Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. Armed Forces in early January, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was announced as the new leader of the country.
While Rodríguez initially slammed the Trump administration for the operation, her stance has softened over time. The acting president is now cooperating with the U.S. to open Venezuela’s oil market to the world.
However, she still stands by Maduro and considers him the country’s legitimate leader. In an interview with NBC News, Rodríguez maintained that both Maduro and his wife are innocent.
Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez:
Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president of Venezuela. Maduro and his wife are innocent. pic.twitter.com/cDPsTgUjCT
— 1880 News (@1880News) February 13, 2026
She said, “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 innocent.”
After the military operation, which drew international criticism, Trump announced that he would take control over of Venezuela’s oil.
While the government stated that the operation was necessary to counter “narco-terrorism,” critics argued that Trump had always had his eyes on the South American country’s oil. Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, estimated to be more than 300 billion barrels.
On February 12, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Venezuela and toured oil-producing facilities along with Rodríguez. The acting president warmly greeted the energy secretary, signaling cooperation despite earlier tensions between the two countries.
Many have also raised concerns about how the U.S. government might be arm-twisting Rodríguez and actually governing the country from behind the scenes.
When asked whether she or Trump was actually in charge of the country, Rodríguez replied, “I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it’s stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela.”
The 56-year-old added, “And from the amount of work that I have, from how busy I am, I can tell you it’s very, very hard work and we’re doing it completely day by day.”
Shortly after Maduro was brought to the U.S. and kept in a detention facility, Trump held a meeting with major oil production companies. The U.S. plans to invest more than $100 million to upgrade oil facilities in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has seen a political shift since Maduro’s arrest. Multiple opposition leaders, who had been detained under Maduro’s leadership, have now been released.
The public has also been able to protest against the detention of leaders, unlike before. However, opposition leader and activist María Corina Machado still remains in exile.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared that deposed leader Nicolas Maduro is “innocent” and remains, in her eyes, the country’s “legitimate president,” as she insisted that she is “in charge” — not President Donald Trump.
— Amy G Dala (@AmyGDal08328672) February 13, 2026
Machado, who dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump in January, has not been able to return to Venezuela, fearing arrest or execution. Rodríguez, however, claimed that Machado does not need to be worried about her life, but will have to answer for her crimes.
“With regards to her life, we do not understand why there’s such a fuss about it. With regards to her coming back to the country, she will have to answer to Venezuela. Why she called upon a military intervention, why she called upon sanctions to Venezuela, and why she celebrated the actions that took place at the beginning of January,” Rodríguez said.
