Rubio: Biden's Calls on Cuba, Venezuela a 'Total Joke'

Sen. Marco Rubio Tuesday called Democrat nominee Joe Biden's calls for new policies on Venezuela and Cuba a "total joke," and said the dictators leading both countries are hoping for President Donald Trump to lose in November. 

"I think what he is basically saying is we are going to allow [Cuba] to start making money if he gets the presidency, and on Venezuela, he will totally cave and collapse," the Florida Republican said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "That's why both in Caracas and Havana the dictators are hoping that Joe Biden wins and Donald Trump loses. It is their only way forward. That's what they are hoping happens in this election. I guarantee it."

During Biden's town hall in Miami Monday night, he said he'd use sanctions as one of the tools for a comprehensive strategy on Venezuela to push the regime toward a free and fair election. He also called for a new policy on Cuba, claiming that the Trump administration's policies not working and saying the country is no closer to democracy than it was four years ago. 

"On the issue of Venezuela, he is basically describing the Trump policy," said Rubio. "More sanctions — that's what we have done ... I don't understand what it is he would do any differently other than I think back down and actually reverse course."

And with Cuba, he believes that Biden is talking about going back to former President Barack Obama's actions. 

"When Obama was president, the Cuban regime was making a lot of money off of tourism because of the economic opening that Obama put in place and Biden supported," said Rubio.

Rubio also spoke out against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's calls against proceeding with the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett because three GOP senators have tested positive for coronavirus. 

"Every workplace in America is facing a COVID challenge," said Rubio. "We have a job to do, an essential job for the country ... these hearings are going to happen next week, maybe virtually."

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