Trump says U.S. under Biden is Maduro's 'Venezuela on Steroids'

Former President Donald Trump compared President Joe Biden’s economic management of the U.S. to Venezuela under the catastrophic leadership of communist dictator Nicolás Maduro, on Tuesday.

“Remember during the campaign I would say, with great conviction, that if these people get into office, we will end up being 'Venezuela on Steroids,'" Trump recalled on Truth Social, his new social media platform.

“Guess what, another one, of many, Trump predictions that is true, or turning out to be true! 'Trump was right about everything,' as the now well-known phrase (chant) goes,” he wrote. 

Under Maduro’s leadership, Venezuela has continued to suffer from hunger, poverty and substandard living conditions and his regime has engaged in repressive tactics against civilians while forging alliances with drug traffickers.

Trump recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president of the country amidst allegations Maduro had interfered in election operations on Jan. 24, 2019.

Maduro however, never relinquished power of the nation's political apparatus. 

The following year on March 26, 2020 the U.S. Dept. of Justice issued an indictment for Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials for engaging in corruption, drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and other criminal charges.

Maduro’s Venezuela received a 1/40 score for political rights and a 13/60 score for civil liberties, making the communist dictatorship one of the most oppressive nation states in the international community.

The Heritage Foundation has ranked the country the second worst in the world for economic freedom, with the Kim Jong-un’s North Korean Juche regime taking the lead, ranking first.

In May, Reuters reported that the current Venezuelan bolivar currency is rated at 222%, Reuters reported in May, and a study by Catholic University determined more than three out of four of the country’s citizens live in extreme poverty.

Maduro originally served as Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2012 and then as Vice-President from 2012 to 2014 under the former communist leader, Hugo Chávez.

After Chávez died on March 5, 2014, a special election was held in which Maduro purportedly won 50.62% of the vote as the candidate for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

He assumed the presidency after that and has ruled the country by decree since 2015 from powers perpetually approved by the nation’s legislature.