Sen. Ted Cruz calls for elections in Venezuela to proceed ‘rapidly’

Key Points:

• Sen. Ted Cruz renewed his call for free and fair elections in Venezuela, urging that they take place by mid-2025, following the U.S. takeover of 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves announced by the Trump administration.
• Cruz criticized former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as illegitimate and praised the current acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power after Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and brought to face charges.
• The senator expressed support for the oil deal, highlighting its potential positive impact on the U.S. economy, jobs, and gas prices, while emphasizing that election timing should not be prioritized over the oil agreement.
• On Iran, Cruz called for arming Iranian protesters to achieve regime collapse without deploying American troops, stating the initial U.S. mission to degrade Iran’s military is complete but the removal of the ayatollah remains a goal.
• Addressing his presidential ambitions, Cruz said he will decide on a 2028 run after the midterm elections, noting that the current focus is on campaigning for other candidates; President Trump praised Cruz’s talents and hinted at potential support for a future campaign.