United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela's acting leader, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, stating she will face severe repercussions if she fails to align with American demands following the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
A Stark Ultimatum from the US President
In a Sunday interview with The Atlantic, President Trump escalated his rhetoric significantly. He declared that Rodriguez could confront consequences similar to, or even greater than, those faced by Maduro, who is currently detained in a federal prison in New York on charges related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro," Trump stated bluntly.
This represents a dramatic shift from the President's tone just a day earlier. On Saturday, following the attack that led to Maduro's capture, Trump had publicly praised Rodriguez during a press conference. He claimed that U.S. officials had engaged with her and that she was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." During that same briefing, Trump asserted that the United States would effectively oversee Venezuela's affairs until a democratic transition is secured, though he provided no specific timeline.
Venezuela's Defiant Response and US Stance
Rodriguez, a steadfast ally of the captured president, swiftly rejected the U.S. position. She insisted that Nicolás Maduro remains the legitimate head of the Venezuelan government and condemned the American intervention as "an atrocity that violates international law." She affirmed Venezuela's readiness to defend its national sovereignty and natural resources.
President Trump later hinted at the potential for a renewed U.S. military presence in Venezuela if deemed necessary, suggesting to The Atlantic that rebuilding the nation was "not a bad thing in Venezuela's case."
Mixed Signals from Washington
Other U.S. officials presented a more measured approach. Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a cautious tone, advising that the administration would judge the unfolding situation based on concrete actions rather than public statements. "We're not going to judge moving forward based simply on what's said in press conferences," Rubio stated on ABC's This Week. "We want to see action here at the end of the day."
Republican Senator Tom Cotton was more direct in rejecting Rodriguez's authority. He called for a comprehensive, U.S.-backed reconstruction of the Venezuelan government. "We don't recognize Delcy Rodriguez as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela," Cotton asserted. "They have control of the military and security services, but that does not make them a legitimate leader." He emphasized that the ultimate U.S. objective is to establish a future Venezuelan government that is pro-American and fosters stability and prosperity both within the country and across the Latin American region.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the U.S. applying intense pressure on Venezuela's interim leadership while the latter vows resistance, setting the stage for a continued geopolitical standoff.
