US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Wednesday to offer his backing for Guaido’s claim to the presidency, the White House said.

“President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Venezuelan ‘Interim President’ Juan Guaido to congratulate him on his ‘historic’ assumption of the presidency and to reinforce President Trump’s strong support for Venezuela’s fight to regain its democracy,” the White House said in a statement.

Washington has recognized Guaido’s claim to lead Venezuela in the context of a US-led coup plot, but the legitimate President Nicolas Maduro, who still controls the military and police as well as the state’s facilities, rejects and challenges the US move.

The Supreme Court has barred Guaido, who is calling for large anti-Maduro street protests this week, from leaving the country.

Source: AFP