Progressive Florida Democrat insists Trump was pushing 'communism' with Venezuela deal
Angie Nixon, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Florida and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, accused President Donald Trump on Monday of advancing communist-style policies through his recent energy arrangement with Venezuela.
Speaking on MS NOW's "The Beat," Nixon was pressed on how she planned to win over Florida voters — particularly those with roots in Venezuela and Cuba who remain wary of socialist governance after fleeing or watching events unfold in their home countries.
Nixon pointed first to her record on affordability before pivoting to an attack on Trump and her Republican opponent, Sen. Ashley Moody. She argued that the administration's posture toward Venezuela resembled the very ideology she is often accused of embracing.
"Point out how Ashley Moody is so in total lockstep with Donald Trump," Nixon said. "You just had a gentleman on who was talking about how he has taken over Venezuela. That sounds like communism to me. They're taking over their oil reserves and wanting to sell them off. That is the epitome of what communism is, and that is what Ashley Moody is okay with. And I am totally not okay with that at all."
Her comments came shortly after the Trump administration announced it had reached an oil agreement with Venezuela centered on more than 65 billion barrels of proven reserves. The deal followed a January U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Since then, the United States has been working with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez.
Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to Moody's campaign and the White House for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.
The exchange also underscored the ongoing scrutiny Nixon faces over her affiliation with the DSA. Though she joined the organization, she has repeatedly rejected the socialist label, telling "Meet the Press NOW" that her membership is rooted in specific policy goals.
"I joined the DSA because I believe in them in regards to fighting for adequate public housing, as well as fighting for quality healthcare, as well as making sure that we are getting our veterans off the street, taking big money out of politics, right?" Nixon said.
She has also distanced herself from some of the more sweeping positions associated with parts of the DSA, denying support for abolishing the Senate or drafting a new constitution.
Still, Republican critics have worked to keep those ties central to the narrative. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Hall issued a statement to Fox News Digital painting Nixon as outside the mainstream of Florida politics.
"Socialist lunatic Angie Nixon wants to empty our prisons, open our borders, and raise your taxes to bankroll their far-left agenda," Hall said. "Every word out of Nixon's mouth is an in-kind contribution to Republicans in Florida and across the country."
The exchange highlights the unusual shape of Florida's Senate race, where Nixon is attempting to cast herself as the true defender of working-class interests while her opponents work to define her by her association with one of the country's most prominent left-wing organizations. With Moody's alignment with Trump a focal point for Democrats, and Nixon's DSA membership a focal point for Republicans, both campaigns appear poised to spend the coming months testing which framing resonates more with Florida's famously ticket-splitting electorate.
