Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, left, smiles at Venezuelan Defense Minister Padrino Lopez, as they take the route that the body of late President Hugo Chavez was transported to his final resting place, during the activities marking the 10th anniversary of Chavez's death, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)2026-01-04T23:37:12Z MEXICO CITY (AP) As uncertainty simmers in Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodrguez has taken the place of her ally President Nicols Maduro, captured by the United States in a nighttime military operation, and offered to collaborate with the Trump administration in what could be a seismic shift in relations between the adversary governments.Rodrguez served as Maduros vice president since 2018, overseeing much of Venezuelas oil-dependent economy and its feared intelligence service, and was next in the presidential line of succession.Shes part of a band of senior officials in Maduros administration that now appears to control Venezuela, even as U.S. President Donald Trump and other officials say they will pressure the government to fall in line with its vision for the oil-rich nation.On Saturday, Venezuelas high court ordered her to assume the role of interim president, and the leader was backed by Venezuelas military. Ally or adversary Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks to supporters during a rally in defense of a proposed bill titled, Law against fascism, neofascism and similar expressions, in discussion by lawmakers, in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File) Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks to supporters during a rally in defense of a proposed bill titled, Law against fascism, neofascism and similar expressions, in discussion by lawmakers, in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Rodrguez, a 56-year-old lawyer and politician has had a lengthy career representing the revolution started by the late Hugo Chvez on the world stage. Its been unclear if the leader would warm up to the Trump administration or follow the same adversarial line as her predecessor. Her rise to become interim leader of the South American country came as a surprise on Saturday morning, when Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in communication with Rodrguez and that the Venezuelan leader was gracious and would work with the American government. Rubio said Rodrguez was someone the administration could work with, unlike Maduro. But in a televised address, Rodrguez gave no indication that she would cooperate with Trump, referring to his government as extremists and maintaining that Maduro was Venezuelas rightful leader.What is being done to Venezuela is an atrocity that violates international law, Rodrguez said, surrounded by high-ranking civilian officials and military leaders. Trump warned on Sunday, if Rodrguez didnt fall in line, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro. He added that he wanted her to provide total access, from oil facilities to basic infrastructure like roads, so they can be rebuilt. Trumps comments also followed Rubio having asserted in TV interviews on Sunday that he didnt see Rodrguez and her government as legitimate because he said the country never held free and fair elections. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks about the presidential election results with foreign ambassadors and accredited diplomatic corps at the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks about the presidential election results with foreign ambassadors and accredited diplomatic corps at the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More On Sunday, in statements posted to her Instagram, she took a major shift in tone in a conciliatory message where she said she hoped to build respectful relations with Trump.We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence, she wrote.Rise to interim presidentA lawyer educated in Britain and France, the interim president and her brother, Jorge Rodrguez, head of the Maduro-controlled National Assembly, have sterling leftist credentials born from tragedy. Their father was a socialist leader who was arrested for his involvement in the kidnapping of American business owner William Niehous in 1976, and later died in police custody. Unlike many in Maduros inner circle, the Rodrguez siblings have avoided criminal indictment in the U.S., though the interim president did face U.S. sanctions during Trumps first term for her role in undermining Venezuelan democracy. Rodrguez held a number of lower-level positions under Chvezs government, but gained prominence working under Maduro to the point of being seen as his successor. She served the economic minister, foreign affairs minister, petroleum minister and others help stabilize Venezuelas endemically crisis-stricken economy after years of rampant inflation and turmoil. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, right, talks with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during a meeting with international observers in Caracas, Venezuela, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, right, talks with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during a meeting with international observers in Caracas, Venezuela, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Rodrguez developed strong ties with Republicans in the oil industry and on Wall Street who balked at the notion of U.S.-led regime change. The interim president also presided over an assembly promoted by Maduro in response to street protests in 2017 meant to neutralize the opposition-majority legislature.She enjoys a close relationship with the military, which has long acted as the arbiter of political disputes in Venezuela, said Ronal Rodrguez, a spokesperson for the Venezuela Observatory of Rosario University in Bogota, Colombia.She has a very particular relationship with power, he said. She has developed very strong ties with elements of the armed forces and has managed to establish lines of dialogue with them, largely on a transactional basis.Future in powerIts unclear how long Rodrguez will hold power, or how closely she will work with the Trump administration.Geoff Ramsey, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington research institute, said Rodrguezs initially firm tone with the Trump administration may have been an attempt to save face. Others have noted that Maduros capture required some level of collaboration within the Venezuelan government. She cant exactly expect to score points with her revolutionary peers if she presents herself as a patsy for U.S. interests, Ramsey said. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez attends a meeting with Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro at the Humboldt Hotel at El Avila mountain in La Guaira, Venezuela, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez attends a meeting with Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro at the Humboldt Hotel at El Avila mountain in La Guaira, Venezuela, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Venezuelas constitution requires an election within 30 days whenever the president becomes permanently unavailable to serve. Reasons listed include death, resignation, removal from office or abandonment of duties as declared by the National Assembly.That electoral timeline was rigorously followed when Maduros predecessor, Chavez, died of cancer in 2013. However, the loyalist Supreme Court, in its decision Saturday, cited another provision of the charter in declaring Maduros absence a temporary one. In such a scenario, there is no election requirement. Instead, the vice president, an unelected position, takes over for up to 90 days a period that can be extended to six months with a vote of the National Assembly.In handing temporary power to Rodrguez, the Supreme Court made no mention of the 180-day time limit, leading some to speculate she could try to remain in power even longer as she seeks to unite the disparate factions of the ruling socialist party while shielding it from what would certainly be a stiff electoral challenge. Janetsky reported from Mexico City and Debre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Associated Press writers Joshua Goodman in Miami, Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One and Jorge Rueda in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. MEGAN JANETSKY Megan Janetsky covers migration, conflict, human rights and politics in Mexico and Central America for The AP based in Mexico City. Previously, she covered Cuba and the Caribbean for The AP and worked as freelance journalist in Colombia, reporting across South America. twitter instagram facebook mailto ISABEL DEBRE DeBre writes about Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay for The Associated Press, based in Buenos Aires. Before moving to South America in 2024, she covered the Middle East reporting from Jerusalem, Cairo and Dubai. twitter mailto