Venezuela Assembly Leader Gives Interview to Newsmax
The Spin
Narrative A
Newsmax has been deployed to Caracas — likely by Richard Grenell, a regime ally in the Trump administration — to paint a picture of normalcy in Venezuela, whitewashing a brutal dictatorship that tortures political prisoners. It's certain that interviews with authoritarian leaders are always tightly controlled, but they are only worth the effort if journalists confront them rather than acting as public relations agents.
Narrative B
Jorge Rodríguez adopted a notably conciliatory tone with the U.S. in this latest interview, showing that Caracas is desperate to strike a balance between its priorities and U.S. pressures. Apart from his apparent refusal to allow Machado to return to the country and run for office, all his statements align with what the Trump administration has told interim authorities.
