Donald Trump warned Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodríguez. She could face a heavy price, even bigger than Nicolás Maduro’s, if she fails to act right.
He made these remarks to The Atlantic as Maduro, Venezuela’s ousted president, prepared for a New York court date on Monday.
The US charges Maduro with drug trafficking and weapons crimes. They call his rule a “narco-terrorist” setup, which he rejects.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed no war with Venezuela. This came after Saturday’s air strikes in Caracas led to Maduro and his wife’s arrest and flight to the US.
Some Democrats labeled the raid an “act of war.”
In a Sunday chat with The Atlantic, Trump said about Rodríguez: She will pay big if she skips the right moves, worse than Maduro.
He added that regime change beats Venezuela’s current mess. Things can’t get lower.
On Saturday, Trump promised US control until a safe handover takes place.
He also said US oil firms would step in to repair systems and bring in cash for Venezuela.
Maduro’s backers still hold power, though.
Cuba reported 32 of its fighters died in the US assault that nabbed Maduro and his wife. As Maduro’s old socialist friend, Cuba set two days of mourning.
Rubio backed the US raid on Sunday TV shows. He said it targets drug groups, not Venezuela itself.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Rubio put it this way: We fight drug outfits. That’s not war on Venezuela.
On CBS, he warned of US pressure if Venezuela picks wrong paths. That means keeping the oil blockade tight.
We’ll watch their moves and judge them, he said.
Trump also hit out at neighbor Colombia from Air Force One.
He left room for strikes there. It appeals to me, he said. He called leader Gustavo Petro a sick guy.
Colombia runs sick under him, hooked on cocaine sales to the US. That ends soon, Trump stated.
Maduro heads Venezuela’s United Socialist Party since 2013. Critics say he crushes foes and uses force to quiet protests.
Many in Venezuela and abroad see his 2024 win as fake.
Maduro and wife Cilia Flores got caught at their base. US special forces struck early Saturday, hitting army sites too. They flew to the US and face gun and drug charges for Monday’s court.
Maduro denies cartel ties. He claims the US fakes a drug war to grab power and oil.
US leaders say no troops hurt. But Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said many guards, soldiers, and civilians died.
Rubio told ABC no Congress okay was needed. It was no invasion, just police work. FBI nabbed Maduro on site.
Telling Congress leaks the plan, he added.
Delcy Rodríguez now serves as interim president. The Supreme Court swore her in, and the army backs her. She takes full office Monday at 8 a.m. local time in Caracas.
Rubio dodged US nod for her as legit leader. He said the whole regime lacks legitimacy.
Democrats slammed the moves.
House Democrat head Hakeem Jeffries called the secret raid no drug bust. It was war, he told NBC’s Meet the Press.
Delta Force, army units, thousands of troops, 150 planes, and ships joined.
Top House intel Democrat Jim Himes said on CBS Face the Nation no Trump contact reached him or others.
Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer questioned the raid’s law base on ABC This Week. Maduro is awful, but don’t fight bad with bad.
US regime swaps and builds cost lives and money, he said. Trump ditched his no-endless-wars pledge.
Schumer and Jeffries back a bill to block more Trump steps without Congress say-so.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain issued a joint note. US strikes set a risky example. They harm peace, safety, and locals.
They push talks and deals for Venezuela fixes. Outside grip breaks world law and shakes the area’s calm.
