Venezuela's Acting President Navigates Pressure from Trump

Delcy Rodríguez must balance appeasing her socialist base and complying with U.S. demands

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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After the U.S. operation to remove former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, Delcy Rodríguez, the acting Venezuelan leader, is walking a diplomatic tightrope. She must maintain support from her socialist base while also changing policies under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has implied Venezuela is now a U.S. protectorate. Rodríguez has been in contact with Trump and the CIA, but also continues to use anti-imperialist rhetoric. Experts say she has some leverage over Trump, who wants the extraction of Maduro to be seen as a success, but she faces escalating U.S. pressure that could include further intervention, sanctions, and oil blockades.

Why it matters

The situation in Venezuela remains highly volatile, with the country divided between Maduro loyalists and those seeking change. Rodríguez's ability to balance these competing interests will have significant implications for the future of Venezuela and its relationship with the U.S.

The details

After Maduro and his wife were detained by U.S. authorities, Rodríguez, a longtime Chavista, assumed the Venezuelan presidency on a temporary basis. She has appointed mostly technocrats rather than ideologues, and has taken steps like releasing some political prisoners, likely under U.S. pressure. However, she has also used anti-imperialist rhetoric, referring to the U.S. as a "lethal nuclear power" and "invader." Rodríguez must navigate a tricky balance, keeping her socialist base happy while also complying with U.S. demands, with the threat of facing the same fate as Maduro if she doesn't cooperate.

  • On January 3, the U.S. spirited Maduro and his wife out of Venezuela.
  • On January 16, Rodríguez met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas.

The players

Delcy Rodríguez

The former vice president who is now the acting Venezuelan leader, tasked with maintaining a balance between her socialist base and complying with U.S. demands.

Nicolás Maduro

The deposed Venezuelan president who was spirited out of the country by U.S. authorities and is now awaiting trial in New York.

Cilia Flores

The wife of Nicolás Maduro, who was also detained and is awaiting trial in New York.

Donald Trump

The U.S. president who has implied that Venezuela is now a U.S. protectorate and is exerting pressure on Rodríguez.

Diosdado Cabello

The Interior Minister of Venezuela who wields significant power and controls paramilitary groups called the "colectivos."

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What they’re saying

“Trump has implied that Venezuela is now a US protectorate, so she serves at the will of the US president.”

— Christopher Sabatini, Senior research fellow on Latin America at Chatham House think tank (BBC)

“Rodríguez's legitimacy lies in the military strength of the US. And it will last if Trump wants it to. She cannot stand up to him.”

— Carmen Beatriz Fernández, Venezuelan political analyst and CEO of DataStrategia (BBC)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Maduro and Flores out on bail.

The takeaway

Delcy Rodríguez faces an immense challenge in trying to balance the demands of the U.S. government and her own socialist base in Venezuela. Her ability to navigate this tightrope will be crucial in determining the future stability and direction of the country.