In a bold address, Venezuela’s vice president asserted that Nicolas Maduro remains the “only president” of Venezuela, seemingly contradicting President Trump’s statements about cooperation between their administrations.
Delcy Rodriguez criticized the U.S. government, alleging that it has initiated a military invasion of Venezuela. Her comments were made during a televised speech following an emergency meeting with military and government leaders.
Rodriguez called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were reportedly detained by U.S. forces in a nighttime operation. They are heading to New York City to face allegations of drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and other serious charges.
This statement came shortly after President Trump claimed that his administration was collaborating with Ms. Rodriguez to navigate the challenging situation in Venezuela, which is currently facing a severe economic crisis.
Trump noted that Rodriguez, appointed by Maduro, had assured him they’d explore all possible actions to address the crisis. He remarked that she has been “very kind” throughout this process but emphasized the need for decisive action.
Rodriguez’s speech seemed a direct rebuttal to Trump, as she accused the United States of orchestrating the attack for regime change. She criticized the U.S. for using deceptive pretenses to justify their actions, asserting that the true aim was to seize Venezuela’s vast natural resources.
Despite having the largest oil reserves globally, Venezuela’s government has struggled to effectively manage and export oil due to mismanagement and corruption.
Rodriguez firmly declared that Venezuela would not allow itself to become subservient to any empire. Meanwhile, Trump indicated that his team, including key cabinet members, would collaborate with the Venezuelan people to ensure a smooth transition after Maduro’s exit.
He expressed confidence that major oil companies would invest heavily in Venezuela, pledging that the process would be executed professionally. Rodriguez concluded by thanking China and other nations for their support, suggesting that U.S. actions had a “Zionist tinge.”
