In the aftermath of the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 and amid vows of oversight from President Trump, Washington expresses deep skepticism toward interim leader Delcy Rodríguez's loyalty. Maduro allies issue defiant statements, while opposition leader María Corina Machado demands a democratic handover.
Following the dramatic U.S. operation detailed in initial reports—including Maduro's transport to New York for drug trafficking charges and global reactions—focus has turned to the power vacuum.
Venezuela's Supreme Court named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, 56, as interim president for up to 90 days. Daughter of leftist founder Jorge Antonio Rodríguez and sister to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, she has served as oil minister and foreign affairs head. Sanctioned by the U.S. and EU in 2018 for undermining democracy, Rodríguez publicly reaffirmed loyalty: “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro.” However, in a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, she reportedly pledged cooperation: “We’ll do whatever you need,” per President Trump.
Trump noted her Maduro ties but highlighted initial alignment on U.S. demands to revitalize Venezuela's oil sector, where he pledged billions in U.S. investments: “The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust.” Still, Senator Tom Cotton voiced caution: “I don’t think we can count on Delcy Rodríguez to be friendly to the United States until she proves it,” likening potential reform to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi in 2003.
Maduro's inner circle pushed back. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, sanctioned for corruption and narcotics, urged calm while wearing a bulletproof vest: “Remain calm, let no one fall into despair.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López decried the “criminal military aggression,” vowing an “indestructible wall of resistance.” Jorge Rodríguez remained silent in Caracas.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner barred from the 2024 election, hailed Maduro's capture as justice and backed Edmundo González as the legitimate president after the disputed vote, deemed stolen by observers. Trump dismissed Machado's support as insufficient, stating the U.S. will oversee Venezuela until a proper transition, warning: “What happened to Maduro can happen to them” if leaders fail to comply. He hinted at further operations if needed.
