He said the aim was for US companies to take control of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure for their own benefit. The US president also told reporters that Venezuela’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, would remain in power only so long as she “does what we want”. But after Chávez died of cancer in 2013, relations worsened significantly with the election of Nicolás Maduro as president. “But more moderate leaders, including Brazil’s President Lula and Chile’s outgoing president Gabriel Boric, have condemned it. Photograph: Ronald Pena R/EPATrump ousts Venezuela’s PresidentThe president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was captured, flown to the US and is facing trial in New York.

Source: The Guardian January 05, 2026 06:54 UTC