criticizing Trump, despite the unexpected political shift towards the Maduro regime. They defended President Trump as a strong leader against authoritarian regimes and assured that Chavismo will not benefit from this decision.
What are the implications of Chevron's resumption in Venezuela for Maduro's regime?
Although the license allows Chevron to operate in Venezuela, the U.S. State Department asserts that Maduro's regime will not directly benefit from this decision. However, it has not been clearly specified how it is guaranteed that the regime will not gain benefits.
What changes occurred in U.S. policy toward Venezuela under the Trump administration?
The U.S. policy towards Venezuela under the Trump administration has fluctuated between severe sanctions and some strategic easing. Initially, Trump revoked the concessions granted by Biden and ordered Chevron to exit Venezuela, but later allowed the resumption of its operations in an attempt to balance energy and geopolitical interests.
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