(C) Al Arabiya

[PALM BEACH, FL] U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Delcy Rodriguez, the Vice President currently acting as Venezuela’s executive head following the capture of Nicolas Maduro. In a telephone interview with The Atlantic on January 4, 2026, Trump declared that if Rodriguez fails to "do what’s right," she will face consequences "probably bigger than Maduro," who is currently detained in a New York federal prison.

The warning follows a dramatic shift in rhetoric. On January 3, Trump initially claimed Rodriguez had privately signaled a willingness to cooperate with the U.S. administration. However, Rodriguez quickly countered this in a televised emergency cabinet meeting, denouncing the U.S. military operation as a "brutal violation of international law" and insisting that "Maduro remains the only legitimate president."

In his interview, Trump dismissed criticisms of neo-imperialism, asserting that the United States would "run" Venezuela to restore order and reclaim oil infrastructure he claims was "stolen" from American investors. He described Venezuela as a "failed country" and suggested that "regime change or rebuilding—whatever you call it—is better than what they have now."

Notably, Trump signaled that his interventionist policy might not end with Venezuela. He explicitly mentioned the strategic necessity of Greenland, currently a Danish territory, citing concerns over Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. "We absolutely need Greenland for defense," Trump remarked, indicating a broader shift toward a more aggressive, resource-driven foreign policy in his second term.