Trump says Venezuela not ready for elections, praises current leadership

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela is not prepared to hold elections at this time, although he acknowledged considerable progress has been made. "Regarding the elections in Venezuela, they are not quite ready for them yet, but wow, great progress has been made," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump specifically commended Venezuela's current president, Delcy Rodriguez, describing her performance as "terrific." Rodriguez, who served as Maduro's vice president, has effectively maintained power with U.S. acquiescence. "We have to do this right. The elections will take care of themselves," Trump added.

The president also highlighted Venezuela's oil industry, praising the significant volume of oil exports. He asserted his own popularity in Venezuela, attributing it to the substantial economic recovery the United States is bringing to the country, which he claimed was on the verge of collapse. "I am very popular in Venezuela because we are bringing tremendous economic recovery to the country, and it was about to go under," he stated.

This statement follows the U.S. military's apprehension of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on January 3rd. Maduro is scheduled to face trial in the United States next year. However, the Trump administration has maintained a cautious stance regarding discussions about elections in Venezuela. In June, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Venezuela would first need a free media environment and a new supreme electoral council.