In a stark warning to Venezuela’s new interim leader, President Donald Trump has threatened Delcy Rodríguez with severe consequences if she fails to cooperate with the United States, suggesting her fate could be worse than that of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, who is now jailed in New York.
A Direct Threat from the Golf Course
The warning came during a telephone interview with The Atlantic conducted on Sunday morning, as President Trump had just arrived at his golf club in West Palm Beach. In evident good spirits, he issued a not-so-veiled threat against Rodríguez, who assumed leadership after a U.S. military intervention in Caracas resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump stated, making clear he would not tolerate what he described as Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. operation. This severe tone marked a sharp contrast from the previous day, when Trump had praised Rodríguez at a news conference, saying she had privately indicated a willingness to work with the United States as it temporarily “runs” her country.
A Shift in Foreign Policy Doctrine
During the call, Trump signaled a significant shift away from his long-held, non-interventionist “America First” stance that has defined his political brand. He explicitly rejected his previous distaste for regime change and nation-building, dismissing concerns from many within his MAGA base.
“You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse,” he told the interviewer. This comment suggests a new willingness to engage in the kind of foreign nation-building he has frequently criticized in past administrations.
Beyond Venezuela: Eyes on Greenland
Looking beyond the immediate crisis in Venezuela, Trump reaffirmed that other nations could be subject to American intervention. He specifically highlighted U.S. strategic interests in Greenland, describing the Danish territory as “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”
“We do need Greenland, absolutely,” he said, reiterating a geopolitical desire that has surfaced during his presidency. This statement underscores a broader, more assertive vision for American military and diplomatic engagement in his second term, moving from a policy of withdrawal to one of active, enforced realignment.
