President Donald Trump has warned Venezuela's acting leader Delcy Rodriguez that she faces serious consequences if she continues to resist American demands following the US military takeover of Nicolas Maduro.
“If she doesn't do what's right, she's going to have to pay a very big price, probably more than Maduro did,” Trump said by phone. interview from The Atlantic on Monday. Maduro is currently being held in a New York prison.
The threat came just a day after Trump praised Rodriguez during a news conference. He argued that she had privately signaled a willingness to cooperate with Washington, which Trump said would help temporarily “rule” the South American nation.
Rodriguez quickly rejected that characterization. She said Venezuela was “ready to defend our natural resources” and vowed: “We will never be a colony again.” (RELATED: Trump Announces Capture of Nicolas Maduro in Early 'Major Attack on Venezuela')
Trump also answered questions about his apparent shift on the issue of regime change. He previously opposed nation-building efforts during his first term, but now defends intervention in Venezuela.
EXCLUSIVE: In an interview with Michael Scherer, Donald Trump threatens Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez with a fate worse than Maduro's; defended regime change in the country; and expressed renewed interest in the US taking over Greenland. https://t.co/mXkv6478jE
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) January 4, 2026
“Rebuilding there and regime change, whatever you want to call it, is better than what you have now. It can't get any worse,” Trump said. “The country has gone to hell. It is a failed country.”
When asked how Venezuela is different from IraqTrump deflected. “I didn't do Iraq. It did Bush,” he said.
The President also confirmed his interest in acquiring Greenland, calling the Danish territory important for American defense. He described it as “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio invited other countries to pay attention to the operation in Venezuela. “When he tells you he’s going to do something, when he tells you he’s going to solve a problem, he means it,” Rubio said.
