Venezuela has a new acting president following the dramatic US military seizure of the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro. Delcy Rodríguez, the nation's long-serving vice-president, has been elevated to the top job, as confirmed by the Venezuelan presidential website.
Rodríguez Assumes Control Amidst Crisis
Images and official statements released late on Sunday, the 4th of January 2026, show Rodríguez presiding over an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers in Caracas. Officials confirmed this was the first cabinet gathering under her leadership, explicitly stating it was her inaugural session as acting president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Notably, state television has not broadcast a formal swearing-in ceremony. During a televised address on Sunday, Rodríguez avoided openly declaring herself interim leader. A scrolling ticker on screen still identified her as vice-president, and her speech made no direct reference to a political transition.
A Dual Message to Washington
In an online statement, Rodríguez extended an initial olive branch to the United States. She expressed a hope to build "respectful relations" with President Donald Trump and invited the US government "to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation."
However, this conciliatory tone was sharply contradicted within the same statement. Rodríguez branded Maduro's capture a "temporary absence" and accused the United States of "kidnapping" the ousted president and his wife, labelling it an illegal act of aggression. She told the Venezuelan people, "What is being done to Venezuela is an atrocity that violates international law."
Trump's Stark Warning and US Demands
The response from Washington was swift and severe. US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that if Rodríguez does not cooperate, "she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro." He further stated his desire for "total access" to the South American nation, citing resources like oil and infrastructure.
This stance was echoed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated in television interviews that the US does not view Rodríguez or her government as "legitimate," citing a lack of free and fair elections in Venezuela.
The political upheaval follows the capture of Nicolás Maduro, his wife, and four others by US forces on January 3rd. According to indictment documents posted online by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday morning, they face charges including:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices
The situation establishes a volatile standoff between the new acting leadership in Caracas and the Trump administration, with the fate of the detained former president at its core.
