In January 2019 , amid the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis , Omar joined Democrats Ro Khanna and Tulsi Gabbard in denouncing the Trump administration 's decision to recognize Juan Guaidó , the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly , as Venezuela 's interim president . She described Trump 's action as a " U.S. backed coup " to " install a far right opposition " and said that the U.S. should not " hand pick " foreign leaders and should support " Mexico , Uruguay & the Vatican 's efforts to facilitate a peaceful dialogue . " In February 2019 , Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams , whom Trump appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela in January 2019 , was the correct choice given his past support of right-wing authoritarian regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala , his initial doubts about the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre in 1982 , and his two 1991 misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran – Contra affair , for which he was later pardoned by George H. W. Bush
El Mozote massacre
El Mozote massacre
Ilhan Omar