Rubio Warns Venezuela Acting President She Could Face Maduro's Fate If Defiant

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to tell the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, could suffer the same fate as deposed leader Nicolás Maduro if she refuses to comply with U.S. demands.

In prepared testimony, Rubio — a former U.S. senator and prominent critic of leftist leaders in Latin America — said Rodríguez, who served as vice president before assuming the acting presidency, "is well aware of the fate of Maduro." He added, "It is our belief that her own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives."

“Make no mistake, as the president has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail.”

Rubio agreed to appear before the committee amid weeks of Democratic criticism that the Trump administration misled Congress and overstepped its authority in the use of force.

Raid on Caracas and Conflicting Accounts

According to Rubio's testimony, U.S. commandoes raided Caracas on January 3 and seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple were taken to New York to face U.S.-issued drug-trafficking charges, which they deny.

Rubio strongly defended the operation, describing it as the arrest of "two narcotraffickers" and calling Maduro "an indicted drug trafficker, not a legal head of state." He noted the mission was carried out "without the loss of a single American life, or an ongoing military occupation," adding that "history features few examples where so much was achieved at so little cost."

Venezuelan officials dispute the U.S. account, saying more than 100 people — Venezuelans and Cubans who tried to protect Maduro — died during the operation.

U.S. Objectives and Political Context

Rubio said President Donald Trump has pressed Rodríguez to act in ways that would benefit U.S. oil companies. In the days after Maduro's removal, Trump signaled a preference for pressuring Rodríguez into cooperation rather than immediately empowering the democratic opposition.

Trump initially dismissed opposition leader María Corina Machado as lacking "respect," but later appeared more cordial after Machado visited the White House and presented him with a Nobel Peace Prize she had been awarded.

The State Department said Rubio will meet behind closed doors with Machado after his congressional appearance. Rubio has previously supported Machado's opposition movement while serving in the Senate.

Most Western governments, including the United States, refused to recognize Maduro as legitimate after elections international observers said involved irregularities. Rodríguez has stated she is tired of taking orders from Washington, yet has also taken steps to encourage U.S. oil investment and said the U.S. was unblocking sanctioned Venezuelan funds.