Biden's Venezuela policy feeds Maduro strongman image, emboldens dictator in election controversy: Rubio

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Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, arguing that it has fed his regime’s strongman image and emboldened him in his more authoritarian aims.

"In my view, it strengthened them internally, and I think gave him the boldness to say: I can get away with this now," Rubio argued. "I'll be condemned. They’ll snap back some sanctions, people will say mean things about me, but in a few months… 2 million more people will leave Venezuela. I'll put some people in jail and crack down on them, and the people around me and the regime will remain loyal, because I've proven that I can win and, I can win in negotiations."

Rubio explained that he believes the root problem lies with the people President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have around them, which includes "people who are convinced that you can negotiate a good outcome anywhere."

"There are some people that you simply can't just close because of their nature and because of their interests," Rubio insisted. "There isn't going to be a diplomatic solution, unfortunately, in the short term… particularly when you're dealing with authoritarians that are trying to figure out how to stay in power."

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Anti-government protests have continued in the days