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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Republicans have taken to social media to protest Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro's election results, declaring that his win is what an "actual" stolen election looks like.
On Monday, Maduro, the leader of the United Socialist Party, was declared the winner of Sunday's presidential election by the government-controlled electoral authority. A campaign launched by opposition leader María Corina Machado had fueled hope that Venezuela might end Maduro's 11-year reign. Maduro, who previously said he would recognize the election results, according to the Associated Press, has since been declared the victor with 51 percent of the vote, according to a statement from National Electoral Council.
However, Machado disputed the results, saying that Maduro's opponent, Edmundo González, had won 70 percent of the vote, a result that's been supported by multiple independent exit polls and quick counts. The U.S. has "serious concerns" about the election's results, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
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The election results have fueled rage among Republicans in the U.S., many of whom are expressing concern about Maduro's declared victory and saying that the election was stolen. Some said this is what an "actual" stolen election looks like, referencing the federal charges that former President Donald Trump faces regarding his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Newsweek reached out by email to the White House and the Trump campaign for comment.
"The poor people of Venezuela's election has been stolen by Dictator Nicolas Maduro. Shutting the polls and stealing ballot boxes and many more tactics were used for Maduro to cling to power," GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X (formerly Twitter). "You can vote your way into Socialism or Communism but you have to fight your way out."
Republican Senator Rick Scott posted on X: "Today is a dark day for democracy in Latin America. Maduro has stolen another election from the Venezuelan people & the Biden-Harris admin helped him do it by fueling his power with sanctions relief & appeasement. Edmundo González won & he must be recognized as President-elect."
User @aghamilton29 posted: "Venezuela right now is what an actual stolen election looks like. Maduro will not give up power willingly. As many have said: You can vote your way into socialism, but much harder to vote your way out."
https://x.com/AGHamilton29/status/1817865101971542418
Political economist Konstantin Sonin wrote: "As a scholar of authoritarian regimes, no surprise that Maduro declared himself the winner. Now, the hard part for the Venezuelan autocrat: he needs to survive the protests against the stolen elections. Not all dictators do."
User Shawn Farash said: "Socialist Venezuelan President Maduro's spokesman is declaring victory on National TV despite exit polling showing his opponent winning the election. Citizens are celebrating in their streets. Their election victory may be on the verge of being stolen."
The comments have sparked conversation on both political sides that the U.S. could face the same outcome.
"If Kamala wins, we will be Venezuela in no time," one person responded to Greene's comments.
"What makes you think Trump will leave willingly this time if we let him back in?" another person said in response to @aghamilton29's post. "If certain people didn't stand up to him last time he may have succeeded. He has already stated what he learned from last time was having the right people in place."
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