Rodríguez Says Maduro Remains Venezuela’s Legitimate President as U.S. Engagement Deepens

By Emmanuel Bobby

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has insisted that Nicolás Maduro remains the country’s legitimate leader, describing both him and first lady Cilia Flores as innocent.

Speaking in her first interview with an American journalist since taking office, Rodríguez said she is constitutionally in charge of the presidency and described the role as demanding and intensive. Her rise to power, shaped by her revolutionary family background and past sanctions under the first Trump administration, has been unconventional.

After Maduro was captured by U.S. forces on Jan. 3 and transferred to a federal detention facility in New York, Rodríguez initially condemned the U.S. military action. In recent weeks, however, she has softened her stance, signaling openness to cooperation and even suggesting a potential visit to the United States following discussions with President Donald Trump.

A recent visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright highlighted renewed diplomatic engagement, as both countries worked on arrangements involving Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Wright praised Rodríguez for sharing information and implementing reforms, including changes to the country’s hydrocarbon laws, and said cooperation between the two sides has been “off to a tremendous start.”

According to Wright, more than $1 billion in Venezuelan oil has already been sold, with an additional $5 billion in expected sales in the coming months. He said the United States now has significant leverage over Venezuela’s interim authorities because oil revenue, the government’s main funding source, is effectively under U.S. control.

Despite signs of reform, the government has retained elements of its authoritarian structure. Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was recently released from prison only to be rearrested and placed under house arrest, according to his son. At the same time, dozens of political prisoners have been freed, and protests demanding further releases have taken place—an act that previously could have led to severe punishment.

Questions remain about whether prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado can safely return to Venezuela. Rodríguez dismissed concerns for Machado’s safety but said she would have to answer for her past calls for military intervention, sanctions, and her reaction to recent events in the country.

The evolving relationship between Venezuela and the United States marks a significant shift, with economic cooperation and political reforms unfolding alongside persistent concerns about democracy and human rights.