Delcy Rodríguez, the de facto leader of Venezuela, recently dismissed a meme posted by former U.S. President Donald Trump that referred to him as the “acting president” of the country. In a state broadcast from Catia La Mar, Rodríguez asserted her position, criticizing what she termed efforts to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty. She emphasized the government’s commitment to governance through popular engagement and resistance against U.S. actions.
During her address, Rodríguez stated, “There is a government in charge in Venezuela. There is an acting president and there is a president held hostage in the United States.” Her remarks directly responded to Trump’s meme, which was widely circulated on social media, suggesting that the former president was positioning himself as the authority in Venezuela.
In her broadcast, Rodríguez underscored the impact of U.S. law enforcement actions, particularly referencing the January 3 operation that led to the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. She described Catia La Mar as one of the cities most affected by these developments and framed her government’s actions as a defense of Venezuelan rights against foreign interference.
Rodríguez criticized the dissemination of what she called “cartoons” on platforms like Wikipedia, which she argued distort the political reality in Venezuela. According to her, these actions represent desperate attempts to ignore the sovereignty and political will of the Venezuelan people.
She stated, “We govern together with the people, organized together with the popular power, and we advance in international relations of respect within the framework of international law to vindicate and protect the rights of our beloved Venezuela.”
Despite Rodríguez’s assertions of her leadership, Trump has claimed in recent days that she is cooperating with the United States and maintains close communication with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This juxtaposition highlights the complexities of Venezuelan politics in the wake of Maduro’s ouster and the evolving role of U.S. intervention in the region.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to develop, the implications of these exchanges between U.S. officials and Venezuelan leaders may have lasting effects on the country’s political landscape.
