The GEC report (top left) and a sample of Venezuelan social media analyzed in the report (top right). The report was authored on November 30, 2020, and declassified in April 2024. (Below)

A declassified U.S. document reveals that Venezuela's Maduro regime, which has fallen from an oil-producing nation to South America's poorest country due to long-standing left-wing rule and fraudulent elections, weakened opposition support and neutralized public backlash through sophisticated public opinion manipulation. 

A U.S. State Department think tank analyzed 150,000 social media posts from October 1 to November 17, 2020. The analysis found that Nicolás Maduro, who secured the presidency through fraudulent elections, covertly undermined National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaidó, who had the support of his citizens and the Western world including the United States. Maduro consolidated his regime by sowing confusion and conflict to pit anti-government factions against each other. 

According to the Global Engagement Center (GEC) report, declassified by the State Department in April last year, pro-Maduro forces infiltrated opposition social media conversations opposing the general election scheduled for December 6, 2020. They then created, disseminated, and amplified content praising the Maduro regime's capabilities and favoring Maduro, causing disruption and confusion, according to the analysis. 

Diplomatic cables exchanged between the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela regarding its closure after the dissolution of Guaidó's interim government were also released in February 2023.

The opposition-led interim government actively resisted the ruling party's move to seize control of the National Assembly through the general election, following the ruling party's already established control over the executive, judiciary, and electoral authorities. However, over time, their cohesion weakened, and internal conflicts and animosity grew. 

The report's analysis of video comments on opposition social media revealed a surge of not only detractors but also supporters of the Maduro regime. Some expressed support for the Maduro regime, while others lamented the plight of the Venezuelan people. In one striking observation, a study noted the curious disappearance of support for Guaidó's interim government among approximately 200 analyzed comments. 

Notably, a phenomenon of swapped hashtags regarding regime support and opposition was observed. A large number of "dilution" videos emerged, blending the pro-Maduro hashtag '#6D' encouraging voting on December 6 with the interim government's boycott hashtag '#YoNoVotoEl6D'. 

Furthermore, in the lead-up to the election, pro-Maduro actors and celebrities promoted and incited on TV, digital media, and social media that Guaidó's party would participate in the vote. The Guaidó camp vehemently denied this, claiming "the Maduro regime stole the logo." However, the Maduro regime again deceived the public with the slogan "don't be fooled" (note dejes enganar), further destabilizing the opposition. 

A bipartisan resolution introduced by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 28, 2025 (local time). It expresses support for the Venezuelan people who have fought against the dictatorial regime elected through fraudulent elections. Captured from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website. 

Meanwhile, the United States recently introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the people who have been fighting against Maduro. 

According to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) website (foreign.senate.gov), the committee introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the Venezuelan people on the first anniversary of "Maduro's theft" of the presidential election. The resolution's core tenets are to condemn the Maduro regime's ongoing oppression and human rights abuses and to acknowledge the resilience of the opposition. 

Senators Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire), Rick Scott (Republican-Florida), Tim Kaine (Democrat-Virginia), and John Curtis (Republican-Utah) voluntarily participated in the resolution, irrespective of their party affiliations. 

Senator Scott emphasized that it has been one year since Maduro "stole the presidential election from the Venezuelan people." He stated, "I am proud to stand with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the freedom fighters of Venezuela. We will relentlessly work to strip the Maduro regime of all its resources and ultimately bring a new day of freedom to Venezuela."