The president of the United States, Donald Trump, denied that the close circle of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro collaborated in the operation that led to his capture and transfer to New York to face charges of narco-terrorism and arms trafficking. According to him, the action was carried out without prior agreements with the leadership of the Chavista regime, although he acknowledged that "many wanted to make a deal" to facilitate the transition.
The statements were made in an interview with NBC News, a few hours after the U.S. justice system formalized the custody of Maduro. There, Trump was emphatic in ruling out any prior coordination with Delcy Rodríguez, recently sworn in by the National Assembly as head of the regime.
"No, that's not the case," replied the Republican president when he was asked about a possible understanding with Rodríguez, although he clarified that the Chavista leader "has been cooperating" with U.S. officials.
Sanctions, political control, and U.S. leadership
Trump explained that his administration will assess in the short term whether the current sanctions against Rodríguez will be maintained or lifted, depending on her level of cooperation. He stressed that the decision will be made exclusively by Washington.
The president also emphasized that the operation was conducted under his direct supervision, together with a key team made up of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, reaffirming the political and military leadership of the United States in the region.
In line with the strategic vision that also accompanies Javier Milei's government, Trump stressed that the central objective is to put the country in order first before moving forward with broader institutional decisions.
