【新唐人北京时间2019年02月21日讯】美国总统川普（特朗普）周一（2月18日）下午在佛罗里达州迈阿密向美国最大的委内瑞拉裔社区讲话，同时也是向正在发生政治变革的委内瑞拉喊话。川普告诉委内瑞拉人民，委内瑞拉裔人民在自由美国的现在就是他们的未来，社会主义在委内瑞拉和世界各地的终结指日可待。希望之声电台特别翻译了川普总统的讲话全文以飨华人读者。
这次川普总统在大型集会上的讲话是由第一夫人梅拉尼娅做开场白，在下面的译文中也包括了梅拉尼娅的简短讲话。
梅拉尼娅和川普总统的讲话原文由白宫提供，他们讲话过程中被掌声打断，或有观众欢呼声等互动反应，也在文中用括号标出。文中的小标题为编者所加。
在译文开始前是梅拉尼娅和川普讲话的全程视频回放。
川普总统对委内瑞拉裔美国人社区讲话
2019年2月18日
佛罗里达国际大学海洋银行会议中心
佛罗里达州迈阿密
美东时间下午4:47开始
第一夫人梅拉尼娅做开场白
川普夫人：谢谢你们！（掌声）今天来到这美丽的迈阿密市感觉真棒。（掌声）总统和我很荣幸能与大家站在一起，我们共同支持委内瑞拉人民——伟大的委内瑞拉人民。（掌声）
作为你们的第一夫人，我很自豪在美国和你们在一起。（掌声）这个房间里你们中间的很多人都知道，在社会主义和共产主义的压迫下生活过后再得到自由的祝福是什么感觉。（掌声）在委内瑞拉，人民正处于重新获得自由的边缘。
今天，我们必须让委内瑞拉人民听到我们所有人一致的声音，这里有希望，我们是自由的，我们一起大声地、骄傲地祈祷：委内瑞拉人民也将很快获得自由。（掌声）
我的丈夫今天在这里，因为他深深地关心委内瑞拉目前的苦难。今天下午，他有一个重要的信息要和大家分享。
女士们，先生们，现在我很高兴地介绍我的丈夫、美国总统唐纳德·J·川普！（掌声）
川普宣告：拉丁美洲新的一天正在到来 社会主义正在消亡
川普总统：非常感谢你，梅拉尼亚！美国真是有福气，拥有这样一个非凡的——对吗？——非凡的第一夫人。（掌声）她是非凡的。她真的是。她关心人们。
你好，迈阿密！我很激动回到这个我热爱的州，有这么多自豪的、热爱自由的爱国者。我们在这里宣布：拉丁美洲新的一天正在到来。（掌声）正在到来。
在委内瑞拉和整个西半球，社会主义正在消亡。自由、繁荣和民主正在重生。（掌声）
今天，我们的心中充满了希望，因为成百上千万委内瑞拉普通人的决心，因为委内瑞拉国民议会的爱国主义，以及临时总统胡安·瓜伊多（Juan Guaidó）不可思议的勇气。（掌声）
委内瑞拉人民支持自由和民主，美利坚合众国和他们站在一边。（掌声）
川普介绍推动拉丁美洲获得自由的重要人物
让我首先感谢今天在这里的伟大领导者们，他们一直是自由事业的不可思议的支持者。这些人爱你们，他们热爱委内瑞拉，他们热爱古巴。他们热爱我们为之奋斗的所有地方。（掌声）
新当选并且已经在做着令人难以置信的工作，州长：罗恩·德桑蒂斯（Ron DeSantis）！（掌声）
有一个人，特别是当我们谈论古巴、委内瑞拉、尼加拉瓜时，我给他打电话——他知道很多，他是我的朋友：参议员马可·鲁比奥（Marco Rubio）！（掌声）
一位伟大的州长，他给了罗恩一点领先一步的优势。他在佛罗里达州做了出色的工作。前州长、现任参议员：里克·斯科特（Rick Scott）！（掌声）
有一个人我非常了解，特别是关于我心系委内瑞拉的事实——（掌声）——众议员马里奥·迪亚兹–巴拉特（Mario Diaz-Balart）！（掌声）
卡洛斯·特鲁希略（Carlos Trujillo）大使！（掌声）副州长珍妮特·努涅斯（Jeanette Núñez）！（掌声）你门新任的、伟大的总检察长阿什利·穆迪（Ashley Moody）！（掌声）现在在这个房间里的许多其他尽心尽职的公职人员们，我们非常感谢你们和我们在一起。谢谢你们！（掌声）
也感谢商务部长威尔伯·罗斯（Wilbur Ross）和我们在一起！还有莱特希泽（Robert Lighthizer）大使！我不得不说一下，莱特希泽大使刚刚从一个叫中国的地方回来。乖乖！哦，乖乖！——我们取得了很大的进展。没有人预料到会发生这种情况。（掌声）我们取得了很大的进展！（掌声）
与此同时，数十上百亿美元进入我们的财政部。这很简单。一切都奏效了。以前从来没有发生过。我们不知道美国有什么感觉，但现在我们知道这种感觉。（掌声）
我们还要深深感谢佛罗里达国际大学校长马克·罗森伯格博士（Mark Rosenberg）——（掌声）——招待举办了这个重要的活动。
最后，我要感谢在这优秀观众中的每一位，你们为人类的尊严站出了你们自己的立场。这可能就是你们所有人！（掌声）
感谢反对社会主义的委内瑞拉人
我也要特别感谢委内瑞拉流亡社区，他们为支持瓜伊多总统为他们的爱国同胞组织了援助并在（美国）国内做了大量工作。非常感谢你们的到来！谢谢你们！我们和你们在一起！（掌声）
我们非常感谢每一位持不同政见者、每一位流亡者、每一位政治犯，以及每一位见证社会主义和共产主义恐怖的人，和勇敢地说出来反对它们的人！非常感谢你们！（掌声）
事实是，你们已经看到了犯罪，你们已经看到了腐败。你们已经看到了饥饿和痛苦。你们听到了痛苦的请求帮助。你们已经抗议了，并且是带着尊重的抗议，还是大声的抗议。你们已经为我们现在能够看到的那一天祈祷了，这一天就在前面——这个地区的所有人都终将获得自由的那一天。（掌声）
（观众欢呼：美国！美国！美国！）
社会主义让委内瑞拉由富变穷 不会发生在美国身上
我们今天在这里相会时，委内瑞拉人民正站在历史的门槛上，准备收回他们的国家，并重新收回他们的未来。
不久以前，委内瑞拉是南美洲迄今为止最富有的国家。但是多年的社会主义统治让这个曾经繁荣的国家濒临毁灭。这就是今天的情况。
这个专制的社会主义政府将私营企业国有化，并接管了私营企业。他们进行大规模财富没收，关闭自由市场，压制言论自由，建立无情的宣传机器，操纵选举，利用政府迫害其政治对手，破坏法治公正。
换句话说，社会主义者在委内瑞拉所做的一切都与其他社会主义者、共产主义者、极权主义者在他们有机会统治的所有地方所做出的一切是一样的。结果都是灾难性的。
现在，近90%的委内瑞拉人生活在贫困之中。
2018年，委内瑞拉的恶性通货膨胀率超过百分之一百万。食品和药品短缺严重困扰着这个国家。社会主义已经彻底蹂躏了这个伟大的国家，即使有世界上最大的石油储备也不足以保持光明。这绝不会发生在我们身上！（掌声）
（观众欢呼：美国！美国！美国！）
谢谢你们！
已经有超过300万委内瑞拉人逃离了马杜罗的野蛮对对派——它是残酷无情的。
一位委内瑞拉爱国者的故事
今天，我们很荣幸地请到阿米莎·佩雷斯（Amintha Perez），她是一位勇敢的委内瑞拉警官奥斯卡·佩雷斯（Oscar Perez）的母亲。（掌声）你知道这个故事。
2017年6月，奥斯卡驾驶一架直升机飞越巴鲁塔（Baruta）市，飞机上带着一面旗帜，上面写“350自由”，指的是《委内瑞拉宪法》第350条，其中指出：“委内瑞拉人民……否认任何违反了民主价值……或侵犯了人权的政权、立法或权威。”
奥斯卡说他想给人民带来希望。他热爱人民。他为人民而战。他们也热爱奥斯卡。但是奥斯卡被枪杀了，被委内瑞拉的——你们都知道，你们都知道这个故事——被委内瑞拉安全部队恶毒地杀害了。
阿米莎，我们的心碎了，为你失去的。奥斯卡为他的人民的自由献出了生命。我们今天都有希望，就是因为像奥斯卡这样的伟大的、伟大的人民和爱国者。（掌声）有请，阿米莎！（掌声）
我对她说：“用西班牙语说怎么样？”她喜欢西班牙语。她的西班牙语好一点。有请！有请！
（观众欢呼）
（阿米莎·佩雷斯夫人讲西班牙语，原文略）
（掌声）
我不知道她说了什么，但我想我知道她说了什么。她是一个不可思议的女人。奥斯卡是一个不可思议的人，他不会白白死去。（掌声）
委内瑞拉正在把社会主义的一页翻过去 社会主义的终结指日可待了
几周前，1月23日，委内瑞拉国民议会援引《委内瑞拉宪法》宣布国民议会议长胡安·瓜伊多为该国的合法领导人。在他的第一个行动中，瓜伊多总统就援引了奥斯卡带到天空中去的同样的宪法条款，告知全世界马杜罗是非法的。
在30分钟内，美国自豪地成为世界上第一个承认瓜伊多总统的国家。（掌声）
（观众欢呼：美国！美国！美国！）
顺便说一句，（国家安全顾问）约翰·博尔顿在这里。约翰，你在哪？（掌声）加油工作！
今天，全世界有50多个国家承认了委内瑞拉的合法政府。委内瑞拉人民已经发声，世界也听到了他们美妙的声音。他们正在把社会主义的一页翻过去，把独裁专政的一页翻过去，不会再回头了！（掌声）
爱好和平的国家愿意帮助委内瑞拉重新获得民主、尊严和命运。在我们这个半球的所有国家都有共同的利益来阻止社会主义暴政的蔓延。社会主义，从其本质上，不尊重边界，不尊重其公民或其邻国的边界或主权。它总是寻求扩张，蚕食和征服他人的意志。
社会主义的黄昏时刻已经到了我们这个半球——（掌声）——坦率地说，也到了世界各地的许多、许多地方。社会主义和共产主义的日子不仅在委内瑞拉指日可数，而且在尼加拉瓜和古巴也是如此！（掌声）
我们热爱古巴吗？（掌声）我们热爱尼加拉瓜吗？（掌声）都是伟大的国家。都有伟大的潜力。记住这个词。如此难以置信的潜力！
结束委内瑞拉的人道主义灾难
与此同时，我们必须共同努力，结束人道主义灾难。在我们说话时，载有数百上千吨被迫切需要的人道主义物资的卡车就停在委内瑞拉边境，等待着给需要帮助的数百上千万人。
两天前，美国空军第一架C-17飞机——那是又大又漂亮的飞机——在哥伦比亚降落，上面载有重要援助物资，包括给委内瑞拉小孩儿们的成千上万个营养包。（掌声）不幸的是，独裁者马杜罗阻止了这种救命用的援助进入该国。他宁愿看到他的人民饿死而不是给他们援助，不是帮助他们。
给马杜罗政权一小撮人两条路选择
成百上千万的委内瑞拉人正在挨饿和痛苦，而马杜罗政权最高层的一小撮人却在掠夺国家使之陷入贫困和死亡。我们知道他们是谁，我们知道他们在哪里保存着他们偷来的数十上百亿美元。
令人难以置信的是，委内瑞拉军队中仍然有成员还在勉强支撑这个失败的独裁统治。他们在拿他们自己的未来冒这个风险，为了一个受制于古巴军队并由古巴私人军队的士兵保护的人，而拿他们自己的生命和委内瑞拉的未来冒这个险。（掌声）马杜罗不是委内瑞拉爱国者；他是古巴的一个傀儡。他就是这样。（掌声）
请记住，曾经有数亿美元支付给古巴——但是不会再有了，因为他们不再拥有那种财富了，他们做不到了。事情正在发生变化，而且变化很快！（掌声）
今天，我向每一位在帮助保住马杜罗位子的官员发出信息：
今天、每一天，未来的每一天，整个世界的目光都在看着你。
面临你的选择，你无法掩藏。你可以选择接受瓜伊多总统的慷慨大赦，与你的家人和同胞过一种平静的生活。瓜伊多总统不会寻求对你的报复，我们也不会。但是你不能遵守马杜罗的命令去阻止人道主义援助，你不能以任何形式的暴力威胁和平抗议者——（掌声）——对待反对派领导人们、国民议会议员们，或瓜伊多总统及其家人。
我们寻求和平的权力过渡，但所有选择都是开放的。（掌声）我们希望恢复委内瑞拉的民主，我们相信委内瑞拉军队及其领导层在这一进程中可以发挥至关重要的作用。如果你选择这条道路，你将有机会帮助所有委内瑞拉人民打造一个安全和繁荣的未来。
或者你可以选择第二条路：继续支持马杜罗。
（观众嘘声：Booo-）
如果你选择这条道路，你会发现没有安全港，没有轻松的出口，也没有出路。你会失去一切。（掌声）
所以，今天，我要求马杜罗政权的每个成员：为你们的人民结束这个贫困、饥饿和死亡的噩梦！放走你们的人民吧！让你们的国家自由吧！现在是所有委内瑞拉爱国者团结一致行动的时候了。（掌声）没有什么比委内瑞拉的未来更好的了。对委内瑞拉自由和民主的重生而言，没有什么比另一个俘虏国家——古巴——的未来更好了。（掌声）
（观众欢呼：美国！美国！美国！）
社会主义悲惨的根源是对历史和人性的完全无知
几十年来，古巴和委内瑞拉的社会主义独裁政权以非常腐败的交易方式相互扶植。委内瑞拉给了古巴石油。作为回报，古巴给了委内瑞拉一个直接由哈瓦那操控的警察国家。（掌声）
但是现在这是一个非常不同的日子，那些日子结束了。（掌声）两个独裁政权之间的丑陋联盟正在迅速终结。一个新的未来正在开始。我们所有人都在这个舞台上，外面有成千上万成千上万成千上万的人——你一定要看到——所有人是团结一致的，因为我们了解在委内瑞拉、古巴、尼加拉瓜，和世界各地的社会主义真相。（掌声）
社会主义承诺繁荣，但却带来贫困。
社会主义承诺团结，但却带来仇恨，并带来分裂。社会主义承诺一个更美好的未来，但它总是回归到过去的最黑暗的篇章。（这个规律）从来没有错过。它总是这样发生。
社会主义是一种悲惨而不可信的意识形态，其根源在于对历史和人性的完全无知，这就是为什么社会主义最终一定会产生暴政，它确实如此。（掌声）社会主义者宣称热爱多样性，但他们始终坚持的是绝对的一致。
社会主义打着进步的旗号结果只有腐败
我们知道社会主义不是关于正义，不是关于平等，不是关于提升穷人。社会主义只是关于一件事：统治阶级的权力！（掌声）他们获得的权力越多，他们渴望的就越多。他们想要管医疗保健，管运输和金融，管能源、教育，管一切。
他们想要决定谁赢谁输的权力，决定谁上谁下的权力，决定什么是真什么是假的权力，甚至是决定谁生谁死的权力。（掌声）
简而言之，今天我们所有人都知道，没有什么比社会主义更不民主了。无论在任何地方出现，社会主义都是用进步的旗帜推动，但最终带来的只有腐败、剥削和腐朽。
社会主义真正走到尽头了
今天和我们在一起的还有大卫·斯莫兰斯基（David Smolansky）。（掌声）大卫是委内瑞拉历史上最年轻的市长之一，当时马杜罗政权将他解职并对他发出逮捕令。大卫逃到了委内瑞拉南部岌岌可危的丛林中。最后，大卫到达巴西，在那里他得到张开双臂的欢迎。
今天，大卫以流亡者身份在美国生活，在这里他继续为委内瑞拉人民说话。令人伤心的是，大卫是他的家族中逃离社会主义和共产主义痛苦的第三代人。大卫的祖父母1927年逃离苏联，他的父亲1970年逃离共产主义古巴。
如大卫所说，“我想从父亲和祖父那里得到的不同就是回到我的国家。”（掌声）“我的祖父母从未回到基辅……我的父亲还没有回到过哈瓦那。我希望我能（很快）回到委内瑞拉。”（掌声）大卫，我认为这会发生的。
非常感谢你，大卫！我想这很快就会发生。大卫，你的勇气是一种激励。不仅是大卫，这个房间里的很多人，你们经历了很多，但是你们看到它走到了尽头。你们是第一次真地看到它走到尽头了。这是第一次，你们正在看到——因为美国，一个真正伟大的国家，就在你们身后。（掌声）
（观众欢呼：美国！美国！美国！）
美国永远不会成为社会主义国家 美国声援所有社会主义受难者
在美国支持委内瑞拉民主的同时，我们重申声援古巴和尼加拉瓜长期遭受苦难的人民，以及生活在社会主义和共产主义政权之下的各地人民。
对于那些试图将社会主义强加于美国的人们，我们再次发出一个非常简单的信息：美国永远不会成为社会主义国家。（掌声）
我们生而自由，我们保持自由，无论现在还是永远。（掌声）
我们知道自由可以在委内瑞拉做什么，因为我们已经在这里的多拉市（Doral）看到了未来。
我们知道自由在古巴可以做什么，因为我们已经在迈阿密这里看到了未来。（掌声）
我们知道自由在尼加拉瓜能做些什么，因为我们已经在这里的甜水市（Sweetwater）看到了未来。（掌声）
将出现人类历史上第一个没有社会主义的自由半球
很快有一天，在上帝的帮助下，我们将会看到人们在加拉加斯（委内瑞拉首都）、马那瓜（尼加拉瓜首都）和哈瓦那（古巴首都）愿意做什么。（掌声）
当委内瑞拉获得自由，古巴获得自由，尼加拉瓜获得自由时，这里将成为人类历史上第一个自由的半球。（掌声）
今天能和你们在一起，我感到非常荣幸。今天第一夫人也非常荣幸能和你们在一起。我们正在赢得胜利。我们在各个前线上都在获胜。
谢谢你们！上帝祝福你们！上帝保佑委内瑞拉人民！上帝保佑古巴人民！上帝保佑尼加拉瓜人民！上帝保佑美利坚合众国！（掌声）非常感谢大家！
（美东时间下午5:19结束）
白宫网站原文如下：
Remarks by President Trump to the Venezuelan American Community
LAW& JUSTICE
Issued on:February18,2019
Florida International University Ocean Bank Convocation Center
Miami, Florida
4:47 P.M. EST
MRS. TRUMP: Thank you.(Applause.) It is wonderful to be here today in the beautiful city of Miami.(Applause.) The President and I are honored to stand with all of you as we together support the people— great people— of Venezuela.(Applause.)
I’m proud to be here with you in the United States of America as your First Lady.(Applause.) Many of you in the room know what it feels like to be blessed with freedom after living under the oppression of socialism and communism.(Applause.) In Venezuela, the people are on the brink of reclaiming their own liberty.
Today, we must let the Venezuelan people hear us all with one united voice. There is hope, we are free, and we pray together loudly and proudly that soon the people of Venezuela will be free as well.(Applause.)
My husband is here today because he cares deeply about the current suffering in Venezuela. This afternoon, he has an important message to share.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to introduce my husband and the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Melania. America is truly blessed to have such a— an extraordinary— right? Extraordinary First Lady.(Applause.) She’s extraordinary. She really is. She cares about people.
Hello, Miami. I am thrilled to be back in the state I love with so many proud, freedom-loving patriots. We’re here to proclaim a new day is coming in Latin America.(Applause.) It’s coming.
In Venezuela and across the Western Hemisphere, socialism is dying, and liberty, prosperity, and democracy are being reborn.(Applause.)
Today, our hearts are filled with hope because of the determination of millions of everyday Venezuelans, the patriotism of the Venezuelan National Assembly, and the incredible courage of Interim President Juan Guaidó.(Applause.)
The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the United States of America is standing right by their side.(Applause.)
Let me begin by thanking the great leaders here today who have been such incredible champions for the cause of liberty. And these people love you, and they love Venezuela, and they love Cuba. And they love all of the places that we’re fighting for.(Applause.)
Newly elected and already doing an incredible job, Governor Ron DeSantis.(Applause.)
A man who I call, especially when we’re talking about Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua— he knows a lot, and he’s a friend of mine: Senator Marco Rubio.(Applause.)
A great governor; he gave Ron a little bit of a head start. He did a fantastic job in Florida. Former governor, and now senator, Rick Scott.(Applause.)
Somebody that I’ve gotten to know very well, especially as to the fact that my heart is in Venezuela—(applause)— Representative Mario Diaz-Balart.(Applause.)
Ambassador Carlos Trujillo.(Applause.) Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez.(Applause.) Your new and great Attorney General, Ashley Moody.(Applause.) And to so many other dedicated public officials that are in this room right now, we thank you very much for being with us. Thank you.(Applause.)
Thank you also to Secretary of Commerce. Wilbur Ross is with us, and Ambassador Lighthizer. Ambassador Lighthizer, I have to say, just got back from a place called China. And, boy, oh, boy— we’re making a lot of progress. Nobody expected this was going to be happening.(Applause.) We’re making a lot of progress.(Applause.)
In the meantime, billions and billions of dollars are coming into our Treasury. It’s very simple. All works. That never happened before. We don’t know the feeling in this country, but now we know the feeling.(Applause.)
We also want to extend our deep appreciation to the President of Florida International University, Dr. Mark Rosenberg—(applause)— for hosting this important event.
Finally, I want to thank each and every person in this wonderful audience who has made your own stand for human dignity. And that’s probably just about all of you.(Applause.)
And I want to especially thank the Venezuelan exile community that has done so much to support President Guaidó to organize aid for their compatriots and to do just a lot back home. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you. We’re with you.(Applause.)
We are profoundly grateful to every dissident, every exile, every political prisoner, and everyone who bears witness to the horrors of socialism and communism, and who has bravely spoken out against them. Thank you very much.(Applause.)
The fact is, you’ve seen the crimes and you’ve seen the corruption. You have seen the hunger and the suffering. You have heard the anguished pleas for help. You have protested, and protested with respect, but loudly. And you have prayed for the day we can now see, which is just ahead— the day when all the people of this region will at last be free.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: As we meet today, the people of Venezuela stand at the threshold of history, ready to reclaim their country and to reclaim their future.
Not long ago, Venezuela was the wealthiest nation, by far, in South America. But years of socialist rule have brought this once-thriving nation to the brink of ruin. That’s where it is today.
The tyrannical socialist government nationalized private industries and took over private businesses. They engaged in massive wealth confiscation, shut down free markets, suppressed free speech, and set up a relentless propaganda machine, rigged elections, used the government to persecute their political opponents, and destroyed the impartial rule of law.
In other words, the socialists have done in Venezuela all of the same things that socialists, communists, totalitarians have done everywhere that they’ve had a chance to rule. The results have been catastrophic.
Almost90 percent of Venezuelans now live in poverty.
In2018, hyperinflation in Venezuela exceeded1 million percent. Crippling shortages of food and medicine plague the country. Socialism has so completely ravaged this great country that even the world’s largest reserves of oil are no longer enough to keep the lights on. This will never happen to us.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Already, more than3 million Venezuelans have fled Maduro’s brutal opposition— and brutal it is.
Today, we are honored to be joined by Amintha Perez, the mother of Oscar Perez— a courageous Venezuelan police officer.(Applause.) You know the story.
In June of2017, Oscar piloted a helicopter over the city of Baruta with the banner,"350 Liberty," a reference to Article350 of the Venezuelan constitution, which states:"The people of Venezuela…shall disown any regime, legislation or authority that violates democratic values…or encroaches upon human rights."
Oscar said he wanted to give the people hope. He loved the people. He fought for the people. And they loved Oscar. But Oscar was gunned down and killed by Venezuela’s— you know this very well; you all know the story— by the Venezuelan security forces, viciously.
Amintha, our hearts break for your loss. Oscar gave his life for the freedom of his people. We all have hope today because of great, great people and patriots like Oscar.(Applause.) Please, Amintha.(Applause.)
I said,"How about saying something in Spanish?" She likes Spanish. She’s a little bit better in Spanish. Please. Please.
AUDIENCE:(Inaudible.)
MS. PEREZ:(Speaks Spanish.)(No translation provided.)
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I don’t know what she said, but I think I know what she said. And she is an incredible woman. And Oscar was an incredible man who will not have died in vain.(Applause.)
A few weeks ago, on January23rd, Venezuela’s National Assembly invoked the Venezuelan constitution to declare the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the country’s legitimate leader. In one of his first acts, President Guaidó invoked the same constitutional article that Oscar carried through the skies to notify the world that Maduro was illegitimate.
Within30 minutes, the United States was proud to be the first nation in the world to recognize President Guaidó.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: And, by the way, John Bolton is here. Where is John?(Applause.) Working hard.
Today, more than50 countries around the world now recognize the rightful government of Venezuela. And the Venezuelan people have spoken, and the world has heard their beautiful voice. They are turning the page on socialism, turning the page on dictatorship, and there will be no going back.(Applause.)
Peace-loving nations are ready to help Venezuela reclaim its democracy, its dignity, and its destiny. All the nations in our hemisphere have the shared interest in preventing the spread of socialist tyranny. Socialism, by its very nature, does not respect borders. It does not respect boundaries or the sovereign rights of its citizens or its neighbors. It’s always seeking to expand, to encroach, and to subjugate others to its will.
The twilight hour of socialism has arrived in our hemisphere—(applause)— and, frankly, in many, many places around the world. The days of socialism and communism are numbered not only in Venezuela, but in Nicaragua and in Cuba as well.(Applause.)
Do we love Cuba?(Applause.) Do we love Nicaragua?(Applause.) Great countries. Such great potential. Remember that word. Such unbelievable potential.
In the meantime, we must all work together to end a humanitarian disaster. As we speak, there are truckloads filled with hundreds of tons of desperately needed humanitarian supplies stopped at the borders of Venezuela and waiting to help the millions and millions in need.
Two days ago, the first U.S. Air Force C-17— that’s a big, beautiful plane— landed in Colombia loaded with crucial assistance, including thousands of nutrition kits for little Venezuelan children.(Applause.) Unfortunately, Dictator Maduro has blocked this lifesaving aid from entering the country. He would rather see his people starve than give them aid, than help them.
Millions of Venezuelans are starving and suffering while a small handful at the top of the Maduro regime plunder the nation into poverty and into death. We know who they are, and we know where they keep the billions of dollars that they have stolen.
Incredibly, there are members of the Venezuelan military still barely supporting this failed dictatorship. They are risking their future, they are risking their livesand Venezuela’s future, for a man controlled by the Cuban military and protected by a private army of Cuban soldiers.(Applause.) Maduro is not a Venezuelan patriot; he is a Cuban puppet. That’s what he is.(Applause.)
And remember that hundreds of millions of dollars used to be paid to Cuba— but no longer, because they no longer have that kind of wealth to be able to do it. So things are changing, and they’re changing fast.(Applause.)
And today I have a message for every official who is helping to keep Maduro in place:
The eyes of the entire world are upon you today, every day,
and every day in the future. You cannot hide from the choice that now confronts you. You can choose to accept President Guaidó’s generous offer of amnesty, to live your life in peace with your families and your countrymen. President Guaidó does not seek retribution against you, and neither do we. But you must not follow Maduro’s orders to block humanitarian aid, and you must not threaten any form of violence against peaceful protestors—(applause)— opposition leaders, members of the National Assembly, or President Guaidó and his family.
We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open.(Applause.) We want to restore Venezuelan democracy, and we believe that the Venezuelan military and its leadership have a vital role to play in this process. If you choose this path, you have the opportunity to help forge a safe and prosperous future for all the people of Venezuela.
Or you can choose the second path: continuing to support Maduro.
AUDIENCE: Booo—
THE PRESIDENT: If you choose this path, you will find no safe harbor, no easy exit, and no way out. You will lose everything.(Applause.)
So today, I ask every member of the Maduro regime: End this nightmare of poverty, hunger, and death for your people. Let your people go. Set your country free. Now is the time for all Venezuelan patriots to act together as one united people.(Applause.) Nothing could be better for the future of Venezuela. And nothing could be better for the future of another captive nation— Cuba— than the rebirth of freedom and democracy in Venezuela.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: For decades, the socialist dictatorships of Cuba and Venezuela have propped each other up in a very corrupt bargain. Venezuela gave Cuba oil. In return, Cuba gave Venezuela a police state run directly from Havana.(Applause.)
But this is a much different day, and those days are over.(Applause.) The ugly alliance between the two dictatorships is coming to a rapid end. A new future is beginning. All of us in this arena, and thousands and thousands and thousands of people outside— you have to see it— are united because we know the truth about socialism in Venezuela, in Cuba, in Nicaragua, and all around the world.(Applause.)
Socialism promises prosperity, but it delivers poverty.
Socialism promises unity, but it delivers hatred and it delivers division. Socialism promises a better future, but it always returns to the darkest chapters of the past. That never fails. It always happens.
Socialism is a sad and discredited ideology rooted in the total ignorance of history and human nature, which is why socialism, eventually, must always give rise to tyranny, which it does.(Applause.) Socialists profess a love of diversity, but they always insist on absolute conformity.
We know that socialism is not about justice, it’s not about equality, it’s not about lifting up the poor. Socialism is about one thing only: power for the ruling class.(Applause.) And the more power they get, the more they crave. They want to run healthcare, run transportation and finance, run energy, education— run everything.
They want the power to decide who wins and who loses, who’s up and who’s down, what’s true and what’s false, and even who lives and who dies.(Applause.)
In short, all of us here today know that there is nothing less democratic than socialism. Everywhere and anywhere it appears, socialism advances under the banner of progress, but in the end, it delivers only corruption, exploitation, and decay.
With us today is David Smolansky.(Applause.) David was one of the youngest mayors in Venezuelan history when the Maduro regime removed him from office and issued a warrant for his arrest. David fled into Venezuela’s treacherous southern jungle. Eventually, David reached Brazil, where he was welcomed with open arms.
Today, David lives in exile in the United States, where he continues to speak up for the Venezuelan people. Sadly, David is the third generation of his family to flee the agony of socialism and communism. David’s grandparents fled the Soviet Union in1927, and his father fled communist Cuba in1970.
As David said,"The difference I want to have from my father and grandfather is to go back to my country."(Applause.)"My grandparents never went back to Kiev…my father has not been back to Havana. I hope I can[soon] return to Venezuela."(Applause.) I think that will happen, David.
Thank you very much, David. I think it’ll soon happen. Your courage, David, is an inspiration. And not only David; many of the people in this room. You’ve been through much, but you see it coming to the end. You see it really coming to an end for the first time. For the first time, you’re seeing it— because the United States, a true great nation, is behind you.(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: And so as the United States stands up for democracy in Venezuela, we reaffirm the solidarity with the long-suffering people of Cuba and Nicaragua and people everywhere living under socialist and communist regimes.
And to those who would try to impose socialism on the United States, we again deliver a very simple message: America will never be a socialist country.(Applause.)
We are born free and we will stay free, now and forever.
(Applause.) We know what freedom can do in Venezuela because we have seen that future right here in Doral.
We know what freedom can do in Cuba because we have seen that future right here in Miami.(Applause.)
We know what freedom can do in Nicaragua because we have seen that future in Sweetwater.(Applause.)
And one day soon, with God’s help, we are going to see what the people will do in Caracas and Managua and Havana.(Applause.)
And when Venezuela is free, and Cuba is free, and Nicaragua is free, this will become the first free hemisphere in all of human history.(Applause.)
It was my great honor to be with you today, and the First Lady’s great honor to be with you today. We are winning. We are winning on every front.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless the people of Venezuela. God bless the people of Cuba. God bless the people of Nicaragua. And God bless the United States of America.(Applause.) Thank you very much.
END
——转自《希望之声》
（责任编辑：云涛）
