IRIA News

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Delcy Rodriguez was formally sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on January 6, 2026, assuming leadership of the South American country as Nicolas Maduro appeared in the U.S. federal court following a military operation that reshaped the country’s political landscape.

Rodriguez, formerly Venezuela’s vice president, appeared before the National Assembly in Caracas to take the oath of office in a ceremony dominated by government loyalists.

Her swearing-in comes as Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain in U.S. custody after being seized during a pre-dawn operation that included reported explosions in the capital and at nearby military installations.

Speaking to lawmakers, Rodriguez framed her ascent to the presidency as a moment marked by grief and defiance, condemning the operation that removed Maduro from power.

“I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez, 56, told the assembly. “I swear to work tirelessly to guarantee the peace, spiritual, economic, and social tranquility of our people.”

The swearing-in ceremony underscored the continuity of Venezuela’s ruling elite despite the unprecedented removal of its longtime leader. Rodriguez’s brother, Jorge Rodriguez, who serves as president of the National Assembly, presided over the proceedings. Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, stood beside him holding a copy of the Venezuelan Constitution.

Other senior figures from Maduro’s inner circle were present, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, both of whom have played key roles in maintaining the loyalty of the security forces and military.

Rodriguez, a former labor lawyer, has served as acting president since the early hours of Saturday, when explosions were reported across Caracas and surrounding areas during the operation that led to Maduro’s capture. The government has characterized the incident as a foreign military attack and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Maduro Faces Charges in New York

While Rodriguez took her oath in Caracas, Maduro appeared before a federal court in New York City for an arraignment on multiple criminal charges brought by U.S. prosecutors.

Maduro has been charged with four counts related to allegations that he used the powers of the Venezuelan state to facilitate the export of thousands of tons of cocaine to North America.

The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, illegal possession of machine guns and other destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons. Maduro and his wife have both pleaded not guilty.

In court, Maduro insisted that his removal from Venezuela did not strip him of legitimacy. “I am still president,” he told the judge, reiterating his long-standing claim to office.

Rodriguez and other Venezuelan officials have denounced the abduction as a breach of international law, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent for the use of military force to remove a sitting head of state.

Machado Vows to Return to Venezuela

Venezuela’s main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, said she will return to the country “as soon as possible,” calling the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro a historic turning point.

In her first interview since the raid, Machado said the opposition is ready to complete a democratic transition and win a free election, arguing that the 2024 presidential vote was won by the opposition by a landslide despite what she described as fraudulent conditions. “In free and fair elections, we will win over 90% of the votes,” she said.

Machado, who fled Venezuela in disguise last year after being barred from running for president and is currently wanted for arrest, praised President Donald Trump for his actions against Maduro’s government and said she intends to return despite the risks.

She criticized interim President Delcy Rodriguez as a pillar of the old system and said the immediate release of political prisoners must be the first step toward restoring democracy and enabling exiles to return home.

Trump Signals Conditional Support for Rodriguez

Despite the dramatic nature of Maduro’s removal, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that it is prepared to work with Rodriguez, at least temporarily. Trump, however, made clear that her continued hold on power depends on her willingness to align with U.S. priorities for Venezuela.

“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said in a Sunday interview.

In a televised address announcing the military operation, Trump said his administration plans “to run the country until we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”

He later reinforced that message while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington. “Don’t ask me who’s in charge, because I’ll give you an answer that will be very controversial. We’re in charge,” he said.

Trump added that Rodriguez is “cooperating” with U.S. officials, even though he has not spoken to her directly. “We’re dealing with the people who just got sworn in,” he said.

Pragmatic Calculation

The apparent willingness of the Trump administration to tolerate Rodriguez’s leadership has raised questions, given her long-standing association with the ruling “chavista” movement founded by Hugo Chavez and carried on by Maduro.

Rodriguez has served as vice president since 2018 and previously held several senior cabinet posts, including foreign minister. She is widely seen as a loyal enforcer of Maduro’s policies and a vocal critic of U.S. sanctions and pressure.

However, some of Trump’s allies have argued that engaging with Rodriguez reflects political reality rather than endorsement.

“We don’t recognize Delcy Rodriguez as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela. We didn’t recognize Nicolas Maduro as a legitimate ruler,” Senator Tom Cotton said.

“It is a fact that she and other indicted and sanctioned officials are in Venezuela. They have control over the military and security services. We have to deal with that fact. That does not make them a legitimate leader.”

Elections Deferred, Oil Prioritized

Trump has largely avoided committing to an immediate election timetable in Venezuela, instead emphasizing economic stabilization and control over the country’s vast oil resources.

Asked how soon an election could take place, Trump said the focus would be on restoring basic functionality. “Well, I think we’re looking more at getting it fixed, getting it ready first, because it’s a mess. The country is a mess,” he said. “It’s been horribly run. The oil is just flowing at a very low level.”

He later added, “We’re going to run everything. We’re going to run it, fix it. We’ll have elections at the right time. But the main thing you have to fix: It’s a broken country. There’s no money.”

The comments suggest that Washington is prioritizing economic restructuring and energy access over rapid political transition, a stance that could prolong Rodriguez’s tenure despite questions about her legitimacy.

Venezuela’s recent electoral history has been marked by controversy and allegations of fraud. Maduro claimed victory in multiple presidential elections that were widely denounced by domestic and international observers.

The disputed 2018 election led the United States to briefly recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s president. More recently, Maduro declared victory in the 2024 presidential race, despite widespread irregularities. The official vote tally was never released, and opposition groups published documents suggesting that rival candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had won.

Mass protests followed, and human rights groups reported that more than 2,000 protesters were unlawfully detained, with at least 25 people killed in what were described as apparent extrajudicial killings.

Opposition parties have since largely boycotted legislative elections, arguing that the system is rigged in favor of chavista candidates. Monday’s swearing-in ceremony included the 283 members of the National Assembly elected last May, with only a small number of opposition lawmakers present.

As Delcy Rodriguez assumes the presidency amid international tension, legal battles abroad, and domestic unrest, Venezuela enters a new and uncertain phase, one shaped as much by foreign power as by internal political continuity.