2019年2月19日星期二

“美国永远不会成为社会主义国家”——特朗普在迈阿密向委内瑞拉裔美国人演讲全文(附英文原稿)

(视频网址https://youtu.be/fZ8_iTxMZjU
佛罗里达国际大学海洋银行会议中心
迈阿密,佛罗里达
美国东部时间下午4:47
特朗普夫人:谢谢。(掌声)今天在这个美丽的迈阿密市很棒。(掌声)总统和我很荣幸能与大家站在一起,共同支持委内瑞拉人民 - 伟大的人民。(掌声。)
我很自豪能和你在美国一起作为你的第一夫人。(掌声)你们中间的许多人都知道在社会主义和共产主义的压迫下生活得到自由的感觉是什么感觉。(掌声)在委内瑞拉,人民正处于重新获得自由的边缘。
今天,我们必须让委内瑞拉人民听到我们所有人的共同心声。我们是自由的,有希望,我们一起大声骄傲地祈祷,委内瑞拉人民很快也将获得自由。(掌声。)
我的丈夫今天在这里,因为他非常关心委内瑞拉目前的苦难。今天下午,他有一个重要的信息要分享。
女士们,先生们,现在我很高兴地介绍我的丈夫和美国总统唐纳德 J· 特朗普。(掌声。)
主席:非常感谢,梅拉尼亚。拥有这样一个非凡的权利,美国真的很幸运吗?非凡的第一夫人。(掌声)她很特别。她真的是。她关心的是人。
你好,迈阿密。我很高兴回到这个我爱的州,有这么多自豪,热爱自由的爱国者。我们在这里宣布拉丁美洲将迎来新的一天。(掌声)它即将到来。
在委内瑞拉和整个西半球,社会主义正在消亡,自由,繁荣和民主正在重生。(掌声。)
今天,由于委内瑞拉人每天数百万人的决心,委内瑞拉国民议会的爱国主义以及临时总统胡安·瓜伊多的不可思议的勇气,我们的心中充满了希望。(掌声。)
委内瑞拉人民支持自由和民主,美利坚合众国站在他们一边。(掌声。)
首先,我要感谢今天在这里的伟大领导人,他们为自由事业赢得了如此不可思议的支持者。这些人爱你,他们爱委内瑞拉,他们爱古巴。他们喜欢我们为之奋斗的所有地方。(掌声。)
新当选并且已经做了令人难以置信的工作,州长Ron DeSantis。(掌声。)
我打电话给一个男人,特别是当我们谈论古巴,委内瑞拉,尼加拉瓜时 - 他知道很多,而且他是我的朋友:参议员马可. 鲁比奥。(掌声。)
一位伟大的州长; 他让罗恩有点先发制人。他在佛罗里达州做了出色的工作。前州长,现任参议员,里克斯科特。(掌声。)
还有一个我非常了解的人,特别是当我的心在委内瑞拉的时候 - (掌声) - 他就是马里奥·迪亚兹 - 巴拉特众议员。(掌声。)
卡洛斯特鲁希略大使。(掌声)副州长珍妮特·努涅斯。(掌声)还有你们的新任伟大的司法部长阿什利. 穆迪。(掌声)对于现在在这个房间里的许多其他专职公职人员,我们非常感谢你和我们在一起。谢谢。(掌声。)
也感谢商务部长。威尔伯罗斯和我们在一起,还有莱特希泽大使。我不得不说,莱特希泽大使刚从一个叫中国的地方回来。而且,天哪,哦, 天哪- 我们取得了很大的进步。没有人预料到会发生这种情况。(掌声)我们取得了很大的进步。(掌声。)
与此同时,数十亿美元进入我们的财政部。很简单。这一切都运转的很好。那是从未发生过的。我们不知道这个国家的感觉,但现在我们知道这种感觉了。(掌声。)
我们还要感谢佛罗里达国际大学校长Mark Rosenberg博士(掌声)主持这次重要活动。
最后,我要感谢这位出色的观众中的每一个人,你们为人类的尊严做出了自己的贡献。这可能就是你们所有人。(掌声。)
我要特别感谢委内瑞拉流亡社区,他们为支持瓜伊多总统为他们的同胞组织援助并在国内做了很多工作做出了巨大贡献。非常感谢你来到这里。谢谢。我们和你在一起。(掌声。)
我们非常感谢每一位持不同政见者,每一个流亡者,每一个政治犯,以及每一个见证社会主义和共产主义恐怖,并勇敢地反对它们的人。非常感谢你们。(掌声。)
事实是,你们已经看到了犯罪,你们已经看到了腐败。你们已经看到了饥饿和痛苦。你们听到了痛苦的请求帮助。你们已经抗议,并且庄重的大声抗议。你们已经为我们现在能够看到的那一天祈祷,这就是未来 - 这个地区的所有人终将获得自由的那一天。(掌声。)
听众:美国!USA!USA!
总统:在我们今天开会时,委内瑞拉人民站在历史的门槛上,准备收回他们的国家并重新夺回他们的未来。
不久前,委内瑞拉还是南美洲最富有的国家。但多年的社会主义统治使这个曾经繁荣的国家濒临毁灭边缘。这就是今天的情况。
这个专制的社会主义政府将私营企业国有化并接管了私营企业。他们进行大规模财富没收,关闭自由市场,压制言论自由,建立无情的宣传机器,操纵选举,利用政府迫害其政治对手,破坏公正的法治。
换句话说,社会主义者在委内瑞拉所做的一切都与社会主义者,共产主义者,极权主义者在他们有机会统治的所有地方所做的一样。结果是灾难性的。
现在,几乎90%的委内瑞拉人生活在贫困之中。
2018年,委内瑞拉的恶性通货膨胀率超过100万。食品和药品短缺严重困扰着这个国家。社会主义已经彻底蹂躏了这个伟大的国家,即使是世界上最大的石油储备也不足以保持光明。这绝不会发生在我们身上。(掌声。)
听众:美国!USA!USA!
总统:谢谢。
已经有超过300万委内瑞拉人逃离了马杜罗的野蛮压迫——事实是残酷的。
今天,我们能够很荣幸的邀请艾米莎·佩雷斯,他是一位勇敢的委内瑞拉警官奥斯卡. 佩雷斯的母亲(掌声)你知道这个故事。
2017年6月,奥斯卡驾驶一架直升机飞越巴鲁塔市,旗帜为"350自由",参考委内瑞拉宪法第350条,其中指出:"委内瑞拉人民......将否认任何政权,立法或权威这违反了民主价值......或侵犯了人权。"
奥斯卡说他想给人民带来希望。他爱人民。他为人民而战。他们喜欢奥斯卡。但奥斯卡被委内瑞拉人枪杀,这点你们很清楚,你们都知道这个故事——那些人来自委内瑞拉安全部队,非常残忍的杀害了他。
艾米莎,我们为你的丧子而心碎。奥斯卡为他的人民的自由献出了生命。我们今天都有希望,因为有伟大的伟大的人民和像奥斯卡这样的爱国者。(掌声)请艾米莎。(掌声。)
我说,"怎么用西班牙语说些什么?"她喜欢西班牙语。她的西班牙语好一点。请。请。
听众:(听不清楚。)
女士。PEREZ :(讲西班牙语:佩雷斯)
(掌声。)
主席:我不知道她说了什么,但我想我知道她说了什么。她是一个不可思议的女人。奥斯卡是一个不可思议的人,不会白白死去。(掌声。)
几周前,1月23日,委内瑞拉国民议会援引委内瑞拉宪法宣布国民议会议长胡安瓜伊多为该国的合法领导人。在他的第一个行为中,瓜伊多总统援引了同样的宪法文章,即奥斯卡通过天空通知全世界马杜罗是非法的。
在30分钟内,美国自豪地成为世界上第一个承认瓜伊多总统的国家。(掌声。)
听众:美国!USA!USA!
总统:顺便说一句,约翰. 博尔顿在这里。约翰在哪里?(掌声)努力工作。
今天,全世界有50多个国家承认委内瑞拉的合法政府。委内瑞拉人民已经发言,世界也听到了他们美妙的声音。他们正在翻过关于社会主义的一页,翻过专政的一页,不会再回头了。(掌声。)
爱好和平的国家愿意帮助委内瑞拉重新获得民主,尊严和命运。我们这个半球的所有国家都有共同的利益来阻止社会主义暴政的蔓延。社会主义本质上不尊重边界。它不尊重其公民或其邻国的边界或主权。它总是寻求扩张,蚕食和征服他人的意志。
社会主义的黄昏时刻已经到了我们的半球 - (掌声) - 坦率地说,在世界各地的许多地方。社会主义和共产主义的时代不仅在委内瑞拉,而且在尼加拉瓜和古巴也是如此。(掌声。)
我们爱古巴吗?(掌声)我们爱尼加拉瓜吗?(掌声)伟大的国家。这么大的潜力。记住这个词。这种难以置信的潜力。
与此同时,我们必须共同努力,结束人道主义灾难。在我们发言时,载有数百吨迫切需要的人道主义物资的卡车停在委内瑞拉边境,等待帮助数百万有需要的人。
两天前,第一架美国空军的C-17飞机在哥伦比亚登陆,载有重要的援助,其中包括成千上万的小委内瑞拉儿童营养包。(掌声)不幸的是,独裁者马杜罗阻止这种救生援助进入该国。他宁愿看到他的人民饿死而不是给他们帮助,而不是帮助他们。
数以百万计的委内瑞拉人正在挨饿和痛苦,而马杜罗政权最高层的少数人则掠夺国家陷入贫困和死亡。我们知道他们是谁,我们知道他们在哪里保留了他们偷来的数十亿美元。
令人难以置信的是,委内瑞拉军队的成员仍然勉强支持这一失败的独裁统治。他们冒着未来的风险,为古巴军队控制并受古巴士兵私人军队保护的人冒着生命危险和委内瑞拉的未来。(掌声)马杜罗不是委内瑞拉爱国者; 他是古巴傀儡。他就是这样。(掌声。)
请记住,曾经有数亿美元支付给古巴 - 但不再是,因为他们不再拥有那种能够做到这一点的财富。事情正在发生变化,而且变化很快。(掌声。)
今天,我向每位帮助保持马杜罗的官员发出信息:
今天,每一天,以及未来的每一天,整个世界的目光都在你身上你无法掩饰现在面临的选择。您可以选择接受瓜伊多总统的慷慨大赦,与您的家人和同胞和睦相处。瓜伊多总统并不寻求对你的报复,我们也不会。但是你不能遵循马杜罗的命令阻止人道主义援助,你不能以任何形式的暴力威胁和平抗议者 - (掌声) - 反对派领导人,国民议会议员,瓜伊多总统及其家人。
我们寻求和平的权力过渡,但所有选择都是开放的。(掌声)我们希望恢复委内瑞拉的民主,我们相信委内瑞拉军队及其领导层在这一进程中可以发挥至关重要的作用。如果您选择这条道路,您将有机会为委内瑞拉所有人民创造一个安全和繁荣的未来。
或者您可以选择第二条路径:继续支持马杜罗。
观众:Booo -
总统:如果你选择这条道路,你会发现没有安全的港湾,没有轻松的出口,也没有出路。你会失去一切。(掌声。)
所以今天,我问马杜罗政权的每个成员:为你的人民结束这个贫穷,饥饿和死亡的噩梦。让你的人民去吧。让您的国家自由。现在是所有委内瑞拉爱国者团结一致行动的时候了。(掌声)委内瑞拉的未来没有比这更好的了。对委内瑞拉自由民主的重生而言,对于另一个被俘国家 - 古巴的未来而言,没有比这更好的了。(掌声。)
听众:美国!USA!USA!
总统:几十年来,古巴和委内瑞拉的社会主义独裁政权以非常腐败的交易方式相互支持。委内瑞拉给了古巴石油。作为回报,古巴给了委内瑞拉一个直接从哈瓦那逃跑的警察国家。(掌声。)
但这是一个非常不同的日子,那种日子结束了。(掌声)两个独裁政权之间的丑陋联盟正在迅速结束。一个新的未来正在开始。我们所有人都在这个舞台上,成千上万的人 - 你必须看到它 - 团结一致,因为我们了解委内瑞拉,古巴,尼加拉瓜和世界各地的社会主义真相。(掌声。)
社会主义承诺繁荣,但却带来了贫困。社会主义承诺团结,但它带来仇恨,并提供分裂。社会主义承诺一个更美好的未来,但它总是回归到过去最黑暗的篇章。永远不会失败。它总是发生。
社会主义是一种悲惨而不可信的意识形态,其根源在于对历史和人性的完全无知,这就是为什么社会主义最终必须始终产生暴政,而它确实如此。(掌声)社会主义者热爱多样性,但他们始终坚持绝对一致。
我们知道社会主义不是关于正义,不是关于平等,不是解放穷人。社会主义只是一件事:统治阶级的权力。(掌声)他们获得的权力越多,他们就越渴望。他们想要运营医疗保健,运营运输和金融,运行能源,教育 - 运行一切。
他们希望权力能够决定谁胜谁输,谁起来谁失败,什么是真的,什么是假的,甚至是谁的生命和死亡。(掌声。)
简而言之,今天我们所有人都知道,没有什么比社会主义更民主了。社会主义在任何地方和任何地方都在进步的旗帜下前进,但最终只会带来腐败,剥削和腐朽。
今天和我们在一起的是David Smolansky。(掌声)大卫是委内瑞拉历史上最年轻的市长之一,当时马杜罗政权将他解职并发出逮捕令。大卫逃到了委内瑞拉岌岌可危的南部丛林中。最终,大卫到达巴西,在那里他受到张开双臂欢迎。
今天,大卫流亡美国,在那里他继续为委内瑞拉人民说话。可悲的是,大卫是他的家族中第三代逃离社会主义和共产主义的痛苦。大卫的祖父母于1927年逃离苏联,他的父亲于1970年逃离共产主义古巴。
正如大卫所说,"我想从父亲和祖父那里得到的不同就是回到我的国家。"(掌声)"我的祖父母从未回到基辅......我的父亲没有回到哈瓦那。我希望我能[很快]回到委内瑞拉。"(掌声)我认为这将会发生,大卫。
非常感谢,大卫。我想它很快就会发生。你的勇气,大卫,是一种灵感。而且不仅是大卫; 这个房间里有很多人。你们经历了很多,但你们看到它走到了尽头。你们看它第一次真的结束了。这是你们第一次看到它 - 因为美国是一个真正伟大的国家,在你身后。(掌声。)
听众:美国!USA!USA!
总统:在美国支持委内瑞拉民主的同时,我们重申声援古巴和尼加拉瓜长期遭受苦难的人民以及生活在社会主义和共产主义政权之下的各地人民。
对于那些试图将社会主义强加于美国的人,我们再次发出一个非常简单的信息:美国永远不会成为社会主义国家。(掌声。)
我们天生就是自由的,现在和永远都会保持自由。
(掌声)我们知道委内瑞拉的自由可以做什么,因为我们已经在多拉看到了未来。
我们知道在古巴有什么自由可以做,因为我们已经在迈阿密看到了未来。(掌声。)
我们知道自由在尼加拉瓜能做些什么,因为我们已经看到了Sweetwater的未来。(掌声。)
有一天,在上帝的帮助下,我们将看到人们将在加拉加斯,马那瓜和哈瓦那做些什么。(掌声。)
当委内瑞拉自由,古巴自由,尼加拉瓜自由时,这将成为人类历史上第一个自由半球。(掌声。)
今天能和你在一起,我感到非常荣幸,今天第一夫人非常荣幸能和你在一起。我们赢了。我们在每个方面都获胜。
谢谢。上帝祝福你。上帝保佑委内瑞拉人民。上帝保佑古巴人民。上帝保佑尼加拉瓜人民。上帝保佑美利坚合众国。(掌声)非常感谢你们。
【结束】美国东部时间下午5:19
——谷歌自动翻译
白宫网站原文如下:

Remarks by President Trump to the Venezuelan American Community


 Issued on: February 18, 2019
Florida International University Ocean Bank Convocation Center
Miami, Florida
4:47 P.M. EST
MRS. TRUMP:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  It is wonderful to be here today in the beautiful city of Miami.  (Applause.)  The President and I are honored to stand with all of you as we together support the people — great people — of Venezuela.  (Applause.)
I'm proud to be here with you in the United States of America as your First Lady.  (Applause.)  Many of you in the room know what it feels like to be blessed with freedom after living under the oppression of socialism and communism.  (Applause.)  In Venezuela, the people are on the brink of reclaiming their own liberty.
Today, we must let the Venezuelan people hear us all with one united voice.  There is hope, we are free, and we pray together loudly and proudly that soon the people of Venezuela will be free as well.  (Applause.)
My husband is here today because he cares deeply about the current suffering in Venezuela.  This afternoon, he has an important message to share.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to introduce my husband and the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.  (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Melania.  America is truly blessed to have such a — an extraordinary — right? Extraordinary First Lady.  (Applause.)  She's extraordinary.  She really is.  She cares about people.
Hello, Miami.  I am thrilled to be back in the state I love with so many proud, freedom-loving patriots.  We're here to proclaim a new day is coming in Latin America.  (Applause.)  It's coming.
In Venezuela and across the Western Hemisphere, socialism is dying, and liberty, prosperity, and democracy are being reborn.  (Applause.)
Today, our hearts are filled with hope because of the determination of millions of everyday Venezuelans, the patriotism of the Venezuelan National Assembly, and the incredible courage of Interim President Juan Guaidó.  (Applause.)
The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the United States of America is standing right by their side.  (Applause.)
Let me begin by thanking the great leaders here today who have been such incredible champions for the cause of liberty.  And these people love you, and they love Venezuela, and they love Cuba.  And they love all of the places that we're fighting for.  (Applause.)
Newly elected and already doing an incredible job, Governor Ron DeSantis.  (Applause.)
A man who I call, especially when we're talking about Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua — he knows a lot, and he's a friend of mine: Senator Marco Rubio.  (Applause.)
A great governor; he gave Ron a little bit of a head start.  He did a fantastic job in Florida.  Former governor, and now senator, Rick Scott.  (Applause.)
Somebody that I've gotten to know very well, especially as to the fact that my heart is in Venezuela — (applause) — Representative Mario Diaz-Balart.  (Applause.)
Ambassador Carlos Trujillo. (Applause.)  Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez.  (Applause.)  Your new and great Attorney General, Ashley Moody.  (Applause.)  And to so many other dedicated public officials that are in this room right now, we thank you very much for being with us.  Thank you.  (Applause.)
Thank you also to Secretary of Commerce.  Wilbur Ross is with us, and Ambassador Lighthizer.  Ambassador Lighthizer, I have to say, just got back from a place called China.  And, boy, oh, boy — we're making a lot of progress.  Nobody expected this was going to be happening.  (Applause.)  We're making a lot of progress.  (Applause.)
In the meantime, billions and billions of dollars are coming into our Treasury.  It's very simple.  All works.  That never happened before.  We don't know the feeling in this country, but now we know the feeling.  (Applause.)
We also want to extend our deep appreciation to the President of Florida International University, Dr. Mark Rosenberg — (applause) — for hosting this important event.
Finally, I want to thank each and every person in this wonderful audience who has made your own stand for human dignity.  And that's probably just about all of you.  (Applause.)
And I want to especially thank the Venezuelan exile community that has done so much to support President Guaidó to organize aid for their compatriots and to do just a lot back home.  Thank you very much for being here.  Thank you.  We're with you.  (Applause.)
We are profoundly grateful to every dissident, every exile, every political prisoner, and everyone who bears witness to the horrors of socialism and communism, and who has bravely spoken out against them.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)
The fact is, you've seen the crimes and you've seen the corruption.  You have seen the hunger and the suffering.  You have heard the anguished pleas for help.  You have protested, and protested with respect, but loudly.  And you have prayed for the day we can now see, which is just ahead — the day when all the people of this region will at last be free.  (Applause.)
AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!
THE PRESIDENT:  As we meet today, the people of Venezuela stand at the threshold of history, ready to reclaim their country and to reclaim their future.
Not long ago, Venezuela was the wealthiest nation, by far, in South America.  But years of socialist rule have brought this once-thriving nation to the brink of ruin.  That's where it is today.
The tyrannical socialist government nationalized private industries and took over private businesses.  They engaged in massive wealth confiscation, shut down free markets, suppressed free speech, and set up a relentless propaganda machine, rigged elections, used the government to persecute their political opponents, and destroyed the impartial rule of law.
In other words, the socialists have done in Venezuela all of the same things that socialists, communists, totalitarians have done everywhere that they've had a chance to rule.  The results have been catastrophic.
Almost 90 percent of Venezuelans now live in poverty.
In 2018, hyperinflation in Venezuela exceeded 1 million percent.  Crippling shortages of food and medicine plague the country.  Socialism has so completely ravaged this great country that even the world's largest reserves of oil are no longer enough to keep the lights on.  This will never happen to us.  (Applause.)
AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.
Already, more than 3 million Venezuelans have fled Maduro's brutal opposition — and brutal it is.
Today, we are honored to be joined by Amintha Perez, the mother of Oscar Perez — a courageous Venezuelan police officer.  (Applause.)  You know the story.
In June of 2017, Oscar piloted a helicopter over the city of Baruta with the banner, "350 Liberty," a reference to Article 350 of the Venezuelan constitution, which states: "The people of Venezuela…shall disown any regime, legislation or authority that violates democratic values…or encroaches upon human rights."
Oscar said he wanted to give the people hope.  He loved the people.  He fought for the people.  And they loved Oscar.  But Oscar was gunned down and killed by Venezuela's — you know this very well; you all know the story — by the Venezuelan security forces, viciously.
Amintha, our hearts break for your loss.  Oscar gave his life for the freedom of his people.  We all have hope today because of great, great people and patriots like Oscar.  (Applause.)  Please, Amintha.  (Applause.)
I said, "How about saying something in Spanish?"  She likes Spanish.  She's a little bit better in Spanish.  Please.  Please.
AUDIENCE:  (Inaudible.)
MS. PEREZ:  (Speaks Spanish.)  (No translation provided.)
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT:  I don't know what she said, but I think I know what she said.  And she is an incredible woman.  And Oscar was an incredible man who will not have died in vain.  (Applause.)
A few weeks ago, on January 23rd, Venezuela's National Assembly invoked the Venezuelan constitution to declare the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the country's legitimate leader.  In one of his first acts, President Guaidó invoked the same constitutional article that Oscar carried through the skies to notify the world that Maduro was illegitimate.
Within 30 minutes, the United States was proud to be the first nation in the world to recognize President Guaidó.  (Applause.)
AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!
THE PRESIDENT:  And, by the way, John Bolton is here.  Where is John?  (Applause.)  Working hard.
Today, more than 50 countries around the world now recognize the rightful government of Venezuela.  And the Venezuelan people have spoken, and the world has heard their beautiful voice.  They are turning the page on socialism, turning the page on dictatorship, and there will be no going back.  (Applause.)
Peace-loving nations are ready to help Venezuela reclaim its democracy, its dignity, and its destiny.  All the nations in our hemisphere have the shared interest in preventing the spread of socialist tyranny.  Socialism, by its very nature, does not respect borders.  It does not respect boundaries or the sovereign rights of its citizens or its neighbors.  It's always seeking to expand, to encroach, and to subjugate others to its will.
The twilight hour of socialism has arrived in our hemisphere — (applause) — and, frankly, in many, many places around the world.  The days of socialism and communism are numbered not only in Venezuela, but in Nicaragua and in Cuba as well.  (Applause.)
Do we love Cuba?  (Applause.)  Do we love Nicaragua?  (Applause.)  Great countries.  Such great potential.  Remember that word.  Such unbelievable potential.
In the meantime, we must all work together to end a humanitarian disaster.  As we speak, there are truckloads filled with hundreds of tons of desperately needed humanitarian supplies stopped at the borders of Venezuela and waiting to help the millions and millions in need.
Two days ago, the first U.S. Air Force C-17 — that's a big, beautiful plane — landed in Colombia loaded with crucial assistance, including thousands of nutrition kits for little Venezuelan children.  (Applause.)  Unfortunately, Dictator Maduro has blocked this lifesaving aid from entering the country.  He would rather see his people starve than give them aid, than help them.
Millions of Venezuelans are starving and suffering while a small handful at the top of the Maduro regime plunder the nation into poverty and into death.  We know who they are, and we know where they keep the billions of dollars that they have stolen.
Incredibly, there are members of the Venezuelan military still barely supporting this failed dictatorship.  They are risking their future, they are risking their lives and Venezuela's future, for a man controlled by the Cuban military and protected by a private army of Cuban soldiers.  (Applause.)  Maduro is not a Venezuelan patriot; he is a Cuban puppet.  That's what he is.  (Applause.)
And remember that hundreds of millions of dollars used to be paid to Cuba — but no longer, because they no longer have that kind of wealth to be able to do it.  So things are changing, and they're changing fast.  (Applause.)
And today I have a message for every official who is helping to keep Maduro in place:
The eyes of the entire world are upon you today, every day,
and every day in the future.  You cannot hide from the choice that now confronts you.  You can choose to accept President Guaidó's generous offer of amnesty, to live your life in peace with your families and your countrymen.  President Guaidó does not seek retribution against you, and neither do we.  But you must not follow Maduro's orders to block humanitarian aid, and you must not threaten any form of violence against peaceful protestors — (applause) — opposition leaders, members of the National Assembly, or President Guaidó and his family.
We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open.  (Applause.)  We want to restore Venezuelan democracy, and we believe that the Venezuelan military and its leadership have a vital role to play in this process.  If you choose this path, you have the opportunity to help forge a safe and prosperous future for all the people of Venezuela.
Or you can choose the second path: continuing to support Maduro.
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
THE PRESIDENT:  If you choose this path, you will find no safe harbor, no easy exit, and no way out.  You will lose everything.  (Applause.)
So today, I ask every member of the Maduro regime: End this nightmare of poverty, hunger, and death for your people.  Let your people go.  Set your country free.  Now is the time for all Venezuelan patriots to act together as one united people.  (Applause.)  Nothing could be better for the future of Venezuela.  And nothing could be better for the future of another captive nation — Cuba — than the rebirth of freedom and democracy in Venezuela.  (Applause.)
AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!
THE PRESIDENT:  For decades, the socialist dictatorships of Cuba and Venezuela have propped each other up in a very corrupt bargain.  Venezuela gave Cuba oil.  In return, Cuba gave Venezuela a police state run directly from Havana.  (Applause.)
But this is a much different day, and those days are over.  (Applause.)  The ugly alliance between the two dictatorships is coming to a rapid end.  A new future is beginning.  All of us in this arena, and thousands and thousands and thousands of people outside — you have to see it — are united because we know the truth about socialism in Venezuela, in Cuba, in Nicaragua, and all around the world.  (Applause.)
Socialism promises prosperity, but it delivers poverty.
Socialism promises unity, but it delivers hatred and it delivers division.  Socialism promises a better future, but it always returns to the darkest chapters of the past.  That never fails.  It always happens.
Socialism is a sad and discredited ideology rooted in the total ignorance of history and human nature, which is why socialism, eventually, must always give rise to tyranny, which it does.  (Applause.)  Socialists profess a love of diversity, but they always insist on absolute conformity.
We know that socialism is not about justice, it's not about equality, it's not about lifting up the poor.  Socialism is about one thing only: power for the ruling class.  (Applause.) And the more power they get, the more they crave.  They want to run healthcare, run transportation and finance, run energy, education — run everything.
They want the power to decide who wins and who loses, who's up and who's down, what's true and what's false, and even who lives and who dies.  (Applause.)
In short, all of us here today know that there is nothing less democratic than socialism.  Everywhere and anywhere it appears, socialism advances under the banner of progress, but in the end, it delivers only corruption, exploitation, and decay.
With us today is David Smolansky.  (Applause.)  David was one of the youngest mayors in Venezuelan history when the Maduro regime removed him from office and issued a warrant for his arrest.  David fled into Venezuela's treacherous southern jungle.  Eventually, David reached Brazil, where he was welcomed with open arms.
Today, David lives in exile in the United States, where he continues to speak up for the Venezuelan people.  Sadly, David is the third generation of his family to flee the agony of socialism and communism.  David's grandparents fled the Soviet Union in 1927, and his father fled communist Cuba in 1970.
As David said, "The difference I want to have from my father and grandfather is to go back to my country."  (Applause.)  "My grandparents never went back to Kiev…my father has not been back to Havana.  I hope I can [soon] return to Venezuela."  (Applause.)  I think that will happen, David.
Thank you very much, David.  I think it'll soon happen.  Your courage, David, is an inspiration.  And not only David; many of the people in this room.  You've been through much, but you see it coming to the end.  You see it really coming to an end for the first time.  For the first time, you're seeing it — because the United States, a true great nation, is behind you.  (Applause.)
AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!
THE PRESIDENT:  And so as the United States stands up for democracy in Venezuela, we reaffirm the solidarity with the long-suffering people of Cuba and Nicaragua and people everywhere living under socialist and communist regimes.
And to those who would try to impose socialism on the United States, we again deliver a very simple message: America will never be a socialist country.  (Applause.)
We are born free and we will stay free, now and forever.
(Applause.)  We know what freedom can do in Venezuela because we have seen that future right here in Doral.
We know what freedom can do in Cuba because we have seen that future right here in Miami.  (Applause.)
We know what freedom can do in Nicaragua because we have seen that future in Sweetwater.  (Applause.)
And one day soon, with God's help, we are going to see what the people will do in Caracas and Managua and Havana.  (Applause.)
And when Venezuela is free, and Cuba is free, and Nicaragua is free, this will become the first free hemisphere in all of human history.  (Applause.)
It was my great honor to be with you today, and the First Lady's great honor to be with you today.  We are winning.  We are winning on every front.
Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the people of Venezuela.  God bless the people of Cuba.  God bless the people of Nicaragua.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.
END
5:19 P.M. EST

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