The owner of a Venezuelan restaurant in Southeast Portland says many Venezuelans have hoped for decades to see President Nicolás Maduro removed from power.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Intense political debate erupted after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
Many are questioning the legality of President Trump’s actions, as protests took place across the Portland metro area.
But when speaking with a Venezuelan American on Sunday, she said she was overjoyed that Maduro had been removed.
“We needed this. We have been screaming freedom for decades,” said Verónica Gutiérrez.
Gutiérrez owns La Arepa, a Venezuelan restaurant in Southeast Portland.
“As American Venezuelans, we understand the American point of view, whether it’s legal or not, or the way it’s being done,” Gutiérrez said. “We get it, but we feel happy about it.”
Gutiérrez said she left Venezuela in 2005, citing hyperinflation, corruption and limited professional opportunities.
“All organizations and departments were managed by the same people just because they supported the government, and everything kept getting tighter and tighter,” she said. “The freedom to speak the way I’m doing right now, without repercussions, is something we really wanted back.”
She said she believes President Trump’s actions were the only way to remove Maduro from power.
“There’s no other way of getting rid of this situation other than military intervention,” Gutiérrez said. “This is not a change of regime. We already decided on July 28, 2024. We decided massively to have him out, but he didn’t listen to the people.”
Gutiérrez cited claims by Venezuela’s opposition that Maduro lost the 2024 election by a wide margin. The Carter Center, which observed the election at the Venezuelan government’s invitation, previously declared the election legitimate.
With Maduro removed, Gutiérrez said she hopes to see the release of political prisoners and a peaceful transition of power.
“The liberation of all political prisoners is the first thing,” she said. “Second, a peaceful transition so Edmundo González can return and carry out his duties as president, because we voted for him.”
She added that she supports the U.S. acting as an intermediary during the transition period.
