Trump meets Venezuela's interim president for first time since Maduro's capture

President Donald Trump met with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez on Tuesday, marking their first encounter since US forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January. The private meeting occurred during a reception at the UN General Assembly. The Venezuelan delegation, including economic officials and PDVSA representatives, aims to present the country as an investment destination. White House officials confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attended. Critics say Washington has sidelined opposition leader María Corina Machado in favor of oil and investment deals. Trump called Maduro an "outlaw dictator" in his UN speech and touted a recent oil agreement with Caracas as "perhaps the greatest deal ever made." He seeks $100 billion in US investment for Venezuela's oil industry. Rodríguez is scheduled to address the General Assembly Wednesday, while protesters in New York demanded free elections.