Rodríguez, 56, is a stalwart of both the Chávez and Maduro governments, having served as Maduro’s oil minister and vice president. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic. Rodríguez, who was formally sworn in as acting president on Monday, is now walking a political tightrope as she tries to defend Venezuela’s shaken sovereignty without angering Washington. At first, Rodríguez condemned the US capture of Maduro as a “barbarity” and a blatant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. As foreign minister, Rodríguez represented Venezuela at forums such as the United Nations, where she accused other governments of seeking to undermine her country.

Source: CNN January 06, 2026 01:09 UTC