(NewsNation) — President Trump issued a warning on Sunday to Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to “do what’s right” following the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro.
During a phone interview with The Atlantic, Trump said, “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” The outlet reports that Trump made clear he would not tolerate what he described as Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention that resulted in Maduro’s capture.
Rodríguez, who served as minister of oil under Maduro, gave her first speech as the country’s interim leader on Saturday. Time reports that the 56-year-old called for the immediate liberation of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
“Never again will we be slaves, never again will we be a colony of any empire. We’re ready to defend Venezuela,” Rodríguez said.
Following Maduro’s capture, Trump said that the U.S. and an unnamed group will be in charge of operations for the time being.
“We’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” Trump said. “We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, which will cost billions of dollars. It’ll be paid for by the oil companies directly. They will be reimbursed for what they are doing.”
Trump’s comments have been met with pushback from Democratic lawmakers, but Republicans, including Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, are doubling down in agreement. Cotton told CNN’s “State of the Union” that any new leadership in Venezuela will be required “to meet our demands.”