Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez Pushes Back Against U.S. Pressure. Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez declared she has had “enough” of Washington’s orders, signaling growing friction with the United States nearly a month into her interim rule. Speaking to oil workers in Puerto La Cruz on state television, Rodríguez stressed that Venezuela must resolve its political differences internally, without foreign dictates shaping its future. Rodríguez has been navigating a delicate balance since the U.S. capture of former president Nicolás Maduro, trying to keep Maduro loyalists on side while maintaining U.S. backing. Pressure from Washington has intensified, including demands for Venezuela to restart oil production and align future energy partnerships more closely with the United States. While rejecting U.S. interference, Rodríguez avoided outright confrontation, emphasizing she seeks “respectful relations” grounded in international law and national dignity. U.S. President Donald Trump initially claimed Washington would “run” Venezuela after Maduro’s arrest, but later endorsed Rodríguez and praised her publicly following a phone call. Venezuela remains deeply divided, with fractures among Maduro loyalists, left-wing critics, and so-called Chavistas who reject Maduro’s legacy but still back socialism. As uncertainty continues, opposition figures — including María Corina Machado — are watching closely, while the U.S. presses for oil cooperation and the release of political prisoners.