Trump had previously suggested Rodriguez could take over following Maduro’s arrest, but in her address, she called for the immediate release of both the president and his wife, marking a significant repudiation of US expectations for political change in Caracas.
“Maduro is the only president of Venezuela,” Rodriguez stated in the video, reportedly filmed in Caracas.
The remarks came amid rumors about her location, including reports that she might be in Russia, which were later denied by Russian officials.
During the address, Rodriguez was accompanied by senior government figures, such as her brother Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the national assembly, and the foreign, interior, and defense ministers, projecting solidarity and continuity within the Venezuelan leadership during the crisis.
Rodriguez also challenged Trump’s claim that she had expressed readiness to follow US guidance regarding Venezuela, which had implied she told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that she would do “what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” suggesting foreign control over Venezuelan affairs.
She firmly rejected any suggestion of external dominance, asserting, “Venezuela will never be a colony of any nation,” while emphasizing her willingness to maintain diplomatic relations with the Trump administration, as long as such interactions respect both Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
0 Comments