Venezuela’s Acting President Says She Has “Had Enough” Of U.S. Orders

Venezuela’s Acting President Says She Has “Had Enough” of U.S. Orders Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez publicly rebuked the United States on Sunday, saying she has “had enough” of Washington’s orders as she attempts to unify the country following the recent U.S. capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez made the remarks in a defiant address that underscored growing tension between Caracas and Washington over the future direction of Venezuelan politics In a speech to oil workers in Puerto La Cruz, broadcast on state television, Rodríguez said “enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela,” urging that Venezuelan politics should resolve internal differences and conflicts without external interference.

• She framed the message as a call for national sovereignty and dignity, stating that foreign powers specifically the U.S. have gone too far in attempting to dictate Venezuelan political decisions.
  Rodríguez became acting president after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a military operation in early January 2026. Maduro is now in U.S. custody facing federal charges.
• Since Maduro’s removal, the U.S. under President Donald Trump has exerted pressure on Venezuela’s interim government, including demands for policy changes such as resuming oil production. Rodríguez’s remarks are the first clear public pushback against those directives.
  Rodríguez has faced a difficult balancing act: maintaining support among Maduro loyalists at home while also working with Washington, which helped position her in power after Maduro’s ouster.
• Her latest comments signal a shift toward asserting greater Venezuelan autonomy, rejecting what she frames as excessive U.S. interference in political affairs.
  One source of tension has been U.S. pressure regarding Venezuelan oil production, a key issue for an oil-dependent economy still reeling from sanctions and political upheaval. Rodríguez’s remarks come amid calls from Washington for Venezuela to resume and expand exports under U.S. terms.
  Rodríguez’s statement reflects growing friction in U.S.–Venezuela relations at a pivotal moment in the country’s political transition.
• It highlights her effort to assert Venezuelan sovereignty and align domestic politics around national control rather than external direction.
• The stance may influence how the interim government navigates future cooperation, oil negotiations, and diplomatic engagement with the U.S. and other global partners.