WASHINGTON _ The Trump administration took the unusual and provocative step Wednesday of recognizing the leader of the political opposition in Venezuela as the country's legitimate president.
The move comes as the Trump administration has sought ways to ramp up pressure on the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro, which it accuses of widespread human rights abuse, drug trafficking and a host of other crimes. Already, Washington has blacklisted several senior Venezuelan officials and put sanctions on some of its export industries, including mining.
In a statement, President Trump said he was recognizing Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela because he is the head of "the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people," a reference to the country's National Assembly, Venezuela's legislative body that Maduro has sidelined and replaced with his own legislature stacked with his supporters.
Trump said Guaido had declared Maduro illegitimate under Venezuela's constitution, which in turn places the head of the National Assembly in office until elections can be held.
The move comes as massive street demonstrations against Maduro spread throughout Venezuela on Wednesday.
"The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law," Trump wrote. "I will continue to use the full weight of United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy."
Diplomatic ties between Caracas and Washington have been all but ruptured for several years.
