Trump to Venezuela's Rodriguez: Elections need to happen

In his first meeting with newly elected Venezuela leader Delcy Rodriguez, President Trump emphasized the importance of elections for the country's future, according to White House sources. While Trump did not specify a date for the election, he stressed their significance as a critical final step in Venezuela's transition to a full-fledged democracy.

The roughly 15-minute meeting, held at the UN General Assembly in New York, allowed Trump to thank Rodriguez for their strong working relationship following the U.S.'s ousting of Maduro. Since then, the U.S. has formed oil and gold-mining deals with Venezuela, which carries a massive sovereign debt of $300 billion. A White House official stressed that Venezuela cannot succeed without addressing this debt issue before the elections.

The photo of Trump and Rodriguez, posted by Rodriguez, drew criticism from the Venezuelan diaspora community in the U.S., who desire more focus on the elections. Trump and Rodriguez were present with two other Venezuelan officials, as well as Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

The U.S. wants the Venezuelan National Reconciliation Council to call the elections, following a three-step plan to reform the Venezuelan government. However, the exact timing of the elections remains unclear, with some suggesting 2027 as a potential date, while others caution against too early a date due to Venezuela's financial and electoral challenges.