Four Signs the Trump–Rodríguez Relationship Is Warming — And What It Could Mean for Venezuela

More than two weeks after a dramatic U.S. operation in Caracas that reportedly led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s political contest appears to be coalescing around two women with sharply different agendas: acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who represents continuity with the current government, and opposition leader María Corina Machado, who campaigns for a return to democratic rule.

Both leaders view ties to U.S. President Donald Trump — or at least a working understanding with his administration — as pivotal. Trump can influence sanctions relief, investor confidence and the fate of Venezuelan officials facing U.S. charges. Recent moves in Washington and Caracas suggest Rodríguez may be gaining ground. Below are four signs pointing to a warming relationship between Rodríguez and key U.S. actors.

Sign 1 — A Direct Line to the U.S. President

Personal rapport matters in Washington. In a surprise comment, Trump said he had spoken by phone with Delcy Rodríguez and described her as a "terrific person." Until then, María Corina Machado — who has cultivated long-standing ties with some U.S. officials — had appeared to be Washington’s favored interlocutor. The president’s public praise gives Rodríguez a new personal connection that could translate into leverage.

Delcy Rodríguez issues a statement saying the country reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. - From delcyrodriguezv/Instagram

Sign 2 — Swift Moves on Oil Reform

On January 9 the White House convened oil executives to discuss investment in Venezuela’s struggling petroleum sector. Most industry leaders were cautious; ExxonMobil’s CEO Darren Woods warned that current legal and commercial frameworks make Venezuela "uninvestable." Days later, Rodríguez announced rapid amendments to the Hydrocarbons Law — a measure Maduro had discussed for years but had not implemented. The speed of the reforms signals Rodríguez’s willingness to address investor concerns and to align policy with what Washington and international companies have requested.

Sign 3 — High-Level Security Engagement

Rodríguez hosted CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas the same day she unveiled the oil reforms. Leaked photographs portrayed a relaxed meeting; Rodríguez, normally known for formal attire, was photographed in casual sneakers while receiving the U.S. intelligence chief. Ratcliffe also met Enrique Gonzalez, the new head of the Presidential Guard — meetings that followed claims by Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino that recent U.S. special-operations activity had resulted in dozens of presidential guards’ deaths. Ratcliffe declined to comment on those allegations. The visit was the first by a U.S. Cabinet-level official to Caracas in more than a decade and suggests a closer security dialogue.

Sign 4 — Deportation Flights Resume

On Friday, Venezuela accepted its first U.S. deportation flight since December 10: an Eastern Airlines Boeing 767 carrying 231 migrants from Phoenix. Washington had paused flights amid heightened military activity, and the quick resumption indicates cooperation on migration logistics — an issue of priority for the Trump administration. Continued cooperation on deportations would be a tangible and politically valuable concession for the U.S.

What This Could Mean

These developments do not determine Venezuela’s future, but they do suggest Rodríguez has, at least temporarily, strengthened her standing in Washington’s calculations. That shift could influence sanctions policy, security cooperation and the conditions under which foreign investors might return to Venezuela’s oil sector. Meanwhile, Machado’s recent White House visit — during which she presented a personal medal to President Trump and received a photo opportunity — produced no explicit commitments, leaving the opposition leader’s path to U.S. backing less certain for now.

Note: This article reports statements and claims made by U.S. and Venezuelan officials. Some allegations (including those about U.S. operations and casualties) are contested and are here attributed to the officials who made them.