> At a Glance
> – Delcy Rodríguez ordered $500,000 from Citgo to Trump’s 2017 inauguration
> – She courted Trump aides and GOP lawmakers to unlock U.S. investment
> – Now interim president, she vows oil access for Washington
> – Why it matters: Trump praises her but demands total control of Venezuela’s reserves, elections still unmentioned
A gamble on Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration set Delcy Rodríguez on a path from socialist diplomat to Venezuela’s interim president. The $500,000 donation-funneled from state-oil unit Citgo-failed to thaw relations but launched her into U.S. power circles and ultimate power at home.
The 2017 Bet That Backfired
Weeks before Trump took office, Rodríguez-then foreign minister-saw a lifeline for Venezuela’s collapsing economy. She:
- Approved Citgo’s half-million gift to the inaugural fund
- Hired Trump’s ex-campaign manager as a Citgo lobbyist
- Courted Republicans and sought Exxon talks
Marco Rubio urged Trump to pivot to democracy promotion; within weeks Maduro became Washington’s top Latin foe. Yet the outreach paid off personally for Rodríguez, cementing U.S. contacts she now leverages.
Rise Through Chavismo’s Ranks
Rodríguez’s climb began after Chávez fired her in 2006 for botched logistics. Nicolás Maduro resurrected her career in 2013, promoting her to vice president in 2018 and handing her control of:
- Oil and dollarized finance
- Debt talks under U.S. sanctions
- Anti-corruption purges that jailed rival Tareck El Aissami in 2024
Colleagues call her book-smart, charming, and ruthless; childhood trauma-her father’s 1976 death in custody-fuels anti-U.S. ideology even as she woos American investors.
Trump’s New Calculus: Oil First, Elections Later
Since Maduro’s weekend capture, Trump has praised Rodríguez as “gracious” but warned she faces her ex-boss’s fate unless she grants total oil access. Neither side mentions elections mandated within 30 days.
Key Takeaways
- Rodríguez’s 2017 charm offensive failed politically but boosted her profile
- She now leads Venezuela with Trump’s qualified backing
- Oil-for-legitimacy deal may postpone or cancel constitutionally required vote
- Washington appears ready to work with Chavismo rather than opposition leader Maria Corina Machado
With U.S. sanctions still choking Caracas, Rodrígueg must balance Trump’s demands against hardliners at home-elections** hanging in the balance.
