Venezuela's acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, is poised to deliver her first state of the union address on Thursday 15 January 2026, confronting a nation in turmoil as she walks a diplomatic tightrope between Washington and loyalists of the ousted former leader, Nicolás Maduro.
A Delicate Balancing Act
The speech to the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party, comes less than two weeks after the United States toppled her predecessor. Rodríguez is expected to outline her government's vision, including potential changes to the crucial state-owned oil industry. US President Donald Trump has promised to reinvigorate this sector since Maduro's seizure.
In a move signalling a shift, Rodríguez announced on Wednesday that her administration would continue releasing prisoners detained under Maduro's rule, calling it part of "a new political moment" following his removal. However, her position remains precarious, caught between pressure from Washington and hard-line elements within her own government who retain influence over Venezuela's security forces.
Trump's Strategic Endorsement and Health Pledge
President Trump's strategy involves a complex endorsement of Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice president since 2018. Despite sanctioning her for human rights violations during his first term, Trump has now enlisted her to help secure US control over Venezuela's oil sales. To ensure compliance, Trump threatened Rodríguez earlier this month with a "situation probably worse than Maduro."
In a televised address after acknowledging a Tuesday call with Trump, Rodríguez pledged that her government would use "every dollar" earned from oil sales to overhaul the nation's crumbling public health system. This is a critical issue for Venezuelans, where hospitals lack basic supplies and patients are often required to provide everything from syringes to surgical screws.
Machado Sidelined as Maduro Awaits Trial
Trump's backing of Rodríguez has effectively sidelined Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose party is widely believed to have won the 2024 elections rejected by Maduro. In a pointed diplomatic move, Trump was scheduled to meet with Machado at the White House on the same day as Rodríguez's speech.
Meanwhile, the shadow of the former president looms large. Nicolás Maduro remains in custody in a Brooklyn jail, having pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges. His legacy and the loyalty he commands within parts of the Venezuelan state apparatus continue to define the immense challenges facing the acting president as she attempts to steer the country forward.
