Trump just gave a very telling response to Venezuela’s acting leader publicly defending the man he locked up

President Donald Trump recently sought to downplay remarks made by Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, after she publicly defended the legitimacy of former leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez’s comments came in a televised interview while she is leading Venezuela following Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his flight back to Washington from Florida, Trump suggested Rodríguez’s defence of Maduro was a matter of political necessity rather than personal conviction. “I think she probably has to say that,” Trump said, adding that “politically, maybe she has to say that” to maintain her position. He also praised her performance in office and said he “fully understand[s] that statement,”

According to NBC News, Rodríguez made her remarks during an exclusive interview last week in Caracas, where she stated, “I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this as a lawyer, that I am. Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent.”

The U.S.-Venezuela relationship is shifting fast after Maduro’s arrest

Last month, in a dramatic escalation of U.S. actions against Venezuela, President Donald Trump ordered a joint military operation that struck targets in Caracas and ultimately captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were brought to the United States afterward and indicted on multiple charges.

Since Maduro’s capture, Trump has been openly praising Rodríguez’s leadership. He has also spoken about the potential benefits of Venezuela’s large oil resources for both countries, signaling a shift in how the U.S. is approaching Venezuela under its new leadership. This comes as the Trump administration has also been pushing aggressive immigration enforcement measures on multiple fronts.

Rodríguez mentioned in her interview that she has been invited to visit the United States. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who recently traveled to Venezuela to meet with her, told reporters that he and other Cabinet secretaries, and possibly Trump himself, would return for future talks.

This points to a growing effort by both sides to build stronger ties. The development could have notable effects on regional stability and global energy markets going forward. The Venezuela talks are unfolding alongside other high-stakes diplomatic efforts, including ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran over nuclear concerns.

Trump’s response to Rodríguez’s defense of Maduro suggests he is taking a practical view of the situation, separating her public statements from what he sees as the broader potential for a working relationship between the two countries.