US President Trump calls Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez ‘terrific’ after their first conversation, discussing oil, trade and security
CARACAS: US President Donald Trump said he held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez. It was the first known contact between the two leaders since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro.
“We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He later said on social media they discussed “many topics,” including oil, minerals, trade and national security.
Trump said “we are making tremendous progress.” After Maduro’s capture in a US special forces operation, Trump previously said he was content to let Rodriguez take over if she gave the US access to Venezuelan oil.
Rodriguez has been trying to meet Trump’s demands without alienating Maduro loyalists who control security forces. She described the call as “productive and courteous” and characterised by “mutual respect.”
The 56-year-old said they discussed a “bilateral work agenda for the benefit of our people.” She earlier stated Venezuela was entering a “new political era” with greater tolerance for political diversity.
Under pressure from Washington, Venezuela has released dozens of political prisoners. Rodriguez claimed 406 political prisoners had been released since December in a process that “has not yet concluded.”
The Foro Penal legal rights NGO gave a much smaller tally of around 180 freed. AFP’s count showed 70 people released since the fall of Maduro.
Trump has so far sidelined opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from the transition. Machado will meet Trump at the White House to press for the opposition to be given a pre-eminent role.
The prisoner releases continued with 17 journalists and media workers freed. Roland Carreno, a journalist and opposition activist detained in 2024, was part of the group.
In a video, Carreno called for “peace and reconciliation.” Authorities have been releasing prisoners quietly at locations like shopping malls to avoid jubilant scenes.
A US State Department official confirmed on Tuesday that Americans have been released. The official did not say how many or from where.
