Venezuela's Interim Leader Strikes Defiant Tone After Trump's Threats: 'My Destiny Is Decided Only by God'

Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, struck a defiant note in a recent speech, insisting that no foreign power governs the country, days after Donald Trump claimed his administration would coordinate Venezuela's political transition and warned she could face severe consequences if she failed to comply with U.S. demands.

Speaking on state television after installing an economic and food-security commission, Rodríguez said, "We are governing here with the people. The government of Venezuela rules our country—no one else. There is no external agent governing Venezuela." Addressing threats directly, she added: "Those who threaten me—I say this clearly—my destiny is decided only by God."

Rodríguez, who was sworn in on Monday after a U.S.-led operation captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, said Venezuelans were mobilizing to demand their release. Trump has said senior officials—including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller, and JD Vance—would oversee the transition, adding that he would make final decisions.

Rodriguez' comments contrasted with a more conciliatory message published Sunday, in which she urged Washington to "work jointly on a cooperation agenda" and called for "peace and dialogue, not war." At the time she appealed for "balanced and respectful international relations" based on sovereignty and non-interference, notably without mentioning Maduro's detention.

That statement followed sharp warnings from Trump during an interview with The Atlantic in which he said Rodríguez would "pay a very high price, probably bigger than Maduro," if she did not act in line with U.S. expectations. He later said she was "willing to do what we consider necessary," while signaling that pressure would continue, including the possibility of further military action.

According to reporting by Politico, U.S. officials have presented Rodríguez with a list of demands, including cracking down on drug trafficking, expelling Iranian, Cuban and other hostile operatives, and halting oil sales to U.S. adversaries. Officials also expect her to facilitate elections eventually, though they stressed there is no imminent timetable.