Full Interview: Delcy Rodríguez says Maduro is ‘innocent’ and ‘legitimate’ leader of Venezuela

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3.6 • 3.8K Ratings

🗓️ 15 February 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker sat down with the interim President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez for her first interview with an American journalist since the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Madam President, thank you.
0:02.0	Grazsias for your time.
0:04.0	Welcome to Venezuela, Christine.
0:06.0	Thank you. It's very beautiful here. We appreciate it.
0:08.0	Thank you for having us.
0:10.0	You met with the Energy Secretary today.
0:14.0	What was your biggest takeaway from that conversation?
0:20.0	Well, first, in a moment
0:22.6	very special,
0:24.6	it's the first
0:25.6	that a secretary of energy
0:26.6	of the United
0:28.6	came to Venezuela.
0:29.6	So first of all, we're very happy
0:31.6	to have here the Secretary of Energy.
0:34.6	It is the first time that we had
0:36.6	a Secretary of Energy from the United States come visit Venezuela.
0:40.7	In the case of bilateral, I've been presented that I've been a projective a long-placist.
0:50.2	We have been discussing the future of the relationship and working together in building a productive relationship for both countries.
1:00.6	And I'll ask you a question. I ask the secretary, who is in charge here in Venezuela?
1:06.7	Are you in charge or is President Trump in charge?
1:09.5	Well, I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it stated clearly
	...

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