The Trump administration has posted alerts for US citizens living abroad on social media – which is heavily censored alongside traditional forms of media in Venezuela
Donald Trump’s administration has been taken to task over its response to the Venezuela earthquake after natural disaster alerts warning people of the crisis were posted on banned social media platforms.
The US embassy in Caracas, which reopened in March after nearly seven years of inactivity, issued alerts today after the country was hit by multiple earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 within a minute. At least 164 people have been killed by the twin quakes, the latter of which was the strongest to hit Venezuela in 200 years, the country’s President, Delcy Rodríguez said, with the death toll only expected to rise.
But while the US president has promised to send over aid and help people impacted by the crisis, urgent messages sent out by his administration won’t have landed.
US officials with the embassy sent out alerts via X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram today warning US citizens abroad in Venezuela of the natural disaster. The urgent notices included a link to the embassy’s official site, and advised people to avoid damaged areas, not to enter damaged buildings, monitor local media for updates and seek secure shelter.
But many Americans living in the nation won’t have received these notices, as the country’s media, social and otherwise, is heavily censored.
Social media sites, including X, are either blocked or inaccessible to much of the general public, meaning more than 414,000 people on Elon Musk’s site who follow the embassy’s page may not have received the message. Several people posting online noticed the public flub, including Venezuelan-American journalist Ali Bianco.
She noted on X: “It’s worth noting that not only is the vast majority of local media in Venezuela state-run, but several social media sites including X are blocked or inaccessible.”
Another user added: “This message will likely go unseen by many people because X (formerly Twitter) remains blocked in Venezuela. It is essential that X and all other social media platforms be unblocked so that people can stay informed about what is happening in Venezuela. HELP!”
One person posting on Instagram said simply: “LIFT THE INTERNET BLOCKADE!” And another user said: “Please, you can force Delcy to lift the block on X!!! Staying informed is essential right now!”
“There are 8 million of us Venezuelan exiles wanting to hear about our families, and those inside Venezuela have no idea of the magnitude of what has happened!” The Trump administration, which took over control of the country’s oil industry following its lightning dethroning of former leader Nicolas Maduro in January, has promised it would send aid.
The president said he had instructed all US federal agencies “to get ready to move quickly” in response, adding: “We will be there for our new and great friends.”
