Venezuela’s new leader is a socialist true believer who helped Nicolás Maduro maintain his grip on power for more than a decade as the country’s economy crumbled. Trump said that as Venezuela’s new de facto leader, she agreed to do whatever the U.S. needed done. “I think they will maneuver to stay in power as long as they can.”It is bad news for Venezuela’s opposition leader , Machado, who has been a strong supporter of the Trump administration’s campaign against Maduro. Under Maduro, the Rodríguez siblings became pillars of his regime, with Jorge playing a vital role overseeing a fraudulent election last year that allowed Maduro to remain in power. To rule the country, she will need to rely on other key, hardline actors in the Maduro regime, particularly Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello , who has been widely accused of human rights abuses.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 04, 2026 13:01 UTC