Asked who is running Venezuela in a Thursday interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC News, Rodríguez said, 'I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it's stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela.'
She added that her daily workload reflects the seriousness of her role: 'From the amount of work that I have… it's very, very hard work and we're doing it completely day by day.'
The comment comes more than a month after U.S. forces captured Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to federal custody in New York on narcoterrorism, drug trafficking and corruption charges, where he has pleaded not guilty.
Despite his detention, Rodríguez made a clear legal and political defense of her predecessor, saying: 'I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president… Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent.'
Rodríguez, who once sharply criticised the U.S. military operation, has signalled a shift toward cooperation with Washington.
She confirmed receiving an invitation to visit the United States, saying, 'We're contemplating coming there once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything.'
The interview also took place amid an ongoing visit by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focused on discussions over Venezuela's crippled oil industry and potential economic and diplomatic engagement with the interim government.
IGIHE
