MIAMI – In 2017, as Donald Trump prepared to take office, Venezuela’s then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez saw an opportunity.
Rodríguez, representing the socialist government of Nicolas Maduro, directed Citgo, a Venezuelan state-owned oil company subsidiary, to donate $500,000 to President Trump’s inauguration. This was seen as an attempt to improve relations with the U.S. and attract American investment.
While this charm offensive didn’t immediately lead to the changes Venezuela hoped for, it raised Rodríguez’s profile in U.S. business and political circles.
Now, nearly a decade later, Rodríguez is the interim president of Venezuela. Her message that Venezuela is open for business seems to have resonated with Trump. Following Maduro’s recent capture, Trump has spoken positively about Rodríguez, while also warning her to maintain order and provide the U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Sources familiar with Rodríguez describe her as intelligent and pragmatic, someone who understands the need to improve Venezuela’s struggling economy.
Rodríguez’s political views were shaped by the murder of her father when she was a child. She blamed the U.S. for his death, which led to her involvement in leftist politics.
Despite a setback early in her career under Hugo Chávez, Rodríguez’s career revived under Maduro. Her international experience and connections made her a key figure in the Venezuelan government.
Some observers believe that Rodríguez’s leadership could bring positive changes to Venezuela, possibly leading to economic improvement and stability. Others, like Elliott Abrams, who served as special envoy to Venezuela during the first Trump administration, express concern about the future of democracy in Venezuela under her leadership. Abrams argues that it’s impossible to address the challenges facing Venezuela if Chavismo factions continue to share power.
