TradeSecure Principal Fact Checks White House Press Secretary

On 1 March, TradeSecure principal Mike Beck was quoted in CNN in response to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s claim that “[h]istorically, and even in recent history, Democratic and Republican administrations, there have not been sanctions put in place for the leaders of foreign governments where we have diplomatic relations — and even where we don’t have diplomatic relations.” This statement however was not quite accurate.

In response to Psaki’s claims, Beck stated “it’s a bit of an exaggeration to suggest that the United States has not or will not sanction leaders of foreign governments.” Indeed, many world leaders are currently sanctioned in various manners by the United States.  Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Venezuela, Belarus, and Syria were all countries that the United States had some measure of diplomatic relations with when sanctions were placed on their leaders.  The next day, Psaki had narrowed her claim, saying “[h]istorically, the United States, through Democratic and Republican presidents, has not typically sanctioned government leaders of countries where we have diplomatic relations.”

This goes to show just how complex U.S. sanctions really are.

Screenshot of the entry for Nicolás Maduro on the U.S. Consolidated Screening List.