Venezuelan American community leaders in South Florida are urging the Trump administration to pair its humanitarian response to Venezuela's devastating June 24 earthquakes with renewed efforts to promote a democratic transition, arguing that reconstruction cannot succeed while the country's current leadership remains in power.
Speaking at a press conference in Doral earlier this week, activists and local officials said the earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and have killed more than 2,200 people while injuring over 11,000, exposed longstanding weaknesses in Venezuela's emergency response system and healthcare infrastructure.
Rafael Pineyro, a Doral council member, said Venezuela "cannot continue being complicit in a regime that keeps harming the Venezuelan people," arguing that interim President Delcy Rodríguez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello should not remain in power, as The Miami Herald reports.
Pineyro also called on Washington to increase support for opposition leader María Corina Machado, saying she should be allowed to return to Venezuela and stand alongside earthquake victims.
The appeals come as the Trump administration has emphasized cooperation with Venezuela's interim authorities on relief operations. The U.S. State Department has said it is working with international partners to deliver food, water, medical supplies and search-and-rescue assistance to affected areas.
Republican Sen. Rick Scott echoed concerns about oversight of humanitarian aid earlier this week, saying U.S. assistance should remain under American supervision. "Not one cent should go to Delcy Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello or any part of their brutal and corrupt regime," Scott wrote on X, while thanking U.S. military personnel and rescue teams participating in relief efforts.
Activists also raised concerns about the distribution of aid inside Venezuela. Mayra Marchan, founder of the nonprofit All For Venezuela, said her organization continues shipping medical supplies but questioned whether donations are reaching patients.
"Please investigate. Don't just trust — go see for yourselves," she said, citing reports from healthcare workers that some supplies are being stored instead of distributed.
Helene Villalonga, president of the nonprofit AMAVEX, alleged there have been irregularities in emergency shelters, shortages of medical supplies and deteriorating hospital conditions. "We are not speaking about a natural disaster that could have been prevented. We are speaking about the response of those who had the responsibility to protect human lives," she said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump described U.S.-Venezuela relations as "excellent" during a CNBC interview Thursday, highlighting expanding cooperation since Nicolás Maduro's removal earlier this year, adding that Venezuela is experiencing renewed growth in oil production and investment while noting that the United States continues supporting earthquake recovery efforts alongside the Venezuelan government.
