Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy issued a stark warning Friday about the direction of the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela, expressing concern that President Donald Trump’s team is appearing overly friendly with Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, a figure Campos-Duffy called untrustworthy and ideologically opposed to American interests.
Speaking on “Fox and Friends,” Campos-Duffy highlighted that Rodríguez assumed leadership after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3 in a dramatic U.S. operation that removed Maduro from power. She argued that while the U.S. achieved a historic victory by ousting Maduro, the administration’s perceived cordial stance toward Rodríguez — whom she described as a “hardcore communist” — risks undermining Trump’s political support, especially among Venezuelan Americans and anti-communist allies.
“We’re getting a little too cozy with Delcy Rodríguez,” Campos-Duffy said. “This is a hardcore communist. She can never be trusted.”
Drawing a clear line between Washington’s goals and the reality on the ground, she urged the administration to move swiftly toward free and fair elections, arguing that democratic legitimacy — not continued reliance on transitional leaders linked to the old regime — is critical for lasting stability. “The sooner we move to free and fair elections the better for us,” she said, noting that Rodríguez remains deeply unpopular among Venezuelans.
Campos-Duffy pointed to opposition leader María Corina Machado, whom she said would win such an election and provide the United States with a reliable partner in confronting regional challenges, including countering Chinese influence in Latin America — a significant concern echoed on conservative media.
Broadcasting from Miami, Campos-Duffy underscored the political cost of Trump’s public praise for Rodríguez. “Every time President Trump says ‘I’m working well with Delcy Rodríguez,’ he drops five points here in Miami where people hate the communists and know exactly what this is about,” she said.
Her comments come against a backdrop of broader discussions within the Trump administration about its long-term role in Venezuela. After Maduro’s capture, Trump told The New York Times that the U.S. could end up running Venezuela for years, saying “I would say much longer” when asked if it might be a year before a transition. The administration also said it would govern the country until a “judicious” transition to stable governance can occur.
Trump has repeatedly praised Rodríguez’s performance, noting in mid-February that “they’ve done a great job” and that Venezuelan oil production is returning, with revenues flowing. He has even suggested he may visit Venezuela, though no date has been announced.
Still, Campos-Duffy’s remarks reflect a conservative critique that while Trump’s bold action in Venezuela earned global attention, maintaining strategic clarity — particularly in supporting genuine democratic leadership — remains essential for securing freedom and stability in the Western Hemisphere.
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