Trump and Venezuela's Rodríguez meet in New York

President Trump met with Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez in New York on Tuesday, marking their first meeting since she assumed power after Nicolás Maduro's capture in January. Both governments confirmed the talks occurred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Rodríguez called the meeting "historic" and released a photo of the two smiling, with her making a victory gesture and Trump giving a thumbs-up. She said they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, while US officials including Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent attended. The meeting follows Washington's August agreement to control Venezuelan oil fields with an estimated 65 billion barrels in production potential. Trump has prioritized Venezuelan hydrocarbons amid rising crude prices from the Iran war, saying "the spoils belong to the victors" and that combined US-Venezuela reserves represent over 60% of world oil. Rodríguez's New York visit marks the first Venezuelan leader's UN Assembly participation since 2018, though Trump recently said Venezuela is "not ready" for elections the opposition demands.