Kristi Noem relays Trump's warning to Venezuela's VP Delcy Rodriguez after Maduro's capture

Kristi Noem warned Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to 'get out of the way', stressing US would not tolerate obstruction of its interests
PUBLISHED JAN 4, 2026
Kristi Noem said the administration sought partners aligned with US priorities, including security and stability (Getty Images, @delcyrodriguezv/Instagram)
Kristi Noem said the administration sought partners aligned with US priorities, including security and stability (Getty Images, @delcyrodriguezv/Instagram)


WASHINGTON, DC: The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on Fox News to discuss the future of Venezuela after the Trump administration captured its President Nicolas Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores.

During her appearance on Sunday, January 4, Noem shared a warning from the president’s side to the Venezuelan vice president. She said that his message to Delcy Rodriguez was clear- She could either lead the country or “get out of the way.”

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addresses the Conservative Political A
Kristi Noem addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 27, 2021, in Orlando, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kristi Noem says Trump is 'done negotiating'

While speaking to Shanno Bream on ‘Fox News Sunday’, Kristi Noem said that President Trump had spoken about bringing stability to Venezuela and had discussed working with individuals who wanted to see the nation be successful.

Later in the interview, Kristi Noem claimed that Venezuela was freer now than it was under the thumb of Nicolas Maduro, adding that Trump would ensure that for as long as he was in power. 

When asked about the Trump administration’s involvement in deciding the future leader in Venezuela, Bream asked whether the administration would ask for any guarantees about illegal immigration and the transportation of illegal substances from Venezuela into America. 

President Donald Trump addresses the media during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on January 03, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. President Trump confirmed that the U.S. military carried out a large-scale strike in Caracas overnight, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump addresses the media during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on January 03, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Noem said that America wanted a partner who understood that the protection of American interests would always be a top priority. 

“I think President Trump is done negotiating. I think he’s proved that a couple of days ago, that he is a man of action, that when someone is threatening the United States, he will defend it with every resource that we have, and he’ll continue to do that,” Kristi Noem stated.

Kristi Noem details Trump's conversation with Delcy Rodriguez

She added that the conversations Donald Trump had with the Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez were “very matter-of-fact and very clear.”

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JULY 5: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro arrives for the military parade as part of 214th anniversary of Venezuela's independence celebrations on July 5, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro arrives for the military parade as part of the 214th anniversary of Venezuela's independence celebrations on July 5, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Noem added that Trump wanted Rodriguez to either lead or steer clear because America would not allow her to cause harm to the American influence and its need to have a free country like Venezuela as its partner. 

She said the goal was to avoid leaving dictators in place who perpetrate crimes.

Noem asserted that Trump had shown that with his previous operations in the Caribbean. She added that the president had also been involved in stopping the shadow fleet of oil that had been transported illegally to American enemies in different countries. 

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