Trump plans possible first meeting with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez

Friday 18 September 2026 - 11:25

By: Azzat Manal

Trump plans possible first meeting with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering holding his first face-to-face meeting with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, according to reports citing people familiar with the discussions. The meeting has not yet been finalized, and its timing remains subject to Trump’s decision.

The potential encounter would come as Washington and Caracas move toward closer engagement following months of political and economic changes in Venezuela. Rodríguez is expected to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, although reports about her participation were initially based on sources familiar with the plans.

Trump is also expected to use the UN gathering for meetings with leaders from the Gulf region, with discussions focused in part on the war involving Iran. Against that backdrop, administration officials have indicated that the U.S. president is seeking an opportunity to meet Rodríguez on the sidelines of the international gathering.

The possible meeting would mark a significant moment in relations between Washington and Caracas. Rodríguez has become a central figure in the political transition in Venezuela and has worked with the Trump administration on efforts to reshape bilateral relations. In September, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright met Rodríguez in Caracas during the signing of agreements aimed at expanding oil-sector cooperation and investment.

The relationship also carries political sensitivities in the United States, particularly among Venezuelan communities in Florida. Reports indicate that some critics of the administration have questioned Washington’s increasingly close engagement with Rodríguez and its approach to Venezuela’s political transition.

For Rodríguez, a meeting with Trump would provide an opportunity to reinforce direct communication with Washington as Venezuela seeks to stabilize its economy and attract further investment. For the United States, the relationship with Caracas also has an important energy dimension, given Venezuela’s substantial oil resources and the administration’s efforts to expand cooperation in the sector.

Despite the growing contacts between the two governments, the proposed meeting remains unconfirmed. Trump has publicly left open the possibility of meeting Rodríguez, while officials have stressed that no final arrangements have been completed.