Edmundo González has become a beacon of hope for millions of Venezuelans. They want to call him president. He believes he won that office at the ballot box last year. The government of President Nicolás Maduro says he did not.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez who claims he won last year’s presidential election against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez claims victory in a disputed presidential election. International support, including from U.S. President Joe Biden, backs his claim. Gonzalez's Washington visit highlights concerns over a peaceful power transfer while incumbent Nicolas Maduro prepares for inauguration.

Edmundo González Urrutia is trying to bolster international support before Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro is sworn in Friday.

He is widely believed to have won Venezuela’s presidential election, and by a landslide. But on Monday, instead of making preparations for his swearing-in at the palm-lined palace in Caracas, Edmundo González was at the White House meeting with President Biden.

"We had a long, fruitful and cordial conversation with President Biden and his team," Gonzalez told journalists after the meeting at the White House. "Our team is in contact with the team of President Trump.

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US President Joe Biden calls González "the true winner" of Venezuela's presidential election.

Edmundo González Urrutia, the Venezuelan opposition leader who claimed to have beaten current President Nicolás Maduro in an election in July, met with President Biden on Monday.