*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Statement on the Situation in Venezuela **

*August 1, 2017 *

The United States condemns the actions of the Maduro dictatorship. Mr. López and Mr. Ledezma are political prisoners being held illegally by the regime. The United States holds Maduro—who publicly announced just hours earlier that he would move against his political opposition—personally responsible for the health and safety of Mr. López, Mr. Ledezma, and any others seized. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

NOTE: The statement referred to President Nicolas Maduro Moros of Venezuela; former Mayor Leopoldo López of Chacao, Venezuela, in his capacity as leader of the opposition party The People's Will; and former Mayor Antonio Ledezma of Caracas, Venezuela, in his capacity as founder of the opposition party Fearless People's Alliance.

*Categories:* Statements by the President : Venezuela situation*.*

*Names:* Ledezma, Antonio; López, Leopoldo; Maduro Moros, Nicolas*.*

*Subjects:* Venezuela : Human rights issues; Venezuela : Political unrest and violence; Venezuela : President.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201700556.