Venezuela quakes kill at least 164 as Trump stalls housing bill
Two powerful earthquakes hit northern Venezuela, while President Trump withheld his signature from a bipartisan housing-cost measure.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Two strong earthquakes in northern Venezuela killed at least 164 people and injured 971, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The disaster prompted an emergency declaration and a U.S. pledge to prepare aid as rescuers searched collapsed buildings.
In Washington, President Trump canceled plans to sign a bipartisan housing bill aimed at lowering costs, NPR reported. Trump said on social media that he would hold off until Congress passed the SAVE America Act, a strict voter ID measure he has pushed for months.
Venezuela assesses earthquake damage
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake, with a magnitude of 7.2, struck around 6 p.m. Wednesday. A second quake, measured at magnitude 7.5, followed less than a minute later, according to the agency.
More than 20 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial shaking, NPR reported. Venezuela's government declared a state of emergency because officials feared the casualty count could rise.
NPR reporter John Otis told Up First that images from Venezuela suggested heavy damage. He said photos and videos showed dust clouds from fallen structures, emergency crews carrying survivors from debris on stretchers, and people fleeing homes and restaurants into the streets.
The U.S. Geological Survey's models show that earthquakes of this strength can produce tens of thousands of casualties, according to NPR. Otis said many people had turned to social media to seek information about missing relatives.
Trump said on social media that he had directed U.S. agencies to get ready for a quick response, according to NPR. The State Department said it had activated a disaster assistance team and a task force for Venezuela, and that search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies and humanitarian aid would be sent.
Housing bill delayed in fight over voting measure
Trump had been expected to sign a bipartisan housing measure Tuesday, NPR reported. The bill was designed to address housing costs, part of the broader cost-of-living pressure facing Americans.
Instead, Trump wrote that he would not sign what he called a bill “of minor importance” until Congress approved the SAVE America Act, according to NPR. Trump has said for months that he will not sign legislation until lawmakers pass that voting bill.
NPR reported that Trump has argued the SAVE America Act would help Republicans avoid election losses for at least 50 years. NPR's Franco Ordoñez said Trump appeared more focused on loyalty from Republicans than on maintaining a majority able to pass his agenda.
Ordoñez said the canceled signing could frustrate Republicans who wanted to campaign on the housing bill before the midterm elections. He also said many Republicans have urged Trump to shift attention from Iran to domestic concerns, especially the economy.
The delay tied two political pressures together: a stalled domestic policy win for Republicans and Trump's push for election-law changes. NPR reported that the housing measure may have offered Trump a chance to improve his standing in polls by addressing a concern felt by many voters.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.