Karoline Leavitt: The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, it is a narco terror cartel, and Maduro is not a legitimate President.

Karoline Leavitt's statement that the Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela and that Maduro is linked to narco-terrorism aligns with official U.S. Government positions and charges as of 2025.

Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Cartel Headed by Maduro - U.S. Department of the Treasury
Source: home.treasury.gov

Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Cartel Headed by Maduro - U.S. Department of the Treasury
Source: home.treasury.gov

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 19, 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Nicolás Maduro with narco-terrorism and related crimes.justice.gov
The U.S. Department of State and embassies label Maduro's regime as illegitimate following sham elections.globalsecurity.org state.gov +1 more
The Treasury sanctions identify Maduro as head of a narcotics cartel supporting terrorism.home.treasury.gov

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

Karoline Leavitt's claim contains two main assertions: 1) The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, and 2) The regime operates as a narco-terror cartel with Maduro not being a legitimate president.

Legitimacy of Maduro's Government:

Multiple U.S. Government sources, including the Department of State and U.S. Embassies, officially describe Maduro's regime as illegitimate, citing sham elections and undemocratic practices.globalsecurity.org state.gov +1 more
The United States government continues to support efforts to restore democratic order in Venezuela and does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president.

Narco-Terrorism Allegations:

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally charged Nicolás Maduro and several current and former Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities.justice.gov ice.gov
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctions a criminal group known as Cartel de los Soles, which is reportedly headed by Maduro and his associates, linking them to narcotics trafficking and terrorism support.home.treasury.gov
Media reports confirm the U.S. Government's intensified pursuit of Maduro on these grounds.ibtimes.co.uk

While these points strongly support Leavitt's characterization from the perspective of U.S. Policy and legal actions, it is important to note that Maduro retains control over Venezuela's government institutions domestically and is recognized by some international actors. Thus, the statement reflects a particular political and legal viewpoint rather than a universally accepted fact.

Overall, given the official U.S. Stance and legal charges, Leavitt's statement is mostly true within that context.

Primary trail