Report: DEA Has Tracked Venezuela's Rodríguez Since 2018
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
The AP reports reveal that President Trump is prioritizing U.S. control over Venezuela's oil and resources over democratic accountability. By elevating Delcy Rodríguez, a Maduro loyalist tracked by the DEA since 2018 and labeled a 2022 "priority target" for drug trafficking, money laundering and gold smuggling, to serve as interim leader, Trump is cementing a client-state arrangement that rewards corruption. In doing so, his administration ignores nearly a dozen U.S. investigations into her activities while installing a sanctioned official at the helm of a criminal-hybrid regime.
Pro-Trump narrative
Despite the AP reports, Trump's support for interim President Delcy Rodríguez is the pragmatic choice to stabilize Venezuela and safeguard a path toward democracy. With Maduro removed, her leadership provides continuity and a framework for governance. By coordinating on oil, minerals, trade, and national security, Rodríguez is positioned to revive the economy, attract investment, and strengthen governance, while U.S. support helps secure a peaceful transition. Her leadership offers a pragmatic path toward recovery, prosperity, order, and ultimately, democracy for the Venezuelan people.
