Univision anchor Jorge Ramos shared a video on Facebook Monday evening talking about being detained after interviewing Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro.
According to Ramos, an open-border enthusiast, he and his team were briefly held at the Miraflores Palace after asking questions the socialist leader did not like.
Ramos said he asked Maduro if he could be called a “dictator” and also showed him a video of Venezuelans picking through a garbage truck looking for food.
Univision anchor Jorge Ramos and members of his team were detained in Venezuela by socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro during an interview in which Maduro became upset after he was shown video of people picking through trash for food. H/T: @Enrique_Acevedo pic.twitter.com/feKux3FhrD
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 26, 2019
In addition to being temporarily held, the crew’s cameras and cell phones were taken, according to Univision News.
Attention: A @Univision team, headed by @jorgeramosnews, is being arbitrarily detained at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas. They were interviewing @NicolasMaduro but he didn't like the questions. Their technical equipment was also confiscated. https://t.co/c45tB0E4er
— Univision News (@UnivisionNews) February 26, 2019
Ramos, who said they were held for two hours, recorded the video at their hotel in Caracas.
“I had asked him if I can call him either a president or a dictator, because millions of Venezuelans do not consider him the legitimate president,” Ramos said in the video.
He said Maduro “couldn’t stand” seeing the video of the kids and angrily ended the interview. They were then told the interview wasn’t authorized and their equipment was confiscated.
Ramos said he and a producer were taken into a room and asked to surrender their cell phones. When they refused, he said the lights in the room were turned off and a group of agents came in and forcible took their phones and backpacks.
None of the equipment was returned, he said, to include video of the interview — they plan to leave Tuesday.
“They don’t want the world to see,” he said.
Upon receiving word Ramos and his team were being held, the State Department insisted on their immediate release, saying “the world is watching.”
.@StateDept has received word the journalist @jorgeramosnews and his team are being held against their will at Miraflores Palace by Nicolas Maduro. We insist on their immediate release; the world is watching. #Venezuela
— Julie Chung (@WHAAsstSecty) February 26, 2019
Video of Ramos and the Univision team leaving the hotel for the airport was shared online by network correspondent Pedro Ultreras.
He tweeted: “We are being accompanied by the US and Mexico Embassy personal. They are taking us in a bullet proof vehicles for our own security.”
At this moment the @UniNoticias team expelled from Venezuela is leaving the hotel in Caracas in our way to the airport. We are being accompanied by the US and Mexico Embassy personal. They are taking us in a bullet proof vehicles for our own security. @jorgeramosnews pic.twitter.com/DsYQnNxnzy
— Pedro Ultreras (@pedroultreras) February 26, 2019
While no one celebrants the highly troubling treatment Ramos received at the hands of a socialist dictator, social media users couldn’t help but ask if this might open his eyes to the realities of the world.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses from Twitter:
Another case of someone who pushes for socialism and then gets a full dose of socialism. https://t.co/XtUupzU0v1
— CPickDC (@cpickdc) February 26, 2019
Awww maybe USA ain’t so bad after all Jorge
— ConLab (@ECrocker34) February 26, 2019
Hope Jorge’s eyes were opened to the “marvels” of socialism.
— Alex Hernández (@alwayschiqui) February 26, 2019
Horrible that he went through all of that, but I hope that he learned a valuable lesson. The press in the US has it pretty good, even when they attack politicians (Trump,for example) with the most hate-filled rhetoric. Glad that Jorge was released, he means well. #SocialismSUCKS
— Rosario Hogan (@Hoganpartyof6) February 26, 2019
Never thought I’d say this, but I have much respect for Ramos in his willingness to ask the murderous dictator Maduro these tough questions. So few journalists these days would even oppose Socialist dictators let alone question them on their atrocities
— Im a Person (@ScarcePat) February 26, 2019
Strange how he loves Socialism but look what happened to him. I have never heard of Trump doing anything like that and this yahoo calls him a dictator? Care to change that Jorge?
— Robin Renee (@RobinRe72198622) February 26, 2019
This awesome Ramos who is a socialist to the core always degrading our Republic is getting the medicine of his own agenda & suggest he pays attention to Mexico which is going in the same direction of Venezuela 🇻🇪 maybe he would learn & become a conservative 😂😂wishful thinking
— Ivanpllaurado (@ivanpllaurado) February 26, 2019
Interesting! The same one who was criticizing very already aloud BTW, President Trump decision to help Venezuela! I’m pretty sure now he’s convinced!
— ★Joha ★ (@JohaMancarella) February 26, 2019
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
