Venezuela’s Acting President Says She’s “Had Enough” of U.S. Orders, Signaling Rising Tensions

 

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, made a strongly worded statement this weekend declaring her nation has “had enough” of directives and pressure from the United States, a sharp public rebuke amid ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between Caracas and Washington. The comments, delivered to oil workers in eastern Venezuela, underscore mounting friction between the interim Venezuelan leadership and U.S. officials following dramatic changes in the country’s political landscape this month.

Rodríguez’s remarks mark one of the clearest and most forceful diplomatic challenges from the Venezuelan side since the overthrow and capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier in January 2026.

Earlier this month, Venezuelan politics entered a period of intense upheaval after U.S. forces captured longtime president Nicolás Maduro. In the immediate aftermath, the United States signaled support for a leadership transition and designated Delcy Rodríguez — formerly Maduro’s vice president — as the interim head of state. Washington described her interim government as aligned with U.S. interests in stabilizing the nation and reviving critical sectors like oil.

However, Rodríguez’s leadership has been anything but smooth. Balancing pressure from the United States with skepticism and resentment among segments of the Venezuelan population, her administration has faced persistent questions about sovereignty, legitimacy, and national autonomy.

Rodríguez’s Comments: “We’ve Had Enough”

Speaking to a gathering of oil industry workers in Puerto La Cruz, Rodríguez said Venezuela will no longer accept what she characterized as “orders from Washington,” and urged that internal issues be resolved through Venezuelan politics rather than foreign influence.

“Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela,” she said. “Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts. Enough of foreign powers.”

The tone of Rodríguez’s remarks reflects growing impatience within the Venezuelan government with what it perceives as external pressure — particularly directives tied to U.S. interests in reopening Venezuela’s oil industry and reforming key sectors of the economy.