Venezuela entered a new political chapter as Delcy Rodríguez chaired her first council of ministers meeting as the country’s acting president on Sunday, January 5, 2026. Behind her, portraits of her predecessors, Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, served as reminders of the political legacy she now inherits.
Rodríguez, 56, is a long-time stalwart of both the Chávez and Maduro administrations. She has previously served as Maduro’s vice president and oil minister, and her career spans decades of leadership within chavismo, the socialist movement founded by Chávez. As the daughter of Marxist revolutionary Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, she has been a vocal defender of the Maduro regime, particularly against allegations of drug trafficking and election manipulation.
Despite her strong ties to Venezuela’s socialist movement, Rodríguez is navigating a complex relationship with the United States. US President Donald Trump has signaled cautious support, suggesting that she is “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” while warning that failure to act in Washington’s interest could carry serious consequences.
Balancing Sovereignty and Diplomacy
Rodríguez formally assumed the acting presidency on Monday, January 6, 2026, inheriting a nation reeling from Maduro’s capture by US forces. She initially condemned the operation as a “barbarity” and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty but later offered a more conciliatory tone, proposing an “agenda of cooperation” with Washington.
This delicate balancing act reflects her dual responsibility: defending Venezuelan sovereignty while maintaining a working relationship with the United States.
A Career Within Chavismo
Born in Caracas, Rodríguez studied law at the Central University of Venezuela. Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, died in police custody after being arrested in 1976 over alleged involvement in an abduction.
Delcy Rodríguez has held influential positions throughout the Chávez and Maduro administrations. She served as minister of communication and information (2013–2014), foreign minister (2014–2017), and later as president of the Constituent National Assembly in 2017. She was appointed vice president for Maduro’s second term and continued to serve in that role during his third term starting January 2025. Until Maduro’s capture, she was also Venezuela’s chief economic authority and minister of petroleum.
Rodríguez’s tenure demonstrates her prominence within the Venezuelan government and the confidence Maduro placed in her leadership. Constitutional lawyer José Manuel Romano described her as “a highly effective operator, a woman with strong leadership skills for managing teams,” emphasizing her influence across government agencies, including the Ministry of Defense.
Navigating US Relations
Hours after Maduro’s capture, Trump confirmed that Rodríguez had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating her willingness to cooperate with Washington. “She said, ‘We’re going to do whatever you need,’” Trump told reporters, describing the conversation as courteous.
However, analysts caution against overestimating her flexibility. Imdat Oner, a policy analyst and former diplomat, noted that Rodríguez is “one of the most powerful and hard-line figures in the system” and is unlikely to make concessions easily. He suggested that her current role may serve as a caretaker position, facilitating stability until a democratically elected leader assumes office.
US officials reportedly view Rodríguez as a stable figure capable of providing continuity, professional diplomatic engagement, and the protection of future American energy interests in Venezuela.
As acting president, Rodríguez now faces the dual challenge of maintaining internal legitimacy within chavismo while navigating complex international pressures, particularly from the United States, in a nation undergoing a historic political transition.
