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Donald Trump has warned Venezuela's new leader Delcy Rodríguez she could "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro" if she "doesn't do what's right".

His comments to US magazine The Atlantic came as the country's deposed president Nicolás Maduro was set to appear in a New York court on Monday.

The US accuses Maduro, who is charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences, of running a "narco-terrorist" regime, a claim he denies.

Rodríguez - who served as Maduro's vice president - adopted a conciliatory tone at her first cabinet meeting on Sunday, offering co-operation with the US.


"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation orientated towards shared development within the framework of international law," she said.

Backed by Venezuela's Supreme Court and the military, she will be sworn in as president on Monday in Caracas, at 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted the US is not at war with Venezuela, after air strikes in Caracas on Saturday led to Maduro and his wife being taken into custody and transported to the US.

Some Democratic lawmakers said the operation was an "act of war".

In an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump said of Rodríguez: "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro."

He added that for Venezuela,"Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can't get any worse".

Donald Trump Nicolás Maduro shown after his arrest, wearing headphones and a blindfold, grey zipped jumperDonald Trump
Trump posted a picture of Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima after his arrest
On Saturday, Trump had vowed the US would "run" the country until "a safe and proper and judicious transition" was possible.

Trump also promised US oil companies would move into the country to fix infrastructure "and start making money for the country".

Despite the US president's claims, Maduro's allies remain in charge.

The Cuban government has said 32 "brave Cuban combatants" died when US forces attacked and captured Maduro and his wife. Cuba - a longstanding socialist ally of Maduro - has announced two days of national mourning.


"We are at war against drug trafficking organisations. That's not a war against Venezuela," Rubio told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

The secretary of state also told CBS that if Venezuela doesn't "make the right decisions", the US "will retain multiple levers of leverage to ensure that our interests are protected".

That includes the "quarantine" the US has placed on Venezuela's oil, he said.

"We're going to judge everything by what they do, and we're going to see what they do," he added.

Trump also threatened Venezuela's neighbour Colombia, in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One.

He did not rule out military action against Colombia, saying "it sounds good to me", and called Colombian President Gustavo Petro "a sick man".

"Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he's not going to be doing it very long," Trump said.

Maduro, who leads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and has been in power since 2013, has frequently been accused of repressing opposition groups and silencing dissent in Venezuela, at times with the use of violence.

He is widely seen by opponents within his country as well as by foreign governments as having illegitimately won Venezuela's 2024 election.

Venezuela's left-wing leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured at their compound and flown to the US, as part of a dramatic special forces operation in the early hours of Saturday that also saw strikes on military bases.

The couple have since been charged with weapon and drug offences and are set to appear at a court in New York on Monday.

Maduro has denied being a cartel leader and has accused the US of using its "war on drugs" as an excuse to try to depose him and get its hands on Venezuela's oil.

While US officials have said that no American troops were harmed in the attacks, Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said a "large part" of Maduro's security team and "soldiers and innocent civilians" were killed in the US operation.

When asked why congressional authorisation wasn't sought before the US operation in Venezuela, Rubio told ABC it "wasn't necessary because this wasn't an invasion".

He described it as a "law enforcement operation", and said Maduro was arrested on the ground by FBI agents.

You can't notify Congress of an operation like this because "it will leak", he added.

Speaking to US media outlets, Rubio was asked if the US recognises Rodríguez as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

He answered that "this is not about the legitimate president" as the US does not recognise the regime as legitimate.

Fuerte Tiuna, one of Venezuela's largest military bases was hit in Caracas on Saturday
Some Democratic lawmakers have condemned the administration's actions.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the secretive military operation, which was conducted without approval from Congress, "was not simply a narcotics operation".

"It was an act of war," Jeffries told NBC's Meet the Press.

"This was a military action involving Delta Force, involving the army, apparently involving thousands of troops, involving at least 150 military aircraft, perhaps involving dozens of ships off the coast of Venezuela and South America."

Jim Himes, the most senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, told CBS Face the Nation he had had "zero outreach" from the Trump administration, adding "no Democrat that I'm aware of has had any outreach".

In an interview with ABC This Week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned the legality of the US operation.

Schumer said that while he believes Maduro is a horrible person, "You don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness".

"We have learned through the years when America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way, the American people pay the price in both blood and in dollars," Schumer said.

Both Schumer and Jeffries vowed to support a resolution that, if passed in both houses, would prohibit Trump from taking any further action in Venezuela without Congressional approval.

In a joint statement, the governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain said the US's military actions "constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population".

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnxvp477eo

Trump's words are supreme. Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion loves Trump.

The tormentor named Trump! Please come and finish what you started in Nigeria abeg 🤲…asides from dropping tomahawk missiles on bandits, our presidiot na drug baron too. Abeg reason him matter

This man should give them some breathing space. He has gotten the oil he always gunned for.

I don’t support trump for this one oh.

The absence of a president. The vice takes over to avoid. Any vacuum or void can cause serious problem to any country.

Donald Trump has warned Venezuela's new leader Delcy Rodríguez she could "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro" if she "doesn't do what's right".

As this one no dey into drugs, she want her to do what’s right..

What’s right? Make she dash USA oil 😁

This White House tangerine is not just normal

The world police has spoken. Cooperation to Trump means freeing up Venezuela's resources to the US

This isn't just about drug anymore, Tinubu should beware ...

All those World leaders that kept quiet in the face of this atrocity should know that tomorrow might be their turn, they have tested the waters and seen that it is achievable, so they won't stop.

adenigga:
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnxvp477eo

It's like Maduro played a fast one on him as the country is still under the control of Chavez-Maduro’s political and military structure.

Believe the US media at your own peril

Kingosytex:
This man should give them some breathing space. He has gotten the oil he always gunned for.

+
Nothing will change until the Global South wakes up and pulls out of the UN. A country like India with over a billion people also has no business there without having equal say.

Trump should reason Tinubu before he start his criminal tax regime

This international bandit is at it again.

America and oil. After accusing Maduro of drug related offenses and capturing Maduro. Let's see if this matter is for drugs or for Venezuelan oil.

Too much problems in this already hell of a life. Humanity was born to being evil. Nothing like devil. Devil does not exist. Human exist.

Trump the dumb. An intoxicated power drunk terrorist.
A war criminal and a greedy thief.

Appear in court as what? For what? Because of what?
Based of your own allegations? As what?
This is a very big shame to the international bodies like UN. Shame on all of them that this can happen.

Nothing but a rabid and senile dog.
You kidnap a whole president from his country, and want to charge and try him in your own country and court!?
As how na?

Trump’s warning to Venezuela’s new leader shows how tense the situation has become after the U.S. capture of Maduro — he’s basically telling Delcy Rodríguez she could face even more serious consequences than Maduro if she doesn’t cooperate with U.S. demands, which highlights how far Washington is willing to push for its interests in Caracas.”

When a fish wants to rotten it starts from the head,the downfall of the US is near,the next president who will 100% be a democrat,another of countries will use that 4 years to arm and strategise against lunaticz like Trump,imagine maduro had 4 years of weak Joe Biden he couldn't take advantage to prop up the country defense at least let us elect another weak president again even Nigeria will consider nukes😁

Trump's threat to Venezuela's vice president only reaffirms the position that it was never about drugs.

this trump na baba werey. Now other countries are begin to realized the power of America

Gumi and his terrorist friends are next in line.

Nigerianlion:
Trump’s warning to Venezuela’s new leader shows how tense the situation has become after the U.S. capture of Maduro — he’s basically telling Delcy Rodríguez she could face even more serious consequences than Maduro if she doesn’t cooperate with U.S. demands, which highlights how far Washington is willing to push for its interests in Caracas.”

Y would u lose an election and refuse to handover? Ask Maduro

It has never been about drug... Baba just want oryel


E don talk am before Na

BondRiv:
Trump's threat to Venezuela's vice president only reaffirms the position that it was never about drugs.

Dont forget both vice and maduro lost the election and refuse to handover

This lady should better behave

That's why sane minds are worried about how Rivers State political actors loyal to Emperor Wicked Wike. Their behaviors calls for concern.

Say no to state capture .
Say No to one party state.

Nigerian Judiciary will soon be picked up if they don't respect themselves. Nigeria is becoming a narco state, NDLEA is not showing criminals as before 🤷🏿.

She would soon be overthrown by a Military junta loyal to Washington. She is the head of an interim government.

BodyCount:
Trump the dumb. An intoxicated power drunk terrorist.
A war criminal and a greedy thief.

Appear in court as what? For what? Because of what?
Based of your own allegations? As what?
This is a very big shame to the international bodies like UN. Shame on all of them that this can happen.

Nothing but a rabid and senile dog.
You kidnap a whole president from his country, and want to charge and try him in your own country and court!?
As how na?

Continue to Cry 😭😭😭😭😭

Trump has done what he wanted and what he believes is in the best interests of America

and the whole world can't do a F..... Thing about it .

God Bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

God Bless Donald J Trump

Orlandoo:
Trump's words are supreme. Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion loves Trump.

You still sleeping right

She'd better comply. Cos the world police will do anything and nobody will question them

Trump the Dullard
Same Brain with most Nigerian Educated Illiterates..
So no plan of peace
All about ur own interest
If it doesn't suit you ,u frame up lies to ur Gains but people no understand
You said Maduro is a drug Baron but u pardoned a prominent Drug trafficker in Baltimore and you still pardoned Ex Honduras president Orlando Juan Hernandez
Why 2Face?
Nigerians please make we understand say Venezuela na Christian State ooo
And people got killed for defending their self but some mumus de praise Evil
Indeed ways still long to Go ,with this kind of foolish Thinkers