In a fiery turn of events, former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a blunt caution to Venezuela’s newly installed leader, Delcy Rodríguez, declaring that she could “pay a very big price — even bigger than Maduro” if she, in his words, “fails to do what is right.”
Trump made the remarks in an interview with The Atlantic, as Venezuela’s ousted president, Nicolás Maduro, prepared to stand before a New York court on charges of drug trafficking and illegal weapons activity — allegations he continues to reject.
Washington has long accused Maduro of presiding over what it describes as a “narco-terrorist” state. His dramatic capture and transfer to the United States followed coordinated U.S. airstrikes in Caracas, an operation some Democratic lawmakers have condemned as an “act of war.”
Despite the sweeping show of force, key Maduro loyalists remain in control of the country’s political machinery.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted the operation does not amount to a war with Venezuela, arguing instead that the mission targeted transnational criminal networks.
“We are at war with drug trafficking organisations — not with Venezuela,” Rubio said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press.
Speaking on CBS, he added that Washington still holds “multiple levers of leverage” should Venezuela fail to “make the right decisions,” citing the ongoing “quarantine” on the country’s oil sector.
Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his push for sweeping political change in Caracas, arguing that “regime change — whatever you call it — is better than what exists now,” while promising that U.S. oil firms would eventually move in to restore infrastructure and generate revenue.
Cuba, a longtime ally of Maduro, announced two days of national mourning after declaring that 32 “brave Cuban combatants” were killed during the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s capture.
Maduro, who has ruled since 2013 under the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, has for years faced international accusations of crushing dissent, suppressing opposition, and ruling with force — claims his supporters dismiss as politically motivated attacks.
