“The government of Venezuela governs our country, no one else. There is no foreign agent governing Venezuela,” interim President Darcy Rodríguez said during a public event Wednesday. Photo by Rayner Pena/EPA
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez asserted that no “foreign agent” governs the country during a speech broadcast on state television.
That contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States is now “in charge,” and that part of his administration will coordinate a transition in the South American nation.
Rodríguez, who assumed office Monday after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in an operation carried out by U.S. forces, said Venezuela’s government is the country’s only sovereign authority, and she rejected any suggestion of foreign control, according to Venezuelan digital outlet Efecto Cocuyo.
“The government of Venezuela governs our country, no one else. There is no foreign agent governing Venezuela,” Rodríguez said during a public event Tuesday aired by state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión, known as VTV.
In the same address, Rodríguez also responded to warnings issued by Trump, who threatened former Maduro allies with facing the same fate as the deposed leader if they fail to cooperate with the United States.
“Personally, to those who threaten me, I say this: my destiny is decided only by God. That is my answer,” the interim president said.
Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and senior adviser Stephen Miller, who oversees security and migration issues, would manage Venezuela during the transition, including control over its key oil resources.
On Tuesday, Trump said Venezuela’s interim government would deliver between 30 million and 50 million barrels of what he described as “high-quality sanctioned oil” to the United States.
After her swearing-in before the National Assembly, Rodríguez said Venezuela’s executive branch maintains full control over state institutions and strategic resources, responding to announcements from Washington about a U.S.-supervised role in managing the oil industry.
Rodríguez also appointed Gen. Gustavo González López as commander of the Presidential Honor Guard and director of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, according to a statement by Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez posted on Telegram.
González López replaces Maj. Gen. Javier Marcano Tábata, who was dismissed after Maduro’s detention.
In recent years, González López has held several senior positions within Venezuela’s security and state apparatus. He previously served as director of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, known by its Spanish acronym SEBIN, and as minister of interior, justice and peace.
Within the ruling movement, he is considered close to Diosdado Cabello, one of the most influential figures in Venezuela’s Chavista leadership, whom Trump previously named as a possible target for future action inside the country.
Both González López and Cabello appear on the blocked persons list maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department. Placement on that list means that any assets under U.S. jurisdiction may be frozen and that U.S. individuals and companies are barred from conducting transactions with them.
