Protest Against Delcy Rodríguez at the UN

A significant gathering of Venezuelans, Venezuelan-Americans, and anti-socialist advocates took place on Tuesday at the Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza of the United Nations. They were there to protest the attendance of Delcy Rodríguez, who is currently referred to as Venezuela’s “interim president” and is seen as a protégé of Nicolás Maduro, at the General Assembly.

The demonstrators, numbering in the dozens, waved Venezuelan flags and displayed signs denouncing Rodríguez and the remnants of the Maduro regime. Many emphasized that Rodríguez and her associates do not truly represent the Venezuelan citizenry. Some attendees voiced their unease regarding an agreement Rodríguez made with the Trump administration concerning the collaboration on Venezuela’s oil resources, suggesting that the Maduro regime might not uphold its end of the deal.

Rodríguez’s visit to New York was in her role as the so-called “interim president” for the General Assembly’s “general debate,” an annual occasion where leaders of U.N. member states deliver speeches on subjects of their choosing.

Maduro, notorious for being a wanted criminal and narco-terrorist, had previously missed several sessions of the General Assembly debate. He is currently in a Brooklyn prison awaiting a trial set for June 2027, facing charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism. Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, were apprehended in Caracas in January by a U.S. military unit.

Despite the precarious circumstances surrounding the Maduro administration, Rodríguez has been engaging with the Trump administration, announcing the release of a limited number of political prisoners and fostering resource cooperation. In August, the U.S. government revealed that it had come to an agreement with the Maduro regime, potentially allowing the U.S. to gain control over significant portions of Venezuela’s oil reserves. In return, the Trump administration indicated it might refrain from further arrests of senior officials tied to drug trafficking and human rights abuses.

The Venezuelans protesting in New York Tuesday were adamant that the United Nations should not acknowledge Rodríguez as a legitimate representative of their nation. They insisted that Venezuela requires genuinely free and fair elections to elect a rightful leader, especially given Maduro’s retention of power through a series of questionable elections.

The demonstrators chanted slogans like “freedom” and “Delcy, we swear it, you’re going to Brooklyn with Maduro!” with signs abundant that criticized the normalization of a “mafia state,” alongside their national flags.

One protester, identified as Erick Rozo, articulated to the media that the protest aimed for “absolute, total rejection” of the continuation of socialist chavismo and to draw attention to the ongoing human rights violations sufferered by Venezuelans. He also expressed a word of caution to President Trump, stating, “you do not do business with criminals,” and predicted that they would eventually betray the U.S.

Additional demonstrators echoed concerns about the oil deal, which, while possibly profitable for both nations, they deemed “in the wrong hands.” Another protester commented that the agreement, while seen as beneficial, had no legitimacy since anything signed by Rodríguez as self-proclaimed leader lacks legal standing.

Amidst the protests, one unidentified participant expressed gratitude to Trump for Maduro’s arrest but lamented that the remaining corrupt officials were still in power, likening Maduro’s regime to “Ali Baba and the forty thieves.”

Rodríguez arrived in New York on Monday and faced a challenging experience at the UN General Assembly, where she was confronted about the regime’s violent history and her connections to Madrudo, yet provided little clarification. When asked if she would visit Maduro in prison, she declined to answer as she walked past reporters.

During her time at the assembly, Rodríguez was present for President Trump’s speech, which celebrated Maduro’s arrest as a victory for democracy and hinted at the potential for U.S. involvement in the Venezuelan oil sector.

Rodríguez is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday evening.