Donald Trump says Venezuela not ready for elections, notes progress
On July 24 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Venezuela is still not prepared to hold elections, but “many advances” have been made. He praised interim president Delcy Rodríguez’s performance, calling her work “fantastic,” and highlighted a surge in Venezuelan oil output that is now being shipped to U.S. refineries in Houston and Louisiana. Trump said the United States is benefiting from the increased oil flow and that “we’re taking a lot” of the revenue.
Trump’s remarks come after the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro on 3 January and the subsequent U.S. tutelage of the provisional government. Washington is supporting a dialogue that is slated to begin on 1 August between the Chavista‑controlled parliament and opposition groups, a process backed by the United States. Opposition leader María Corina Machado will not join the talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said a Nobel Peace laureate could play a role in the transition.