Venezuela’s acting president urged political disputes to be resolved domestically and pushed back against United States influence after Maduro’s arrest.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, called on the country’s political forces to resolve their differences internally and without foreign interference, combining an offer of dialogue with a sharp rejection of United States influence following the capture of Maduro earlier this month.
Speaking during a televised event in Puerto La Cruz before oil sector workers, Rodríguez said Venezuela is facing a decisive moment that requires “politics with a capital P and with a V for Venezuela.”
In that context, she criticized what she described as attempts by foreign powers to steer the country’s political direction, declaring: “Enough with Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela.”
Rodríguez assumed leadership of the country after Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces on January 3, an event that dramatically reshaped Venezuela’s political landscape and triggered a period of transition marked by domestic tension and shifting international dynamics.
The acting president said her administration is willing to engage in dialogue with all sectors that “think differently,” provided that discussions remain within democratic boundaries and serve the national interest.
At the same time, she drew a clear line against those she accused of seeking to harm the country, arguing that such actors should be excluded from national political life.
Within that framework, Rodríguez criticized opposition figures who publicly welcomed U.S. intervention. “Those who went to the United States to thank them for bombing our people do not deserve this country’s dignity or its nationality,” she said, without naming names.
The remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Rodríguez also announced that she had convened a “genuine dialogue” with both pro-government and opposition political sectors the previous Friday. The process is being coordinated by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, her brother, with the stated goal of producing immediate and tangible results.
According to the acting president, the objective is to reach solutions “from Venezuela, for Venezuela,” without external pressure.
“No more orders imposed from Washington, Bogotá, or Madrid,” she emphasized, extending her criticism to other international actors traditionally involved in Venezuelan affairs.
Despite the confrontational tone of Rodríguez’s remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump said publicly that he maintains a good relationship with her, describing her as a “fantastic person.” The White House also confirmed that Rodríguez has been invited to Washington for a bilateral meeting
If the visit takes place, it would be the first trip by a Venezuelan president to the United States in more than 25 years, excluding appearances at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Such a meeting would underscore Washington’s efforts to recalibrate its relationship with Caracas following the military operation that led to Maduro’s capture, while leaving parts of his political structure intact.
Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado stated in an interview with Fox News that she will become president of Venezuela “when the right moment arrives.” Following her meeting with Trump in Washington, Machado said her goal was to strengthen international support for Venezuela’s democratic cause and stressed that her political mission goes beyond personal ambition.
