Trump Issues Warning to Venezuela’s Interim Leader After Maduro’s Capture

Washington / Caracas: US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, threatening severe consequences if she continues to resist Washington following a US-led operation that reportedly resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a telephone interview with The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump made what the magazine described as a “not-so-veiled threat,” stating that Rodríguez would “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” if she failed to cooperate with the United States.

Trump was referring to Nicolás Maduro, whom US authorities claim is currently being held in a New York City jail after being seized during a nighttime operation. The president said he would not tolerate Rodríguez’s rejection of what he characterised as an armed US intervention that led to Maduro’s arrest.

Speaking later to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Washington requires “total access” to Venezuela.
“We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he said.

According to The Atlantic, Trump made the remarks shortly after arriving at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, and appeared to be in high spirits during the interview. He also suggested that Venezuela may not be the last country to face US intervention, reiterating his long-standing interest in Greenland, which he described as strategically vulnerable due to the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels.

On Venezuela, Trump signalled a notable departure from his earlier scepticism about regime change, dismissing concerns raised by sections of his MAGA support base.
“Rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse,” he said.

Trump initially suggested that Rodríguez might be open to cooperation, claiming she was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.” However, Rodríguez quickly rejected that portrayal.

In a public statement, Rodríguez said Venezuela was “ready to defend our natural resources” and stressed that the country’s defence leadership remains committed to the policies established under Maduro.
“We shall never be a colony ever again,” she declared.

According to the Associated Press, Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president after Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered her to take power following Maduro’s capture by US forces. Rodríguez, who has served as vice president since 2018, is next in the constitutional line of succession and has received the backing of the Venezuelan military.

In a televised address cited by the AP, Rodríguez described the US administration as “extremists” and gave no indication that she would cooperate with Washington.

A 56-year-old lawyer, Rodríguez has been a key figure in Venezuela’s socialist government for years, overseeing the oil-dependent economy and intelligence services. Her elevation followed earlier comments by Trump that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in contact with her and initially viewed her as someone the US could work with — a stance that shifted after public resistance from Venezuelan officials.

US Officials Defend Operation

In a separate statement posted on X, FBI Director Kash Patel described Maduro’s capture as a “perfectly executed operation,” framing it as a coordinated law-enforcement mission.

Patel said the Department of Justice, working alongside the Department of War, the Department of State, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Intelligence Community and international partners, “successfully executed a complex law-enforcement mission to bring Nicolás Maduro into US custody to face justice.”

The operation, Patel said, involved months of coordination and was linked to an ongoing criminal prosecution over alleged large-scale narcotics trafficking and related offences. He claimed the activities had destabilised the region and contributed to the US drug crisis.

“This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to accountability and national security,” Patel said, adding that specialised FBI and DEA teams ensured the secure transfer of what he described as “two high-risk defendants.”

Venezuela has not independently confirmed the details of the operation, and the developments have sparked international concern over sovereignty, legality and the potential for wider geopolitical fallout.