Trump’s GOP Spreading Capitalism
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Wednesday that he hopes the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro will finally give the South American nation a chance to move away from decades of failed socialist policies.
Speaking on Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt Tonight, Paul said Venezuela’s economic collapse serves as a warning about the long-term consequences of socialism, an ideology he has criticized for years.
Paul noted that he authored The Case Against Socialism to document how government-controlled economies often lead to poverty, corruption, and the erosion of personal freedom.
“I’ve never made a secret of my opposition to socialism,” Paul said, adding that he welcomed Maduro’s exit after years of economic mismanagement and political repression.
However, the Kentucky senator warned that meaningful change will not occur if Venezuela simply replaces one socialist leader with another.
Paul expressed concern that individuals close to Maduro—including top officials within his government—remain committed to the same ideology that has driven millions of Venezuelans into poverty.
“If the oil money continues flowing to the government instead of the people, then nothing really improves,” Paul said.
Venezuela, once one of the wealthiest nations in Latin America, has repeatedly elected socialist leaders since the 1970s. Paul said he hopes Venezuelans now choose a different direction.
“I hope they finally choose better leadership,” he said.
Paul also emphasized the need for a legitimate political opposition, saying real reform requires more than a change in names at the top.
The senator pointed to political prisoners and families affected by years of authoritarian rule, saying those wounds will not heal unless the system itself changes.
“If people still have family members imprisoned under the same government structure, they’re not going to feel free,” Paul said. “That dissatisfaction doesn’t disappear overnight.”
Paul said his ultimate goal is freedom, democracy, and economic opportunity for the Venezuelan people.
“But above all,” he added, “they need capitalism if they’re going to rebuild their country and improve their quality of life.”
While Paul agreed with the outcome of Maduro’s removal, he raised concerns about how the action was carried out, particularly regarding congressional authority.
He criticized the fact that Congress did not formally authorize the operation, saying the issue goes beyond Venezuela and touches on constitutional limits on executive power.
“I’m a strict constitutionalist,” Paul said. “The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war—not the president acting alone.”
Paul concluded by stressing that the United States must defend liberty abroad without abandoning the rule of law at home.
“I agree with the result,” he said. “I just don’t agree with the process.”
