On Saturday, Donald Trump confirmed that he discussed the Venezuelan elections with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela. During the meeting at the White House gardens, he expressed admiration for her, using strikingly positive language.
"Yes, we talked about elections. By the way, she was very pleasant and fantastic," Trump stated, according to the EFE agency, when questioned about their meeting in New York on Tuesday, which coincided with the UN General Assembly.
The president also highlighted bilateral oil cooperation, asserting that "Venezuela is earning a lot of money for its people" thanks to the involvement of American oil companies in the country.
This meeting marked the first in-person contact between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over 11 years. It took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel and lasted approximately 15 minutes.
Historic Meeting with Energy and Security Focus
Rodríguez described the meeting as "historic" and emphasized an agenda focusing on cooperation in energy, mining, and security. This encounter is part of the diplomatic rapprochement between Washington and Caracas, initiated after Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by U.S. forces on January 3rd.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the meeting, explained that they discussed free elections, political transition, and economic reconstruction.
"We not only want free and fair elections, but also a lasting republic. What would threaten a lasting republic in Venezuela is someone being elected and inheriting an absolute economic and social catastrophe," he declared.
Divisive Reactions and Political Tensions
The day after the meeting, Rodríguez, in her speech at the UN General Assembly, promised that "there will be elections in Venezuela," without specifying a date or timeline, and notably did not mention Maduro during her 19-minute speech.
The rapprochement between the two governments has not been free of tensions. Senator Rick Scott issued a strong message on Saturday rejecting Rodríguez's legitimacy and demanding full democratic conditions.
"I have been clear: Delcy Rodríguez is NOT the legitimate president of Venezuela," Scott wrote, labeling her a "cartel leader" and calling for the release of all political prisoners and the return of María Corina Machado to Venezuela.
Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuela's main opposition leader, is currently in Panama and has faced at least seven unsuccessful attempts to return to the country since June, including three in one day on September 22nd.
The State Department, through its spokesperson Natalia Molano, clarified that the meeting "does not imply recognition of legitimacy" for the Chavista government.
Petroleum Agreement Sparks Controversy
The backdrop to all these developments is the petroleum agreement announced on August 28th, granting American companies access to 17 Venezuelan oil fields with approximately 65 billion barrels of proven reserves for 25 years.
A Meganálisis survey conducted from September 15th to 19th with 1,627 Venezuelan adults found that 91% opposed the Trump-Rodríguez meeting, and 80% rejected the petroleum agreement.
In a hypothetical electoral scenario, Machado would receive 61% of the votes compared to Rodríguez's 3%.
Understanding the Trump-Rodríguez Meeting
What topics were discussed during the Trump-Rodríguez meeting?
The meeting covered Venezuelan elections, political transition, and economic reconstruction, alongside cooperation in energy and security.
Why was the Trump-Rodríguez meeting significant?
It marked the first in-person interaction between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over a decade, signifying a step in the diplomatic rapprochement between the two nations.
What was the public reaction to the petroleum agreement?
The agreement faced significant opposition, with 80% of Venezuelans surveyed rejecting it, according to a Meganálisis poll.