Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, has said that “no foreign agent” is running Venezuela in the wake of President Nicolas Maduro’s abduction by United States military forces.
Rodriguez, who had been Maduro’s vice president before his abduction, spoke during a televised event on Tuesday, a day after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a New York court to drug-trafficking conspiracy charges.
“The government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no one else. There is no foreign agent governing Venezuela,” said Rodriguez, sworn in as interim president with support from Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military.
“The government of Venezuela rules in our country, no one else—there is no external agent that governs Venezuela.”
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) January 7, 2026
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump’s claims that the US was running Venezuela pic.twitter.com/SR2tgGx5L9
She rejected claims that the United States controls the nation and called for unity amid mounting tensions.
Venezuela’s prosecutor general, meanwhile, called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
“The military operation, without a declaration of war or a UN Security Council resolution, represents an illegal act of armed aggression of a terrorist nature,” Tarek William Saab said.
The statements come amid the continuing fallout from Saturday’s military operation, which left dozens of people in Venezuela dead. The offensive has been broadly condemned as a violation of international law.
Venezuela on Tuesday released a list of the 24 soldiers killed in the predawn assault. Cuba also announced that 32 members of its military had died. Rodriguez declared a seven-day period of mourning to commemorate the fallen military members.
#ICYMI Delcy Rodriguez, previously vice president of Venezuela, was sworn in on Monday as the acting president of the country, after President Nicolas Maduro was taken by force on January 3 during a U.S. military operation against the South American nation.… pic.twitter.com/jXqCiqTLkE
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) January 6, 2026
Since seizing Maduro from his residence, the administration of US President Donald Trump has offered little clarity about its plans for Venezuela.
Trump said on Saturday that the US would “run” Venezuela, a statement US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walked back the next day.