In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela's new interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, threatening her with a fate potentially more severe than that of the ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro. This comes just hours after US forces captured Maduro in Caracas on drug trafficking charges.
Shifting Stance and Stark Warnings
Trump, who initially indicated a preference for the hardline socialist Vice President Delcy Rodriguez over opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, appeared to change his position. Speaking to The Atlantic, the commander-in-chief declared that if Rodriguez "doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro." He dismissed the prospect of Machado taking power, claiming she lacked sufficient support.
Regarding Venezuela's future under potential US oversight, Trump was blunt. "You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse," he stated. He suggested the country's vast oil reserves would be used to fund its revival, though offered few logistical details on governing the nation of 30 million people.
Greenland Comments Spark Outrage
In a parallel controversy, Trump directly addressed rumours about US ambitions towards Greenland. "We do need Greenland, absolutely," he told the outlet, framing the desire in defensive terms by noting the Danish territory is "surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships."
His comments followed a provocative social media post by conservative podcaster Katie Miller, wife of Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller. She shared a map of Greenland covered by the American flag with the caption "SOON." The remarks ignited immediate fury in Greenland and Denmark, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivering a sharp rebuke.
Frederiksen told Trump to 'stop the threats' and asserted that "it makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland." She emphasised that the US has no right to annex any part of the Danish kingdom and urged America to cease threats against a close ally.
Defiance from Caracas and Celebration in Mar-a-Lago
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist who helped maintain his regime for over a decade, has not backed down. She condemned Maduro's arrest as "an atrocity that violates international law" and demanded his "immediate release." During a National Defense Council session, she warned that "what was done to Venezuela can be done to anyone" and insinuated she was not fully aligned with US plans for the country.
Meanwhile, Trump celebrated Maduro's capture at a luxury dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The event, attended by Venezuelan influencers and celebrities including Latina artists Anirays Bolivar Camino and Adina Banea, saw attendees thanking and hugging the President. Elon Musk was also present, marking a continued warming of relations after a past feud.
Videos from the opulent gathering showed Trump entering to rapturous applause. Bolivar Camino called it an "honour" to be the first Venezuelan to thank Trump for capturing the dictator, while influencer Victoria Herrera declared him "my president."
On Saturday, following the special forces operation, jubilant Venezuelans spilled onto streets from Santiago, Chile, to Doral, Florida, waving US and Venezuelan flags. One celebrant in Chile declared, "We are free, we are all happy that the dictatorship has fallen." Another in Florida stated, "Today, justice is being served."
Nicolas Maduro is currently held in a New York federal jail after being taken into US custody on Saturday. A New York indictment accuses him of leading a corrupt government that leveraged state power to protect and promote drug trafficking, allegedly partnering with violent cartels to move hundreds of tons of cocaine into North America.
