According to a message shared by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica by Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State Foreign Affairs, the United States condemns Venezuelan president Maduro's illegitimate usurpation of power after the unfair elections he imposed on the people of Venezuela on May 20, 2018.

According to Secretary Pompeo's statement, the United States remains firm in its support for the Venezuelan people and will continue to use the full weight of the economic and diplomatic power of the United States to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy.

"Today we reiterate our support for the National Assembly of Venezuela, the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people. It is time for Venezuela to begin a transition process that can restore the constitutional and democratic order through the holding of free elections to respect the will of the Venezuelan people." said Pompeo.

According to the Secretary's message, the United States has taken strong measures against the regime of Maduro and his collaborators.  On January 8, the United States imposed sanctions on seven people and 23 entities involved in a corruption scheme to exploit Venezuela's exchange practices. By manipulating the system in their favor, these people and entities stole more than $2.4 billion while the Venezuelan people went hungry.

With respect to the actions taken by Juan Guaidó, president of the National Assembly and President Maduro's opponent, Secretary Pompeo said that "We applaud the initiative of the new leadership of the National Assembly to work with the international community to recover these and other stolen funds and use them to alleviate the suffering of the people of Venezuela. The United States will continue to play an active role for this purpose."

Another of the actions that the government would take, according to Secretary Pompeo is " continue to impose visa revocations and other restrictions on current and former Venezuelan government officials and their relatives considered responsible for or accomplices of human rights abuses, acts of public corruption and undermining of democratic governance. We will not allow them to act without consequences or enjoy the illicit gains that they obtained in the United States, and we urge other countries to follow our example."

According to Secretary Pompeo, it is time for Venezuelan leaders to make a decision. "We urge those who support this regime, from the employees who survive through food subsidies to the Venezuelan security forces who have sworn to support the constitution, to stop allowing repression and corruption and to work with the National Assembly and its leader properly elected, Juan Guaidó, in accordance with its constitution in a peaceful return to democracy. "