Fetterman Questions Biden-Era Bounty on Maduro, Says Democrats Long Wanted Him Removed

Sen. John Fetterman argues that a $25 million bounty raised under President Biden signaled clear intent to oust Venezuela’s leader, challenging claims that Democrats only opposed him rhetorically.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Sen. John Fetterman on Monday raised questions about past Democratic policy toward Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, pointing to a $25 million bounty increased under President Joe Biden as evidence that U.S. leaders once sought Maduro’s removal, not merely verbal condemnation.

Appearing on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends, Fetterman referenced the Biden administration’s decision in January 2025 to raise the bounty tied to Maduro, questioning how that action aligns with claims that Washington did not want him ousted.

“Democrats, years ago, wanted to eliminate him, and why have a bounty of $25 million if we didn’t want him gone?” Fetterman said. “Why would you do these things if you weren’t willing to actually do something other than harsh language?”

Fetterman said that Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Biden himself in past statements, had repeatedly characterized Maduro as a dictator and a tyrant. He argued that such language, combined with the bounty increase, reflected a clear position.

“I’ve seen the speeches from — whether it’s Leader Schumer or past tweets from President Biden, we all wanted this man gone, and now he is gone,” Fetterman said. “Democrats, we all used to describe him as a dictator or a tyrant or a terrible person.”

He emphasized that the bounty increase occurred less than a year ago, underscoring what he described as a disconnect between past actions and current explanations. “It wasn’t less than a year ago President Biden raised the bounty to $25 million,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman returned repeatedly to the same question during the interview, arguing that placing a large bounty on a foreign leader implies a willingness to pursue more than diplomatic pressure. “If you are putting in these $25 million bounties and calling that he has to go,” he said, “are you willing to do more than just harsh language on social media?”

The remarks highlighted internal debate over how the United States and Democratic leaders have approached Venezuela and Maduro, particularly the contrast between past punitive measures and current interpretations of U.S. intent.