Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez speaks during the presentation of the 2025 budget bill at the National Assembly in Caracas on Dec. 3, 2024. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)
After capturing former dictator Nicolas Maduro, the Trump administration made clear they had allowed Rodríguez to stay in power in an interim capacity because they believed Washington had significant influence over her decision-making.
Trump had said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela before backing Rodríguez. Trump spoke with Rodríguez recently by phone and earlier this month met with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
"We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Jan. 7.
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Any decisions by the new government will "continue to be dictated by the United States of America," she said.
It remains unclear whether Rodríguez has the political or economic leverage to translate her public defiance into policy, or whether the remarks are aimed primarily at a domestic audience wary of U.S. influence.
The White House could not be reached for comment in light of the Venezuelan leader’s most recent comments.
Earlier Saturday Rodriguez made an overture at the Venezuelan opposition to reach "agreements" on the nation’s political future and said there should be "no political or partisan differences when it comes to peace in Venezuela."
Rodríguez’s rebuke comes as the United States has moved to assert control over Venezuela’s oil resources, long a centerpiece of Caracas’ economy. In early January, the White House announced an energy arrangement under which Venezuela would provide 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States at market price.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Delcy Rodríguez attend Maduro’s second-term swearing-in ceremony at Congress in Caracas on May 24, 2018. (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images)
After meeting with Trump earlier in January, Machado said she believed the goal was to hold new elections after a transition period, but did not say how long that would take.
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In words that seemed a cautionary warning, Machado called Rodríguez "a communist" and "the main ally and representation of the Russian regime, the Chinese and the Iranians," while arguing that Rodríguez "does not represent the Venezuelan people" or the armed forces.
Trump told reporters in the past week Rodriguez had "shown very strong leadership so far," "had done a very good job."
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