The White House is backing off its move deeming Venezuela a national security threat to the United States. An executive order signed by President Obama last month used the designation to sanction top Venezuelan officials. But speaking to reporters on Tuesday, White House adviser Benjamin Rhodes said: “The United States does not believe that Venezuela poses some threat to our national security.” The statement comes as President Obama prepares for a regional trip that includes a summit of the Organization of American States in Panama. Venezuelan officials say they will present Obama with a petition of millions of signatures calling on him to rescind the order.