{"id":2530992,"date":"2026-01-07T13:11:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-main-players-in-venezuelas-government-and-who-could-be-targeted-next\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:13:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:13:06","slug":"the-main-players-in-venezuelas-government-and-who-could-be-targeted-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-main-players-in-venezuelas-government-and-who-could-be-targeted-next\/","title":{"rendered":"The main players in Venezuela\u2019s government and who could be targeted next"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-main-players-in-venezuelas-government-and-who-could-be-targeted-next%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2530992&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>After U.S. forces captured Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, his cabinet largely remained in place and Venezuela&#8217;s Supreme Court appointed former vice president Delcy Rodr\u00edguez as interim president. The Trump administration has engaged with Rodr\u00edguez &#8211; who previously served as foreign minister and held oil and finance portfolios &#8211; and secured cooperation including a pledge to turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., even as Trump warned she could face severe consequences if she fails to comply.<\/p>\n<p>key figures in the post\u2011Maduro government:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; delcy Rodr\u00edguez: Interim president, initially condemned Maduro&#8217;s capture but then signaled cooperation with U.S. demands; respected domestically for ties to business and oil-industry management.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; jorge Rodr\u00edguez: Delcy&#8217;s brother and president of the National Assembly; a long-time Maduro ally and former communications minister who vowed to try to restore Maduro.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Diosdado Cabello: Interior minister and rival of the Rodr\u00edguez siblings; named as a co\u2011defendant in Maduro&#8217;s U.S. indictment and reportedly warned that he could be targeted if he resists the new leadership.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Vladimir Padrino L\u00f3pez: Defense minister, a four\u2011star general with a 2020 U.S. indictment and a reported $15 million bounty; seen as a crucial figure because of army control and ties to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; General Gustavo Gonz\u00e1lez L\u00f3pez: Former head of Venezuela&#8217;s intelligence service, sanctioned for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >alleged human-rights abuses<\/a>; recently appointed head of the presidential security guard.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Nicol\u00e1s Maduro Guerra: Maduro&#8217;s son and assembly politician, named as a co\u2011defendant in the indictment and calling for street resistance.<\/p>\n<p>the interim government is navigating cooperation with the U.S. (especially over oil) while several senior security and political figures remain potential targets for future U.S. actions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The main players in Venezuela&rsquo;s government and who could be targeted next<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2465966\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>As <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\">Venezuela<\/a>&lsquo;s former dictator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\">Nicol&aacute;s Maduro<\/a> left his country, captured by U.S. military forces, Maduro&rsquo;s cabinet and regime officials made it out of the operation largely unscathed, still holding onto their positions of power.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> has opted to work with Maduro&rsquo;s former vice president Delcy Rodr&iacute;guez, whom the Venezuelan Supreme Court tapped to serve as interim President in Maduro&rsquo;s absence. But Trump has also made several looming threats to Rodr&iacute;guez and the post-Maduro leadership in Venezuela, telling <em>The Atlantic<\/em>, &ldquo;If she doesn&rsquo;t do what&rsquo;s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4409464\/us-sell-venezuelan-oil-indefinitely-remit-proceeds-wright\/\">US will sell Venezuelan oil &#8216;indefinitely&#8217; and remit proceeds, Wright says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4409447\/byron-york-cautions-reports-venezuela-cannot-be-deemed-false-yet\/\">Byron York cautions that reports out of Venezuela can&rsquo;t be deemed &lsquo;false&rsquo; yet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4408491\/russia-china-see-danger-opportunity-trump-donroe-doctrine\/\">Russia and China see danger and opportunity in the future of Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Donroe Doctrine&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4409365\/us-seizes-sanctioned-oil-tanker\/\">US SEIZES SANCTIONED OIL TANKER AFTER TWO-WEEK PURSUIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a large signal of cooperation from Venezuela&rsquo;s current leadership, Trump announced Tuesday evening that the South American country&rsquo;s interim government agreed to turn over up to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4409129\/trump-venezuela-turn-over-sanctioned-oil\/\">50 million barrels of oil<\/a> to the United States. The White House is expected to hold a meeting with top oil officials on Friday to discuss plans for the American oil industry in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>As the Trump administration moves forward with its goals for Venezuela, these are the key players in the post-Maduro government who are navigating the waters of placating the Trump administration, dealing with American oil companies, and watching potential targets on some of their own backs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-delcy-rodriguez\">Delcy Rodr&iacute;guez<\/h2>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4400827\/venezuela-new-president-cooperating-with-trump-after-maduros-capture\/\">interim Venezuelan president<\/a> was sworn into office by her brother Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez while Maduro <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4406772\/maduro-pleads-not-guilty-new-york-drug-charges\/\">pleaded not guilty<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/father-of-saints-super-fan-sentenced-to-eight-years-in-prison-after-stealing-donations-from-sons-charity\/\" title=\"Father Of Saints Super Fan Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison After Stealing Donations From Son\u2019s Charity\">drug trafficking charges<\/a> in a U.S. courtroom. Rodr&iacute;guez took the oath of office on Monday, with both the backing of major Venezuelan government officials and the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p>Rodr&iacute;guez has gone back and forth on her response to Maduro&rsquo;s arrest. At first she held a defiant line, calling the U.S. operation &ldquo;barbaric&rdquo; on Saturday and labeling it as an &ldquo;illegal and illegitimate kidnapping.&rdquo; After her immediate response, she began softening her words and, according to Trump, told Secretary of State Marco Rubio, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll do whatever you need.&rdquo; She seemingly remains in good standing with the Trump administration if she continues to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4409129\/trump-venezuela-turn-over-sanctioned-oil\/\">abide by its demands<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4399869\/trump-bombed-as-many-countries-2025-as-entire-first-term\/\">TRUMP, THE PRESIDENT OF PEACE, BOMBED AS MANY COUNTRIES IN 2025 AS HE DID DURING HIS ENTIRE FIRST TERM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rodr&iacute;guez holds much respect in her home country for her cooperation with the private sector and Venezuelan businesses and her work in bringing the Venezuelan oil industry through significant economic woes. She previously served as the country&rsquo;s Foreign Minister before Maduro tapped her as his Vice President pick in 2018. While serving as vice president, Rodr&iacute;guez also picked up the roles of oil  and finance minister.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-jorge-rodriguez\">Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez<\/h2>\n<p>Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez is Delcy Rodr&iacute;guez&rsquo;s brother and the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly. He was re-appointed as the head of the legislative body on Monday, as he also swore in his sister as the country&rsquo;s interim president.<\/p>\n<p>Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez served as vice president of Venezuela under the country&rsquo;s former president Hugo Ch&aacute;vez. Before being tapped as the head of the legislative assembly, Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez, a close Maduro ally and his chief political strategist, served under Maduro as the communication minister. At the swearing-in ceremony of hundreds of new lawmakers to the legislative assembly on Monday, Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez had choice words about Maduro&rsquo;s capture.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My main role in the days to come, my role as a man, as a representative, as President of this National Assembly, will be to use all procedures, all platforms and all spaces to bring back Nicolas Maduro Moro, my brother, my President,&rdquo; Jorge Rodr&iacute;guez said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4400741\/capturing-maduro-was-the-extraordinarily-challenging-but-easier-part\/\">TOM ROGAN: CAPTURING MADURO WAS THE EXTRAORDINARILY CHALLENGING BUT EASIER PART<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diosdado-cabello\">Diosdado Cabello<\/h2>\n<p>Diosdado Cabello Rond&oacute;n is Venezuela&rsquo;s Interior Minister, who has had a long-standing political rivalry with the Rodr&iacute;guez siblings, according to multiple <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/07\/trump-maduro-diosdado-cabello\">reports<\/a>. Cabello is also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4406577\/seven-things-criminal-case-against-nicolas-maduro-cilia-flores\/\">named as a codefendant<\/a> in Maduro&rsquo;s indictment.<\/p>\n<p>Cabello could be next on the U.S. target list, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/post-maduro-venezuela-us-eyes-security-chief-potential-target-sources-say-2026-01-06\/\">Reuters<\/a>. U.S. officials have reportedly sent a warning to the interior minister through intermediaries that if he defies the U.S. and Delcy Rodr&iacute;guez, he could face serious consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Cabello is in charge of law enforcement groups and militias throughout Venezuela, serving as a captain in the Venezuelan armed forces. He was often seen at the second most powerful official behind Maduro and, according to the <em>Guardian<\/em>, Cabello has posted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DTMkQgqjNLV\/\">videos<\/a> to social media in which he discusses returning &ldquo;normality&rdquo; to the country after Maduro&rsquo;s capture.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-vladimir-padrino-lopez\">Vladimir Padrino L&oacute;pez<\/h2>\n<p id=\"h-vladimir-padrino-lopezdefense-minister\">Vladimir Padrino L&oacute;pez is Venezuela&rsquo;s Defense Minister, who also could be next on the list of U.S. targets in the South American country, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>Padrino is a four-star general who graduated from the Military Academy of Venezuela. Padrino was indicted in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archives\/opa\/pr\/nicol-s-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism\">drug trafficking charges<\/a>. The Defense Minister also has a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2025-1-3-English-Poster-for-Vladimir-Padrino-Lopez-Accessible.pdf\">$15 million bounty<\/a> on his head from the U.S. and has longstanding ties to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. officials see Padrino as a key cooperator because of his control of the army and as potentially more compromising than Cabello, according to <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-general-gustavo-gonzalez-lopez\">General Gustavo Gonz&aacute;lez L&oacute;pez<\/h2>\n<p>General Gustavo Gonz&aacute;lez L&oacute;pez was the head of Venezuela&rsquo;s Bolivarian National Intelligence Service under Maduro. He faces <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opensanctions.org\/entities\/Q19787200\/\">sanctions<\/a> from the U.S. and other nations over his use of torture methods and human rights violations.<\/p>\n<p>Delcy Rodr&iacute;guez just tapped Gonz&aacute;lez L&oacute;pez as her head of security, commanding the Presidential Honor Guard. Gonz&aacute;lez L&oacute;pez has been referred to as &ldquo;Maduro&rsquo;s former torture czar.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nicolas-maduro-guerra\">Nicol&aacute;s Maduro Guerra<\/h2>\n<p><strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4409526\/kai-trump-wants-republicans-democrats-meet-in-middle\/\">KAI TRUMP WANTS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO &lsquo;MEET IN THE MIDDLE&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nicol&aacute;s Maduro Guerra is the only son of the captured, former dictator and a politician in the legislative assembly. He has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-warns-conflict-inevitable-with-u-s-unless-washington-changes-course\/\" title=\"China warns conflict inevitable with U.S. unless Washington changes course\">made fiery remarks<\/a> following his father&rsquo;s arrest, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elpais.com.co\/mundo\/hijo-de-nicolas-maduro-llama-a-los-venezolanos-a-la-insurreccion-ciudadana-no-van-a-poder-se-los-juro-por-mi-vida-0404.html\">saying<\/a> &ldquo;you will see us in the streets&rdquo; and vowing that Venezuela will &ldquo;get out of this mess.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Guerra, along with Cabello, is also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4406577\/seven-things-criminal-case-against-nicolas-maduro-cilia-flores\/\">named as a codefendant<\/a> in Maduro&rsquo;s indictment, putting him on the DOJ&rsquo;s radar and making him a possible future target.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Venezuelan leaders and possible U.S. targets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2530993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26003545327089.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34922,70325,50813,70324],"class_list":["post-2530992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-nicolas-maduro","tag-political-repression","tag-venezuela-2","tag-venezuelan-government"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26003545327089.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530992"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530992\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2530996,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530992\/revisions\/2530996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}