Venezuela: Trump Warns Incoming Leader Rodríguez as Maduro Faces Trial

By: Aremu Toyeebaht

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharpened pressure on Venezuela’s incoming president, Delcy Rodríguez, warning that she could face severe consequences if she fails to cooperate with Washington, as Caracas prepares for a controversial transition of power.

Trump delivered the warning in an interview with The Atlantic published on Sunday, just hours before Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, was due to appear in a New York court to face U.S. charges including drug trafficking and weapons offences. U.S. authorities have accused Maduro of running what they describe as a “narco-terrorist” regime, accusations he has denied.

“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said, referring to Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president.

Rodríguez is expected to be sworn in as president on Monday at 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT) in Caracas, with the backing of Venezuela’s Supreme Court and the military. In her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, she sought to strike a more conciliatory note, extending an offer of cooperation to the United States.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation orientated towards shared development within the framework of international law,” Rodríguez said.

Trump’s comments came against the backdrop of heightened regional tension following U.S. air strikes in Caracas on Saturday, an operation that led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife and their transfer to the United States. While some Democratic lawmakers described the action as an “act of war,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected that characterisation, insisting Washington was not at war with Venezuela.

In the interview, Trump defended the U.S. stance, arguing that Venezuela required sweeping political change.

“For Venezuela, regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse,” he said.

Trump also said the United States would assume a temporary oversight role until “a safe and proper and judicious transition” could be achieved, adding that U.S. oil companies would move into Venezuela to rehabilitate infrastructure “and start making money for the country.”

Despite Trump’s assertions, Maduro’s allies continue to occupy key political and security positions in Venezuela, raising uncertainty over how much authority Rodríguez will be able to exercise as she formally assumes office.