• Trump told The Atlantic that Rodriguez faces consequences “probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate
• Warning marks dramatic shift from Saturday claims that Venezuela’s interim leader agreed to work with Washington
• Rodriguez defied Trump’s characterization, declaring Maduro Venezuela’s only legitimate president

WASHINGTON (TDR) — President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro, threatening consequences that could exceed those faced by the deposed president now held in a New York federal jail on narco-terrorism charges.

In a phone interview with The Atlantic conducted Sunday morning as he arrived at his West Palm Beach golf course, Trump stated that if Rodriguez doesn’t cooperate with U.S. demands, “she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

Dramatic Reversal From Initial Claims

The threatening remarks represent a dramatic shift from Trump’s Saturday characterization of Rodriguez as cooperative and willing to work with his administration. During a press conference following the overnight raid that captured Maduro, Trump claimed the Venezuelan vice president had a “gracious” conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“She had a long conversation with Marco, and she said, ‘We’ll do whatever you need.’ I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice. We’re going to have this done right.”

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Hours later, Rodriguez appeared on Venezuelan state television delivering a starkly different message. Standing before the Venezuelan flag and surrounded by military leaders, she rejected Trump’s claims entirely.

“There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro. We demand the immediate liberation of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.”

Rodriguez, whom Venezuela’s Supreme Court confirmed as acting president Saturday evening, vowed that Venezuelans would “never again be slaves” and declared the country ready to “defend our natural resources.”

Regime Change Justification

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Trump defended forcibly removing Maduro, telling The Atlantic that “rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.”

The president framed his approach as a modernized Monroe Doctrine, calling his vision the “Donroe Doctrine.” He told reporters Saturday the United States will “run” Venezuela until a proper transition occurs, promising to “have the greatest oil companies in the world go in and invest billions.”

Congressional Questions Mount

The president’s threats came as lawmakers raised questions about the military operation that captured Maduro during a predawn raid involving more than 150 aircraft. Rep. Jim Himes, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he had “seen no evidence that his presidency poses a threat that would justify military action without Congressional authorization.”

Rubio defended the administration’s approach, saying the U.S. will judge Rodriguez “on what she does moving forward” and use the oil embargo as leverage.

Broader Territorial Ambitions

Trump also reiterated his desire for the United States to acquire Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory, telling The Atlantic: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”

The president suggested his Venezuela action should signal American resolve to other nations, including Denmark. Katie Miller, wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted an image showing Greenland painted in American flag colors with the caption “SOON.”

Maduro Faces Federal Court

The deposed Venezuelan leader is scheduled for arraignment Monday at noon in Manhattan federal court, facing narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses from a 2020 indictment issued during Trump’s first administration.

Will Trump’s threats force cooperation from Rodriguez, or will Venezuela’s hardline socialist leadership resist American intervention regardless of consequences?

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