Venezuelan earthquakes test Trump’s new western hemisphere policy after gutting of USAID

Lead

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela this week, killing at least 188 people and injuring more than 1,520, according to reports. The disaster has become a test of American power in the region as the Trump administration responds to a country it now considers an ally after a US special forces operation removed its longtime leader, Nicolás Maduro.

The United States has dispatched three specialized urban search and rescue teams and pledged a $150 million assistance fund, part of what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as a "big, fast, effective" and "whole-of-government" response, as reported by The Guardian. The disaster assistance response team includes more than 250 people, according to a State Department statement.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the US response has varied in focus and tone. The Guardian highlighted the logistical and political stakes of the mission, noting that the administration has restructured its disaster assistance machinery and recast foreign aid as a mutually beneficial pact. The Intercept, meanwhile, emphasized criticism of the US approach, questioning whether the assistance offered is sufficient given Washington's role in Venezuela's recent political and economic trajectory.

Both reports agree on the basic facts: the earthquakes struck multiple Venezuelan cities, causing significant casualties and destruction, and the US has responded with offers of aid. However, they diverge on the framing of the US relationship with Venezuela. The Guardian characterized the response as a high-stakes test for the new era of American power in the hemisphere, while The Intercept focused on what it described as US obligations stemming from its intervention.

Key Claims

The Guardian reported that the US has deployed three specialized urban search and rescue teams to Venezuela and pledged a $150 million assistance fund. One former disaster relief expert called the fund the largest he had seen within 24 hours of an incident, according to the same report. The outlet also noted that the Trump White House has gutted the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and placed disaster assistance under the State Department, laying off thousands of aid workers in the process.

According to The Guardian, the administration has recast foreign aid as a pact that should be mutually beneficial, and the US has previously responded to disasters such as Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. The article also quoted President Trump saying, "They had a tremendous earthquake, a lot of people killed right in Caracas and we have a lot of people over there helping," and describing the US relationship with Venezuela as strong since Maduro's capture.

The Intercept reported that President Trump declared America would "run" Venezuela after Maduro's removal, telling reporters in January, "We're in charge." After the earthquakes, Trump offered assistance, writing on Truth Social, "The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends."

The Intercept also reported that a US government official, speaking on background, questioned whether the offer goes far enough, saying, "Don't we run that country? That's an obligation that exceeds friendship." The same article noted that the US has seized control of Venezuela's oil industry and imposed sanctions on the country. It also stated that Venezuelan American organizations and progressive foreign policy groups are circulating a letter calling for massive, unconditional humanitarian aid, arguing that US aid "must match the scale of the harm the United States has played a role in creating."

The Intercept also reported that after ousting Maduro, the Trump administration installed a puppet government run by former Maduro ally Delcy Rodríguez, who has faced a looming US criminal indictment alleging corruption and money laundering charges. The Guardian similarly identified Rodríguez as Maduro's successor and described her as "far more amenable to the US."

Perspectives

The Guardian quoted President Trump expressing satisfaction with the US-Venezuela relationship, citing oil revenues and the removal of Maduro. Trump said, "We've taken out millions of barrels of oil and we've paid for the war many times over. But just as importantly … they're making more money than they've ever done."

The Intercept quoted a US government official who argued that the US has a special obligation to Venezuela, suggesting that the assistance offered was inadequate. The official asked, "Don't we run that country? That's an obligation that exceeds friendship."

The Intercept also reported that Venezuelan American organizations and progressive foreign policy groups are urging the US to provide massive, unconditional humanitarian aid, framing the matter as a responsibility stemming from US sanctions and actions.