Trump Assigns Rubio to Run Venezuela Transition, With Oil Rebuild at Center

Key Points

• Trump has tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio with running the U.S. “transition” effort after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, spanning energy, finance and security.
• Delcy Rodríguez became interim president on January 5, 2026, as Maduro pleaded not guilty in New York and heads to a March 17 hearing.
• Rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector could top $100 billion and take years, limiting how fast any political plan can deliver results.

Trump says the United States will “take over” Venezuela until new elections can be held, arguing the country must be “fixed” first. Yet the administration has shared few details about how it would manage the interim period.

On Monday, White House adviser Stephen Miller said Trump asked Rubio to lead the process “under the close guidance” of the president.

Miller said Rubio will head a team that includes officials working on energy policy, financial measures and military planning. Trump has also suggested the administration could subsidize parts of a corporate effort to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry. This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Venezuela affairs and Latin American financial news.

In Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez—Maduro’s former vice president—was sworn in as interim president on January 5, 2026, a move the White House says has been accompanied by “full, total” cooperation from the remaining government.

Maduro’s Arrest Raises Questions on Venezuela’s Power and Oil Future

The arrangement leaves a central question unanswered: how much of the state’s power structure changes if the top figure is removed but the institutions remain.

Maduro, now in U.S. custody, pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York on January 5 to charges that include narco-terrorism and cocaine-trafficking conspiracies.

His next hearing is scheduled for March 17, setting up a legal fight that could also scrutinize the operation that brought him to court. At the U.N., the Security Council met in emergency session, where multiple countries criticized Washington’s move.

U.S. ambassador Mike Waltz said the action was limited and “law enforcement,” not an occupation, while senior U.N. officials warned that international legal norms must be respected.

Oil remains the economic center of gravity. Analysts estimate a full rebuild could exceed $100 billion, with one benchmark suggesting roughly $10 billion a year for a decade.

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