United States President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Venezuela’s incoming leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying she could face consequences “bigger than Maduro” if she fails to act in line with US expectations.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with US magazine, The Atlantic, as Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, was expected to appear before a New York court on Monday over drug trafficking and weapons charges.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said.
Maduro, who was removed from office during a US military operation over the weekend, has been accused by Washington of running a “narco-terrorist” government, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Rodríguez, a former vice president under Maduro, struck a softer tone during her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, calling for cooperation with the United States.
“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation orientated towards shared development within the framework of international law,” she said.
Backed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and the military, Rodríguez is expected to be sworn in as president on Monday morning in Caracas.
Trump, however, defended the US action and hinted at deeper involvement in Venezuela’s future.
“For Venezuela, regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. It can’t get any worse,” he said.
He also stated that the US would “run” the country until what he described as “a safe and proper and judicious transition” is achieved. Trump added that American oil companies would move in to repair infrastructure and begin operations.
Despite Trump’s claims, key allies of Maduro remain in control within Venezuela.
Cuba, a long-time ally of the deposed leader, said 32 of its fighters were killed during the US operation and announced two days of national mourning.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that the United States was not at war with Venezuela, despite air strikes in Caracas and the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
“We are at war against drug trafficking organisations. That’s not a war against Venezuela,” Rubio said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press.
He added that the US would judge the new leadership by its actions.
“We’re going to judge everything by what they do, and we’re going to see what they do,” Rubio said, noting that Washington still has “multiple levers of leverage”, including restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sector.
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, has often been accused of suppressing opposition voices and using force to silence dissent. Many countries and opposition figures say he did not legitimately win the 2024 election.
The former president and his wife were captured at their residence during a special forces operation that also involved strikes on military bases. They have since been flown to the US and charged with drug and weapons offences.
Maduro has denied all allegations, accusing the US of using the war on drugs as an excuse to remove him from power and take control of Venezuela’s oil resources.
Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino, claimed that many members of Maduro’s security team, as well as soldiers and civilians, were killed during the operation.
The US government has said no American troops were harmed.
The operation has drawn criticism within the US. Some Democratic lawmakers described it as an act of war carried out without congressional approval.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “This was not simply a narcotics operation. It was an act of war.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also questioned the legality of the action, warning against what he called “lawlessness”.
“You don’t treat lawlessness with other lawlessness,” Schumer said.
Several countries, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain, issued a joint statement condemning the US action, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent and puts civilians at risk.
As Maduro prepares to face trial in New York, attention remains on how Rodríguez’s government will respond to growing international pressure and the sharp warnings from Washington.
