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ANALYSIS: Student paper’s quotes of anti-Trump Democratic pols and omission of massive Venezuelan approval of U.S. military action belie relatively innocuous emails
Reading The Daily Pennsylvanian last week, the University of Pennsylvania’s student paper, one might get the impression its Venezuelan students either were in danger or at least extremely worried about the situation at home following the U.S. military action on January 3.
According to its report, Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences contacted Venezuelan students via email “to confirm their safety.”
The college’s CaseNet team, “a student-focused ‘academic support system’ comprised of ‘advisors who help students navigate their courses while dealing with difficult situations,’ including global events such as natural disasters, international conflict,'” offered contact information for counseling and financial services, as well as that for the campus chaplain.
Penn International Student and Scholar Services also contacted Venezuelan students, noting “We recognize that this may be a stressful time, particularly for those who are far from family and loved ones,” and offered assistance with academics and “the broader impact of these events.”
The ISSS’s Rodolfo Altamirano, a “sought-after expert in immigration policy, cross-cultural communication, and conflict resolution” according to his faculty page, noted his department sends “specific communications within its ‘scope and responsibility to provide immigration-related guidance.’”
While on the surface both the CaseNet and ISSS emails noted by the paper appear rather general and innocuous, article authors Arti Jain (whose interests include “political messaging” according to her Linkedin profile) and Ananya Karthik quote only local — Democratic — politicians hostile to President Trump.
They also fail to note how overwhelmingly popular the U.S. action is viewed by native Venezuelans.
According to The D.P., Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval called the invasion a “criminal act of terror” and demanded the president’s impeachment, while State Representative Rick Krajewski said the action was an “obvious violation of international law.”
Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said “Eight days into 2026, we’re already seeing increased corruption and instability. Trump’s conduct is un-American, antidemocratic, and endangers American lives.”
Nevertheless, a recent survey of over 1,000 Venezuelans indicates over 90 percent were “grateful” for the removal of its authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro. The poll did include more “pessimistic” results, such as two-thirds believing remnants of the Maduro regime are still in charge of the government, and over 50 percent of the belief Trump is more interested in the country’s oil than restoring democracy.
MORE: I fled Maduro’s Venezuela. Here’s what U.S. academics get wrong about intervention.
