Ilhan Omar: Democratic congresswoman fires back at Mike Pence in row over Venezuela

Ilhan Omar has hit back after US Vice President Mike Pence said she “does not know what she is talking about” in regards to ongoing political unrest in Venezuela.

Ms Omar, one of the first Muslim women to serve in the US congress, argued that America was partly to blame for the conflict in Venezuela.

Mr Pence’s criticism of her views was something “women of colour have heard” before, she said.

“Instead of ‘we disagree,’ it’s ‘she doesn’t know what she’s talking about’. They have to make us feel small," the Minnesota Democrat tweeted. “This from an administration that thinks climate change is a Chinese hoax”.

Ms Omar apportioned blame on American foreign policy for the political turmoil in Venezuela – arguing the US promotes regime change that is harmful to both America and the people in the countries targeted.

“A lot of the policies that we have put in place has kind of helped lead the devastation in Venezuela, and we’ve sort of set the stage for where we’re arriving today,” Ms Omar said.

“This particular bullying and the use of sanctions to eventually intervene and make regime change really does not help the people of countries like Venezuela, and it certainly does not help and is not in the interest of the United States.”

Ms Omar made the remarks during an appearance on the radio programme Democracy Now! where she discussed US interventions in Central America broadly and the long term impacts of US sanctions.

Sanctions have been a key US foreign policy tool for several decades now, and the Trump administration can be noted for its heavy use of the measure.

Asked why he criticised Ms Omar on social media, Mr Pence told Fox News anchor Sandra Smith it was “because the congresswoman doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

“Nicolas Maduro is a socialist dictator who has taken what was once one of the most prosperous nations in this hemisphere and brought it literally to a level of deprivation and oppression and poverty that we have never seen,” Mr Pence said of the embattled Venezuelan president. “That is not a result of US policies.”

Ms Omar’s remarks come as protests continue in Venezuela, where National Assembly and opposition leader Juan Guaido unsuccessfully tried to initiate a military uprising against Mr Maduro earlier this week.

The Trump administration announced support for Mr Guaido in January, recognising him as the country’s interim president over Mr Maduro and looking for ways to support him economically.

In March, the US administration implemented new sanctions on Venezuela in order to force Mr Maduro to relinquish his power to Mr Gauido.

Mr Guaido’s efforts and those sanctions culminated this week in mass protests in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, where violence erupted as Mr Guaido and Mr Maduro battled for power.

Economic conditions in Venezuela have deteriorated since Mr Maduro – who has repeatedly blamed attempts to overthrow him on the US - took power in 2013. The oil-rich country is plagued with economic and political turmoil – with hyperinflation leaving the currency practically worthless and causing the cost of essentials to skyrocket, leaving many unable to afford basics such as food and medicine.