On January 3, 2026, American forces carried out a decisive operation that resulted in the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power, and on January 5 Delcy Rodríguez — Maduro’s long‑time vice president and loyalist — was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela to maintain continuity amid the chaos.
Delcy Rodríguez is no newcomer to the hard left that wrecked Venezuela: she rose through Chávez and Maduro’s inner circles, serving in multiple ministerial posts and presiding over the constituent assembly that neutered democratic checks. Her rise was built on protecting the regime, not on restoring liberty or prosperity for ordinary Venezuelans whose lives have been devastated by socialist policies.
President Trump’s team signaled a pragmatic approach, opening talks with Rodríguez even as Trump warned that her rule would be judged by actions, not words — a clear message that the United States will back stability but expect results for the Venezuelan people. That tough‑minded diplomacy is exactly the kind of pressure needed to pry open opportunities for freedom and accountability in Caracas.
Still, the initial aftermath is grim: Rodríguez has moved quickly to consolidate power, and reports of arrests, repression of journalists, and deployment of armed colectivos under a state of emergency show the familiar instincts of a socialist regime clinging to control. Those who cheered Maduro’s removal should not be naive — the security apparatus and loyalists will use any pretext to suppress dissent and preserve their grip.
International reaction has been chaotic and revealing; regional leaders like Brazil’s Lula called Rodríguez to verify the situation even as old allies of the regime voiced support and others condemned the U.S. intervention. This scramble underscores the strategic reality: whoever governs Venezuela will matter to global energy markets, migration flows, and the safety of Americans.
Conservatives should celebrate the blow against an oppressive socialist cartel while demanding a clear, honest strategy — immediate humanitarian relief, protection for political prisoners, pressure for free and transparent elections, and leverage to secure energy supplies and national security interests. We must be both patriotic and pragmatic: back Venezuelan liberty, punish kleptocrats, and ensure American strength protects the Hemisphere from tyranny.
