Trump offers aid to Venezuela as back-to-back quakes raise fears of 100K deaths

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump pledged US support for Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes devastated the country on Wednesday, June 24, striking a markedly different tone toward a nation he had previously targeted with threats, sanctions, and tough rhetoric.

In a Truth Social post, Trump described Venezuelans as "our new and great friends" while offering assistance as authorities warned the death toll from the twin quakes could eventually reach tens of thousands. 

The message quickly drew attention because it contrasted sharply with Trump's earlier comments and policies toward Venezuela, making a distant natural disaster relevant to many American readers through a domestic political lens.

Trump offers Venezuela earthquake assistance

"The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths," Trump wrote.

"The USA stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!"

His comments came as emergency crews searched through collapsed buildings and damaged neighborhoods following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and a subsequent magnitude 7.5 tremor that struck near Caracas. 

The US Geological Survey warned that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable" and initially estimated fatalities could range from 10,000 to 100,000 people.

Trump calls Venezuelans 'new and great friends'

Trump's description of Venezuelans as "our new and great friends" stood out because it represented a notable shift from months of combative rhetoric surrounding the country.

The president has frequently criticized the government of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and has taken a hard-line approach to issues including deportations, migration, and US-Venezuela relations.

Against that backdrop, Trump's offer of aid and warm language toward the Venezuelan people created a striking contrast that quickly became part of the story surrounding the disaster response.

For many Americans, the political shift serves as a bridge between a tragedy unfolding hundreds of miles away and a familiar domestic political figure whose previous stance toward Venezuela has been far less conciliatory.

Rescue efforts continue in Venezuela

Authorities continued rescue efforts late Wednesday as survivors searched for loved ones among the rubble.

Videos circulating online showed residents fleeing buildings, widespread infrastructure damage across Caracas, and emergency workers combing through collapsed structures.

Officials have not yet released an official death toll, but the scale of the destruction has fueled fears that the disaster could become one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike Venezuela in modern history.

The twin quakes are among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century, according to reports, with emergency responders still working to assess the full extent of the damage.