Exclusive | Trump taking ‘last responsible steps’ before ousting Maduro in ‘Panama 2.0,’ Florida rep says
WASHINGTON — Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R‑Fla.) told The Post that President Trump is moving “the last responsible steps” to oust Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Salazar cautioned that the embattled leader might soon confront a “Panama 2.0”‑style escalation, with U.S. troops encircling the country.
The congresswoman said Trump had just spoken to Maduro, telling him “it’s time for you to go,” and stressed that Washington is handing the socialist sovereign a final chance to step down peacefully before resorting to stronger measures.
“Maduro assured President Biden he would leave if he lost the election — and he lost 80‑20,” Salazar noted. “Communist and Marxist leaders lie until they see a bigger force in front of them. Then they flee.”
According to Salazar, the dictator’s reluctance stems not only from wanting to stay on the throne but also from a survival instinct.
“I’m convinced he’s terrified that the Cuban military—over 30,000 soldiers on Venezuelan soil—would kill him if he tried to leave,” she said. “He also knows that if he stays, the Americans will drag him out.”
Salazar singled out President Trump as the only U.S. leader in the last quarter‑century—regardless of party—ready to confront the Venezuelan regime head‑on.
“We’re doing the right thing: we’re inviting him to leave or we’re removing him, just as we did in Panama,” she declared, calling the effort “Panama No. 2.” She argued that the United States has precedent for removing dangerous foreign leaders when national security is at risk, citing earlier actions in Panama and Libya under administrations of both parties.
“That could even be a repeat of 1989, when the U.S. invaded Panama to depose Manuel Noriega,” she added.
The congresswoman described Maduro as not only a political threat but a criminal one. “He’s the head of the Cartel of the Suns, was indicted in 2020 for drug trafficking, stole the election after promising free and fair polls,” she said. “He floods the United States with drugs—sometimes even using submarines. Mother Teresa and her nuns aren’t on those boats.”
When asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s hawkish stance, Salazar dismissed it. “Rubio knows the hemisphere, just like I do,” she said. “He understands what Venezuela represents for our national security.”
She cited recent U.S. interdictions—including a Dominican naval find of 2,000 kg of drugs after a strike—to highlight Maduro’s sprawling criminal network.
“With 11 navy ships and about 15,000 troops now in the region, months of failed diplomacy have been replaced by decisive action,” Salazar said.
“We tried everything—every diplomatic avenue,” she said, referencing prior efforts by Trump envoy Ric Grenell and later Rubio to negotiate Maduro’s exit. “But diplomacy has not worked.”
“This is the beginning of the end,” she mused. “We’re freeing the Western Hemisphere from the scourge of drug trafficking, communism, and Marxism—ideologies that betray freedom, democracy, and the free market.”
Salazar noted that Venezuela’s democratic opposition, led by Nobel Prize winner María Corina Machado, is ready to govern with a “100‑day plan” and keen on partnering with American oil and mineral companies.
When asked whether she thought Maduro would still be in power over the holidays, she said, “Let’s hope not.”
She didn’t offer a specific date but said the military buildup signals a clear trajectory. “The buildup will have a very happy ending,” she said. “We cannot allow Hezbollah, Iran, or a major criminal cartel leader to operate in our backyard. I salute President Trump for having the courage to do the right thing.”
“Not all of it is easy, but he’s doing it,” she concluded.
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