Trump to meet Venezuela acting president, first meeting since Maduro’s removal

The meeting aims to revive the country's battered energy industry with the involvement of American companies.

US President Donald Trump will meet Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez in New York on Tuesday, a senior US official said on Friday. This would mark the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Washington removed former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.The meeting will take place on the sidelines of a reception hosted by Trump for leaders attending the UN General Assembly, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said during a briefing call. The talks are expected to bring Trump and Rodriguez together as Washington continues to engage with Venezuela over its energy sector."The president will host a UN General Assembly leaders' reception. There, he'll participate in a pull-aside with the acting president Rodriguez of Venezuela," Waltz said.Waltz did not provide details on what the two leaders would discuss. Venezuela's communications ministry, which handles press queries for the government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The meeting comes weeks after the US and Venezuela signed an energy agreement that would allow Washington to take partial control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. The deal aims to revive the country's battered energy industry with the involvement of American companies.

The development also comes as Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado faces uncertainty over when to return to the country and seek public support. Machado left Venezuela late last year to receive the Nobel Peace Prize after largely living in hiding following the disputed 2024 election.Machado had sought to build an alliance with Trump well before Maduro's removal. Since Maduro was ousted, however, Trump has repeatedly expressed support for Rodriguez.Who is Delcy Rodriguez?Rodriguez, Maduro's former deputy, became Venezuela's acting president after Washington removed Maduro in January. Her rise to power has since brought her government into direct engagement with the Trump administration, including the recent energy agreement.