As Venezuela‘s former dictator Nicolás Maduro left his country, captured by U.S. military forces, Maduro’s cabinet and regime officials made it out of the operation largely unscathed, still holding onto their positions of power.
President Donald Trump has opted to work with Maduro’s former vice president Delcy Rodríguez, whom the Venezuelan Supreme Court tapped to serve as interim President in Maduro’s absence. But Trump has also made several looming threats to Rodríguez and the post-Maduro leadership in Venezuela, telling The Atlantic, “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”
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In a large signal of cooperation from Venezuela’s current leadership, Trump announced Tuesday evening that the South American country’s interim government agreed to turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. The White House is expected to hold a meeting with top oil officials on Friday to discuss plans for the American oil industry in Venezuela.
As the Trump administration moves forward with its goals for Venezuela, these are the key players in the post-Maduro government who are navigating the waters of placating the Trump administration, dealing with American oil companies, and watching potential targets on some of their own backs.
Delcy Rodríguez
The interim Venezuelan president was sworn into office by her brother Jorge Rodríguez while Maduro pleaded not guilty on drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom. Rodríguez took the oath of office on Monday, with both the backing of major Venezuelan government officials and the Trump administration.
Rodríguez has gone back and forth on her response to Maduro’s arrest. At first she held a defiant line, calling the U.S. operation “barbaric” on Saturday and labeling it as an “illegal and illegitimate kidnapping.” After her immediate response, she began softening her words and, according to Trump, told Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “We’ll do whatever you need.” She seemingly remains in good standing with the Trump administration if she continues to abide by its demands.
Rodríguez holds much respect in her home country for her cooperation with the private sector and Venezuelan businesses and her work in bringing the Venezuelan oil industry through significant economic woes. She previously served as the country’s Foreign Minister before Maduro tapped her as his Vice President pick in 2018. While serving as vice president, Rodríguez also picked up the roles of oil and finance minister.
Jorge Rodríguez
Jorge Rodríguez is Delcy Rodríguez’s brother and the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly. He was re-appointed as the head of the legislative body on Monday, as he also swore in his sister as the country’s interim president.
Jorge Rodríguez served as vice president of Venezuela under the country’s former president Hugo Chávez. Before being tapped as the head of the legislative assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, a close Maduro ally and his chief political strategist, served under Maduro as the communication minister. At the swearing-in ceremony of hundreds of new lawmakers to the legislative assembly on Monday, Jorge Rodríguez had choice words about Maduro’s capture.
“My main role in the days to come, my role as a man, as a representative, as President of this National Assembly, will be to use all procedures, all platforms and all spaces to bring back Nicolas Maduro Moro, my brother, my President,” Jorge Rodríguez said.
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Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello Rondón is Venezuela’s Interior Minister, who has had a long-standing political rivalry with the Rodríguez siblings, according to multiple reports. Cabello is also named as a codefendant in Maduro’s indictment.
Cabello could be next on the U.S. target list, according to Reuters. U.S. officials have reportedly sent a warning to the interior minister through intermediaries that if he defies the U.S. and Delcy Rodríguez, he could face serious consequences.
Cabello is in charge of law enforcement groups and militias throughout Venezuela, serving as a captain in the Venezuelan armed forces. He was often seen at the second most powerful official behind Maduro and, according to the Guardian, Cabello has posted videos to social media in which he discusses returning “normality” to the country after Maduro’s capture.
Vladimir Padrino López
Vladimir Padrino López is Venezuela’s Defense Minister, who also could be next on the list of U.S. targets in the South American country, according to Reuters.
Padrino is a four-star general who graduated from the Military Academy of Venezuela. Padrino was indicted in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice on drug trafficking charges. The Defense Minister also has a $15 million bounty on his head from the U.S. and has longstanding ties to Russia.
U.S. officials see Padrino as a key cooperator because of his control of the army and as potentially more compromising than Cabello, according to Reuters.
General Gustavo González López
General Gustavo González López was the head of Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Intelligence Service under Maduro. He faces sanctions from the U.S. and other nations over his use of torture methods and human rights violations.
Delcy Rodríguez just tapped González López as her head of security, commanding the Presidential Honor Guard. González López has been referred to as “Maduro’s former torture czar.”
Nicolás Maduro Guerra
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Nicolás Maduro Guerra is the only son of the captured, former dictator and a politician in the legislative assembly. He has made fiery remarks following his father’s arrest, saying “you will see us in the streets” and vowing that Venezuela will “get out of this mess.”
Guerra, along with Cabello, is also named as a codefendant in Maduro’s indictment, putting him on the DOJ’s radar and making him a possible future target.