Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the people of Venezuela "have suffered long enough under Nicolas Maduro's disastrous dictatorship." He said the United States backs the "courageous decision" by Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, to take the oath as the country's interim president. The attempt to replace Maduro and his regime is based on popular demands for freedom and the rule of law, according to the top diplomat.
Guaido must take over and introduce a "transitional government" ahead of "free and fair elections," Pompeo added and called the "military and security forces" to "support democracy and protect all Venezuelan citizens." He also expressed willingness to provide "humanitarian assistance... as conditions allow."
President Donald Trump earlier recognized the opposition leader as the interim head of state and vowed to "press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy."