Venezuela’s Government Denies Report of Talks with Trump Administration

The government of Venezuela has firmly dismissed as “malicious information” claims regarding discussions with the Trump administration, as detailed in a report. According to Reuters, the Trump administration allegedly engaged with the influential Diosdado Cabello months before a U.S. operation aimed at arresting President Nicolas Maduro.

This response came through a new social media account set up by the Venezuelan regime, titled Miraflores Right Now, which seems to mimic the U.S. government’s Rapid Response online presence. Miraflores is the presidential palace in Venezuela.

“We categorically deny the malicious information circulating on social media, which suggests a secret conversation intended to cause division among the country’s political leadership and to undermine the reputation and revolutionary integrity of Diosdado Cabello,” stated the regime’s social media posts.

The report from Reuters, which has drawn condemnation from the Venezuelan regime, claims that Trump administration officials had discussions with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. Cabello, often seen as the most formidable figure within Venezuela’s government, currently heads its repressive apparatus. U.S. authorities have accused him of involvement in multiple drug-terrorism offenses and have placed a $25 million bounty for information leading to his apprehension.

“These previously unreported communications are pivotal for the Trump administration’s strategies concerning Venezuela,” the report noted. “Any shift in Cabello’s control could lead to chaos that President Trump would prefer to avoid, which might jeopardize the grip of interim President Delcy Rodriguez on power.”

According to Reuters, the discussions occurred months prior to the successful U.S. law enforcement operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026, which led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple is now awaiting trial on drug-terrorism charges. An unsealed indictment lists Cabello as a co-conspirator benefiting from Maduro’s drug trafficking activities.

A source familiar with the conversations relayed to Reuters that “the Venezuelan minister has had contact with the Trump administration, either directly or via intermediaries.” These individuals were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive government communications freely.

Amid these developments, Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president, met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas shortly before the report surfaced. Ratcliffe reportedly mentioned that his visit was directed by President Trump, aiming to signal a desire for better cooperation.

Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s vice president, swiftly ascended to the position of “acting president” following Maduro’s arrest. In recent statements, Trump has claimed he is working closely with Rodriguez and Secretary of State Marco Rubio while expressing optimism about their discussions.

On the surface, Rodriguez presents a perplexing posture regarding the U.S., asserting her dominance within the socialist regime while still addressing Congress on Maduro’s behalf. In a recent address, she asserted, “If I have to go to Washington, I’ll go standing, not crawling,” and noted a “stain” in U.S.-Venezuelan relations.

Interestingly, in the aftermath of Maduro’s arrest, some sources suggested that Rodriguez might have betrayed him. Reports indicated that she could have had meetings with CIA and Russian officials in Doha, Qatar, around the holiday season. Witnesses from those meetings seemed uncertain about their true nature.

Rodriguez previously denied claims of negotiation with the U.S. regarding Maduro’s ousting, alongside her brother Jorge, who leads the National Assembly.

Just hours after Maduro’s arrest, his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, asserted in a livestream that history would eventually reveal those who allegedly turned against his father. He also emphasized the need to focus on advancing the nation.

Similar to Cabello, Nicolás Maduro’s name also appears in the unsealed indictment for benefiting from the former regime’s drug-trafficking operations.