Venezuela’s acting leader, at UN for first address, praises Trump for ‘readiness’ to resume ties
Sep 23, 2026, 4:33 PM | Updated: 5:00 pm
Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly for the first time since coming to power, Venezuela’s acting president said her country is coming back strong after “setbacks” suffered this year and thanked President Donald Trump for being willing to resume relations after the U.S. military spirited her predecessor out of the country.
“Today, Venezuela is being reborn,” Delcy Rodriguez said in her remarks to the international forum.
Rodríguez took over in Venezuela after a surprise U.S. military raid in January that captured then-leader Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
This is the first trip to the United States by a Venezuelan head of state since 2018, when Maduro traveled to New York to participate in the U.N. General Assembly himself. He is currently being held only a few miles from the organization’s headquarters as he awaits trial.
“I do not promise you an easy way forward,” Rodriguez said, saying she was addressing her people “Rebuilding our national soul will be the priority.”
