Trump: Venezuela Not Ready for Elections, But Progress Made

U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Friday, July 24, 2026, that Venezuela is not yet prepared for elections, though he indicated that "progress" has been made toward that goal. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump stated, "In terms of elections in Venezuela, they are not ready for that yet. But there has been a lot of progress."

Trump commended the work of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, asserting that she has been "doing a fantastic job." He highlighted the positive impact of the oil market on both American companies and the Venezuelan populace. "They are not ready for elections yet, but at some point they will be, and we will be on top of that," Trump added.

The U.S. announced its support for Venezuela's democratic transition following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3. While the U.S. has stated its ultimate objective is a democratic transition, it has not established a specific electoral timeline.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan parliament, currently controlled by Chavismo, and a group of opposition figures announced plans to initiate discussions on August 1 aimed at fostering democracy in the country. Washington has expressed its support for these upcoming talks. Notably, opposition leader María Corina Machado, who intends to run for president, will not participate in these specific discussions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that Machado "can have a role" in the transition process.