Trump Warns Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez of ‘Heavy Price’ if She Fails to Act, Says Report

US President Donald Trump has warned Venezuela’s Vice President and interim president Delcy Rodríguez that she would “pay a very big price—possibly bigger than Maduro’s” if she does not “do the right thing,” according to a report by The Atlantic.

The warning comes ahead of the scheduled appearance of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at a New York court on Monday.

The United States has accused Maduro of running a “narco-terrorist” regime and charged him with drug trafficking and weapons-related crimes—allegations that Maduro has repeatedly denied.

Following a Saturday airstrike in Caracas, US forces reportedly detained Maduro and his wife and transported them to the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Washington is not at war with Venezuela.

However, several Democratic lawmakers have described the operation as “an act of war.”

In an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump said of Rodríguez:
“If she doesn’t do the right thing, she’s going to pay a very big price—bigger than Maduro.”

Trump added, “Regime change for Venezuela—call it whatever you want—is better than what you have now. It can’t get any worse.”

On Saturday, Trump also pledged that the United States would continue to “run the country” until a “safe, proper, and just transition” is achieved.

Meanwhile, the Cuban government said that 32 ‘brave Cuban fighters’ were killed during the US operation that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife. Cuba, a long-time socialist ally of Maduro, has declared two days of national mourning.