Trump Warns Venezuela’s Interim Leader of “Severe Consequences” After Maduro’s Removal
Trump threatens interim president after Maduro's dramatic capture.
United States President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez on January 5, 2026, stating that she would face severe consequences—potentially greater than those imposed on ousted President Nicolás Maduro—if she fails to align with American demands. The remarks came during a telephone interview with The Atlantic, conducted as Trump arrived at his West Palm Beach golf course in Florida, highlighting escalating tensions following the U.S. military operation that removed Maduro from power.
Trump emphasized the need for full U.S. access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves and other natural resources, defending the forceful extraction of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as a necessary step toward regime change. He described the situation in Venezuela as irredeemable under previous leadership, asserting that American intervention would lead to reconstruction and stability, while dismissing concerns about the operation's legality or lack of congressional approval.
In broader comments, Trump suggested potential U.S. actions against other nations, including renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark, predictions of Cuba's imminent collapse due to lost Venezuelan oil subsidies, and criticisms of leadership in Colombia and Mexico that could prompt further interventions. These statements underscore a shift toward assertive hemispheric policies.
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Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power after Maduro's capture, called for a respectful bilateral relationship with the United States and proposed cooperative agendas focused on mutual development, while rejecting any infringement on national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López condemned the U.S. action as a threat to global order, urging calm among Venezuelans and demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
The overnight raid on January 3, involving elite U.S. special forces and extensive air support, extracted Maduro and Flores from a fortified compound in Caracas, transporting them to New York to face long-standing charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy. The operation, described by officials as meticulously planned over months, has raised international concerns about precedents for unilateral interventions.
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