Trump Warns Venezuela’s New Leader as Maduro Faces US Court

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s incoming leader Delcy Rodríguez, saying she could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate with Washington, as the country’s deposed president appeared in a New York court on Monday.

Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to Manhattan under heavy guard to face drug and weapons charges following a surprise US special forces operation in Caracas over the weekend. The raid, which involved helicopter landings and strikes on military sites, marked the most significant US intervention in Latin America in decades and has sparked global controversy.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, is accused by US prosecutors of running a cocaine trafficking network tied to violent criminal groups. He denies the allegations, saying they are an excuse for Washington to remove him and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Charging documents describe his government as corrupt and deeply involved in organised crime.

Speaking to The Atlantic, Trump defended the operation and doubled down on pressure against the new Venezuelan leadership. “Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can't get any worse,” he said, adding earlier that the US would “run” the country until a “safe and proper and judicious transition” was possible.

Despite the rhetoric, Maduro’s allies remain in control inside Venezuela. Rodríguez, who served as his vice president and is backed by the military and Supreme Court, is being sworn in as president in Caracas. After initially condemning Maduro’s capture, she struck a softer tone, saying: “We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation orientated towards shared development within the framework of international law.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the operation did not mean the US was at war with Venezuela. “We are at war against drug trafficking organisations. That's not a war against Venezuela,” he said, describing the raid as a law enforcement action rather than an invasion. He added that Washington would judge the new leadership by its actions and warned the US had “multiple levers of leverage”, including restrictions on Venezuelan oil.

Trump has also made clear he wants US energy firms to move back into Venezuela, saying American companies would fix damaged infrastructure and “start making money for the country”. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, though production has slumped after years of sanctions and mismanagement.

The fallout has been swift. Cuba, a close ally of Maduro, said 32 of its personnel were killed during the US operation and announced days of mourning. Russia, China and several Latin American governments condemned the raid, while the UN Security Council is set to debate its legality. A joint statement from countries including Brazil, Mexico and Spain warned the action “constitute[s] an extremely dangerous precedent”.

At home, Trump faces growing criticism from Democrats, who say the president acted without congressional approval. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the raid “an act of war”, while Senate leader Chuck Schumer warned: “You don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness.” Some lawmakers are pushing for a resolution to block further action without Congress’s consent.

Trump has also escalated tensions beyond Venezuela, threatening neighbouring Colombia and hinting at possible future operations. Asked about Greenland, another long-running target of his interest, he said only: “Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”

As Maduro awaits his day in court and Rodríguez takes office, Venezuela remains on edge, with many citizens stocking up on essentials and watching closely to see whether confrontation or cooperation with Washington comes next.