Could Trump go after this nation after Cuba?
Florida Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar is urging the United States to increase pressure on Nicaragua’s communist-led government after President Daniel Ortega declared the country will no longer hold national elections. The announcement has sparked sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers who say the move is another sign that freedom and democracy are under attack in Latin America.
Speaking Sunday, Ortega signaled that Nicaragua’s current political system will remain in place indefinitely, dismissing the possibility of future elections.
Ortega said Nicaragua would no longer conduct elections that could allow opposition groups to challenge his hold on power. He added that political movements supported by the United States or linked to the former Somoza government would not be permitted to regain control of the country.
Salazar responded Monday with a strongly worded post on X, accusing Ortega of eliminating elections because he knows the Nicaraguan people would reject his leadership if given the chance to vote.
Salazar argued that authoritarian leaders often eliminate elections when they believe voters would remove them from office. She said the Ortega-Murillo government now relies on intimidation and coercion to remain in control while denying Nicaraguans the freedom to determine their country’s future.
Nicaragua is governed by Ortega alongside his wife, Rosario Murillo, who serves as the country’s co-president.
Salazar argued that the United States should stand firmly with the people of Nicaragua by increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on the regime while holding those responsible for alleged human rights abuses accountable.
Salazar called on the United States to stand firmly with the people of Nicaragua by increasing pressure on Ortega’s government and ensuring those accused of human rights abuses are held accountable. She concluded by suggesting that, following Cuba, Nicaragua could become the next major focus of U.S. efforts against authoritarian regimes in the region.
Her remarks immediately drew attention because they suggested Nicaragua could become the next major focus of the Trump administration’s efforts to confront authoritarian governments in the Western Hemisphere.
The comments come after a series of high-profile actions involving foreign adversaries. Earlier this year, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were brought to the United States following their removal from Venezuela. The Trump administration also joined Israel in military operations targeting Iran’s ruling regime.
President Donald Trump has also signaled a tougher stance toward Cuba. During a speech in March, the president declared, “Cuba’s next,” reinforcing his administration’s hardline approach toward communist governments in the region.
Fox News Digital contacted Salazar’s office Tuesday seeking additional clarification about her statement that “After Cuba, Nicaragua is next.”
Later that day, the Florida congresswoman expanded on her position in another post on X.
Salazar argued that authoritarian leaders are increasingly being held accountable for their actions. She pointed to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro being imprisoned in New York, noted that Iran’s supreme leader is dead, and referenced the indictment of Raúl Castro. She contrasted those developments with Daniel Ortega, saying the Nicaraguan leader remains in power despite accusations that his government killed more than 300 peaceful demonstrators during the 2018 protests, imprisoned political opponents before elections, forced clergy members into exile, revoked the citizenship of hundreds of Nicaraguans, and has now eliminated national elections altogether.
She concluded by adding, “Communist dictators don’t fear losing elections. They fear having them. His day will come.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned Ortega’s announcement, calling it clear evidence that Nicaragua’s leadership has abandoned even the appearance of democratic government.
Rubio said Ortega’s announcement makes it unmistakably clear that Nicaragua’s ruling family has fully embraced authoritarian rule. He argued that Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo are no longer attempting to maintain the appearance of governing with the support or consent of the Nicaraguan people.
Rubio emphasized that the people of Nicaragua deserve the opportunity to choose their own leaders through free and fair elections and urged America’s allies to increase international pressure on the regime.
Rubio said the people of Nicaragua deserve the opportunity to freely elect their own leaders through fair democratic elections. He also urged the international community to work alongside the United States to make clear that the Ortega-Murillo government cannot continue normal diplomatic and economic relations while it undermines democratic values across the Western Hemisphere.
The growing criticism from Salazar and Rubio underscores the Trump administration’s continued focus on confronting communist and authoritarian governments across Latin America. As Nicaragua moves further away from democratic elections, Republican lawmakers are calling for stronger U.S. leadership to defend freedom, support democratic institutions, and hold oppressive regimes accountable.
