Delcy Rodríguez courted Donald Trump and rose to power in Venezuela

The article reports that in 2017 Delcy Rodríguez, then Venezuela's foreign minister, directed a $500,000 Citgo donation to Donald Trump's inauguration and pursued contacts with U.S. politicians and businesses; those efforts raised her profile and helped pave the way for her later political ascent.

In 2017, as Donald Trump prepared to take office, Delcy Rodríguez was serving as Venezuela's foreign minister and mounted a concerted outreach to U.S. political and business circles. She directed a $500,000 donation from Citgo to the presidential inauguration, pursued meetings with U.S. companies and lawmakers, and engaged lobbyists tied to Trump. The initiative aimed to open a path to American investment amid a severe economic crisis in Venezuela, but it did not stop the incoming U.S. administration from prioritizing democratic restoration in response to Venezuela's political crackdown. Nearly a decade later Rodríguez is described as having risen to interim president, and recent public comments have focused on access to Venezuela's oil reserves rather than elections. Key facts: - In 2017 Rodríguez, then foreign minister, directed Citgo to make a $500,000 donation to Donald Trump's inauguration. - Her outreach included hiring a former Trump campaign associate as a Citgo lobbyist, courting Republicans in Congress, and seeking a meeting with the head of Exxon. - The outreach failed to shift the Trump administration's early focus, which turned toward restoring Venezuela's democracy after Maduro's crackdown, a direction urged by Sen. Marco Rubio. - Officials and businessmen interviewed said the engagement raised Rodríguez's profile in U.S. political and business circles and helped her rise politically. - The account is based on interviews with 10 former U.S. and Venezuelan officials and businessmen, most speaking on the condition of anonymity; sources described Rodríguez as bookishly smart, sometimes charming, and a tough operator. - Rodríguez did not respond to AP requests for an interview, and recent public statements have emphasized access to oil rather than electoral timelines required by the constitution. Summary: Rodríguez's 2017 outreach to U.S. officials and businesses is reported to have increased her visibility and helped lay groundwork for her later ascent to interim president, while U.S. attention has focused on access to Venezuela's oil. Undetermined at this time.