News - Trump Links Miss Universe Experience to Expertise on Venezuela

In a peculiar statement from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump linked his understanding of Venezuela to his past ownership of the Miss Universe pageant. When asked about the timeline for new elections in Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro's recent displacement, Trump shifted focus to his history with the pageant, asserting, "For a long time I've known that country, and you know, I owned the Miss Universe pageant, and Miss Venezuela always did very well in that pageant, so I know something about the country." Despite Venezuela's record of four Miss Universe crowns during Trump's ownership, the connection to political insight remains unclear. Among these winners was Alicia Machado, crowned the year Trump acquired the pageant in 1996, who later claimed that Trump mocked her weight, derogatorily calling her "Miss Piggy" during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's remarks go beyond the pageant, suggesting skepticism about the immediacy of elections in Venezuela. While Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) hints at a possible electoral process next year, Trump responded, "As far as the elections in Venezuela, they are not really ready for them yet, but boy, a lot of progress has been made." This commentary highlights Trump's distinctive approach to foreign policy, blending personal business interests with diplomatic dialogue.