Rodriguez’s Defiance Against Washington

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, expressed her frustrations with U.S. directives during a recent broadcast. Speaking to oil workers at the state-owned PDVSA refinery in Puerto La Cruz, she declared that she had “enough” of orders from Washington.

Rodriguez emphasized that Venezuela’s socialist government is open to resolving its differences with the U.S. but insists on doing so “face-to-face” and with respect. She stressed the need for democratic discourse but also called for a political solution that represents Venezuela, criticizing U.S. involvement in local matters.

“We’ve had enough of outside influence. The pressure from foreign powers, particularly fascism and extremism, has seriously impacted our nation,” she remarked.

Rodriguez assumed the role of acting president shortly after a U.S. operation aimed at capturing Nicolás Maduro, the former dictator, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, 2026. At that time, she served as Maduro’s vice president and oil minister.

In the aftermath of Maduro’s arrest, she labeled him a “prisoner of war” and cautioned against Venezuelans living abroad who celebrated his capture. She deemed the January 3 actions as crossing a line that should not have been breached.

“Nicolás Maduro Moros is a prisoner of war. He sends his regards to the Venezuelan people from where he is. His words always uplift our spirits,” she stated.

Rodriguez further expressed her disapproval of those who have shown gratitude to the U.S. for actions against Venezuela, arguing that such individuals do not deserve to hold Venezuelan citizenship. “Those who advocate for blockades and military interventions cannot be part of our identity or our future,” she added.

Reflecting on the situation, she remarked that no one anticipated an attack from foreign forces against Caracas. “We’ve had to confront the darkest aspects of humanity: war,” she noted, urging for unity among Venezuelans.

After Maduro’s arrest, President Trump indicated that Rodriguez was in cooperation with the U.S. and maintained negotiations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They reportedly had several conversations, leading to a meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas.

Despite these discussions, Rodriguez has consistently asserted her authority in Venezuela, stating, “If I need to go to Washington, I will walk in boldly and not on my knees.” She made this declaration during a speech to Venezuela’s Congress on January 15.