Attention to this matter: Trump threatens Venezuela’s new leader with a fate worse than Maduro if she doesn’t work with US
President Trump issued a warning to Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday. NICOLE COMBEAU/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock
President Trump warned Sunday that newly-appointed Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez could face consequences worse than those suffered by captured President Nicolas Maduro if she does not align with his vision for reform.
The warning came after Rodriguez condemned the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s arrest and transfer to a New York City jail. Trump, who had selected Rodriguez to serve as Venezuela’s interim leader, made it clear he would not tolerate defiance from her.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic. The remarks marked a sharp turn from Trump’s praise just a day earlier, when he described Rodriguez as “necessary to make Venezuela great again.”
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Rodriguez rejected the idea of working with the U.S., declaring that Maduro is the “only” leader Venezuela needs and asserting the country is prepared to defend its oil reserves. “We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses and false pretenses, and that the masks had fallen off, revealing only one objective: regime change in Venezuela,” she said.
Following Rodriguez’s statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that she cannot serve as Venezuela’s interim leader and emphasized that the U.S. will not recognize her administration. Rubio called for free elections to determine Venezuela’s next leader, noting that Maduro’s 2024 victory was never recognized by the U.S. or other nations.
Trump also hinted at the possibility of additional U.S. military action in Venezuela if he deems it necessary.
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