During the wide-ranging interview, #Trump did not give a precise time range for how long the #UnitedStates would remain #Venezuela’s #overlord. 4 months? 6 months? A year? Longer?

“I would say much longer,” Trump replied.

…Trump did not answer questions about why he recognized #Maduro’s VP #DelcyRodríguez as Venezuela’s new leader instead of #MaríaCorinaMachado, the opposition leader whose party led a successful election campaign against Maduro in 2024 & recently won the Nobel Peace Prize.

During the wide-ranging interview, #Trump did not give a precise time range for how long the #UnitedStates would remain #Venezuela’s #overlord. 4 months? 6 months? A year? Longer?

“I would say much longer,” Trump replied.

…Trump did not answer questions about why he recognized #Maduro’s VP #DelcyRodríguez as Venezuela’s new leader instead of #MaríaCorinaMachado, the opposition leader whose party led a successful election campaign against Maduro in 2024 & recently won the Nobel Peace Prize.

@maya_b

so what you're saying is #delcyrodriguez talks fake fire and brimstone?

"We will never again be a colony of any empire" but then... secretly she is a puppet of the #USA?

that's the point?

you have a good suspicion

here's another suspicion:

all #trump #rubio and co have is this provocation that doesn't change anything

#venezuela

#Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, pledged his unconditional support to #DelcyRodríguez, the interim leader. “Count on me, count on my family, & count on our firmness in taking the right steps forward in this responsibility you have been given today.” His voice breaking, he addressed his father: “The homeland is in good hands, dad, & we will hug each other soon here in #Venezuela.”

#MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #law #WarPowers #Trump #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #InternationalLaw

#Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, pledged his unconditional support to #DelcyRodríguez, the interim leader. “Count on me, count on my family, & count on our firmness in taking the right steps forward in this responsibility you have been given today.” His voice breaking, he addressed his father: “The homeland is in good hands, dad, & we will hug each other soon here in #Venezuela.”

#MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #law #WarPowers #Trump #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #InternationalLaw

In Caracas, the National Assembly ratified #JorgeRodríguez as its president. He is the brother of #Venezuela’s new interim leader, #DelcyRodríguez. Like his sister, he highlighted his allegiance to #Maduro. He took the floor of the assembly & invited Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, & a son of #CiliaFlores, the elder Maduro’s wife & co-defendant, to join him as he unveiled a portrait of Maduro & Flores.

#MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #law #Trump #oil #sovereignty #InternationalLaw

In Caracas, the National Assembly ratified #JorgeRodríguez as its president. He is the brother of #Venezuela’s new interim leader, #DelcyRodríguez. Like his sister, he highlighted his allegiance to #Maduro. He took the floor of the assembly & invited Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, & a son of #CiliaFlores, the elder Maduro’s wife & co-defendant, to join him as he unveiled a portrait of Maduro & Flores.

#MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #law #Trump #oil #sovereignty #InternationalLaw

#Trump advisers also believe they may be able to work behind the scenes with #DelcyRodriguez, acc/to 3 people briefed on the #US strategy.

Trump said he wants Rodriguez to give the US & private companies "total access" to #Venezuela’s beleaguered #oil infrastructure, as well as roads & bridges that are in disrepair.

If she & the interim government do not cooperate, they could face a strong response.

"I just say that she will face a situation probably worse than Maduro," he threatened.

#law

After removing #Maduro from power, the #Trump admin is gambling that it can intimidate VP & interim president #DelcyRodriguez's inner circle into toeing the #US line with threats of further #military action….

The US would consider another military operation if #Venezuela's interim government did not cooperate, Trump said Sunday.

"If they don't behave, we will do a second strike," he said.

#MafiaState #imperialism #geopolitics #law #Congress #WarPowers #Trump #Venezuela #oil #sovereignty

The audio address from Vice President Rodríguez of Venezuala has been going viral on spanish speaking corners of the internet.

I notably have struggled to find American sources translating and communicating the statements from Venezuelan officials.

📸 https://www.c5n.com

#C5N #venezuela #USPol #OilWar #DelcyRodríguez

In an interview w/ NYT, secy of #state #MarcoRubio said he was reserving judgment on #DelcyRodríguez’s comments, in which she denied she planned to work with the #US.

“We’re going to make decisions based on their actions & their deeds in the days & weeks to come,” he said, referring to ofcls in the interim #Venezuela govt. “We think they’re going to have some unique & historic opportunities to do a great service for the country, & we hope that they’ll accept that opportunity.”

#law #Trump

#DelcyRodríguez added that #Venezuela was open to having a respectful relationship with the #Trump admin, but only within the framework of international & Venezuelan #law. “That is the only type of relationship I will accept, after they have attacked & militarily assaulted our beloved nation,” she said.

#Congress #WarPowers #criminal #abduction #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #WarCrimes #ExtrajudicialKillings #theft #piracy #InternationalLaw

#DelcyRodríguez, spoke flanked by powerful military officials & other key government leaders as she denounced the #UnitedStates’ actions. As she introduced each figure on live television, they nodded toward her in a show of deference as she demanded that #Maduro was the rightful president of #Venezuela. The display of force & unity undermined President Trump’s earlier comments that Washington would work with Rodríguez to run Venezuela.

#Trump #abduction #oil #sovereignty #law #InternationalLaw

#DelcyRodríguez was defiant as she spoke on live television. “If there is one thing that the Venezuelan people & this country are clear about,” she said, “it is that we will never again be slaves, that we will never again be a colony of any empire, whatever its nature.”

“There is only one president in this country, & his name is Nicolás #Maduro Moros,” Rodríguez said.

#law #Congress #WarPowers #criminal #Trump #abduction #Venezuela #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #InternationalLaw

#DelcyRodríguez, Venezuela’s interim president & #Maduro’s VP speaking to the nation, said #Trump “launched an unprecedented military aggression” that “constitutes a terrible stain on the development of bilateral relations.”She said, “the masks had fallen off, revealing only one objective: #RegimeChange in #Venezuela. This regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy, mineral & natural resources. This is the true objective, & the world & the international community must know it.”

#Venezuela VP #DelcyRodríguez, speaking on state television in Spanish, reiterated calls for the release of #Maduro & his wife.

She called for calm & unity to defend the country amid Maduro's "kidnapping" & said Venezuela will never be the #colony of any nation.

Rodríguez spoke from #Caracas with her brother, national assembly head Jorge Rodríguez, interior minister Diosdado Cabello & the foreign & defense ministers.

#law #Trump #abduction #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/live-trump-says-us-has-captured-venezuela-president-maduro-2026-01-03/

Conflicting reports.

#Rodríguez addresses the nation [apparently in #Venezuela]

In a televised address to the nation that lasted less than 15 minutes, #DelcyRodríguez demanded the #US free #Maduro & calls him the country’s rightful leader, but left open the door for dialogue with the US.

#law #Congress #WarPowers #criminal #Trump #abduction #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #WarCrimes #ExtrajudicialKillings #theft #piracy #InternationalLaw
https://apnews.com/live/trump-us-venezuela-updates-01-03-2026#0000019b-8547-d3eb-adff-f7df5a480000

Conflicting reports

Um… The VP of #Venezuela #DelcyRodriguez is currently in #Russia, 4 sources familiar with her movements said Saturday, after #Trump said #Maduro had been seized by US forces after an attack on the country & US Secy of #State #MarcoRubio was in contact with her & that she had been sworn in to the presidency.

#law #Congress #WarPowers #criminal #abduction #oil #LandGrab #sovereignty #WarCrimes #ExtrajudicialKillings #theft #piracy #InternationalLaw
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-vice-president-rodriguez-russia-four-sources-say-2026-01-03/