Rubio effectively controls Venezuela government via WhatsApp: Report

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is effectively running Venezuela's government, finances, and natural resource distribution, according to a report by The New York Times citing over a dozen officials in Washington and Caracas. Rubio has reportedly maintained this influence without visiting the country since President Nicolás Maduro was detained and removed from Venezuela in January 2026.

Rubio maintains frequent contact with Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, primarily through WhatsApp. The New York Times revealed their communications include not only personal exchanges like gossip and birthday wishes but also directives from Rubio that Rodríguez appears to follow closely. This relationship reportedly solidified after Maduro's detention, when Rubio presented Rodríguez with a choice: cooperate with the U.S. or face continued attacks on Venezuela's infrastructure and officials.

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They write in Spanish about gossip, birthday greetings, and send selfies.

Rodríguez subsequently became the interim leader, a move that has drawn criticism from some, particularly within the Trump administration's allies, who view her as part of the previous regime. However, Rubio has reportedly defended her leadership by pointing to her compliance with the Trump administration's directives, including the resumption of Venezuelan oil sales by the U.S.

When asked about the duration of this oversight, President Trump indicated it would be "much longer than that," suggesting a prolonged U.S. influence over Venezuela's affairs. Neither the Venezuelan nor the U.S. government has commented on the New York Times' report.

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Follows almost every order.