President Trump issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s acting leader Delcy Rodríguez on Sunday, threatening severe consequences if she continues to resist U.S. demands following the American-led capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump stated that Rodríguez would “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to “do what’s right.” The president defended what essentially amounts to regime change in the oil-rich South American nation, asserting that “rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.”

The statements follow Saturday’s predawn announcement that U.S. operators had successfully conducted a mission to capture Maduro and his wife, dramatically shifting the political landscape in Venezuela. Images released to media showed Maduro in handcuffs being led through the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York office after his transfer to U.S. custody.

Speaking at a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump outlined plans for a U.S.-appointed team to temporarily “run Venezuela” until the country’s political leadership stabilizes. This unprecedented move represents one of the most direct American interventions in Latin American governance in decades.

The capture of Maduro has significant implications for Venezuela’s vast energy resources. The country sits atop the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. These reserves have long attracted international interest despite being largely underdeveloped during Maduro’s rule amid economic collapse and international sanctions.

Trump emphasized his intention to return U.S. energy investment to Venezuela, potentially reopening access to these resources for American companies. “We built Venezuela’s oil industry,” Trump stated, suggesting that U.S. firms would play a major role in rebuilding the country’s devastated petroleum sector.

The Biden administration had previously eased some sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, allowing limited operations by American oil companies like Chevron. Trump’s approach signals a more aggressive stance toward securing access to these resources.

In framing his foreign policy approach, Trump described what he termed the “Donroe Doctrine” – a personal update to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine that historically opposed European colonial influence in the Western Hemisphere. This new doctrine appears to assert American dominance in regional affairs while expanding its scope globally.

The president hinted that Venezuela might not be the last nation to face U.S. pressure under his administration, suggesting additional interventions could extend beyond Latin America. As an example, he reiterated his longstanding interest in Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, citing U.S. national security interests and the territory’s strategic location.

The Venezuelan operation represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s second administration, returning to more direct interventionism after years of relative restraint. It marks a dramatic shift from diplomatic pressure and sanctions that characterized previous approaches to the Maduro regime.

International reaction has been mixed, with some regional allies supporting the move while others have expressed concern about sovereignty violations. Markets have responded cautiously, with oil prices fluctuating as traders assess the implications for Venezuelan production and exports in the coming months.

As Rodríguez faces this ultimatum, the future governance structure of Venezuela remains uncertain, with significant questions about how and when democratic processes might be restored in a country that has faced years of political turmoil and economic hardship.