Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) on Sunday described Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez as a "necessary evil" for the country's stabilization until new elections occur. Speaking on CBS News’s "Face the Nation," Salazar defended President Trump’s scheduled meeting with Rodríguez in New York City during the annual United Nations General Assembly.
The comments come amid a shifted political landscape in Venezuela following a January U.S. military raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in the U.S. Rodríguez, the former vice president, was subsequently elevated to an interim leadership role. While Rodríguez has previously condemned the U.S. for Maduro's capture, she has also praised a recent major deal with the Trump administration regarding the export of Venezuelan oil.
During the interview, Salazar stated that the United States is focused on bringing "liberty and democracy" to its neighbors and that a transition in Venezuela will occur. She characterized Rodríguez as a temporary necessity for stability, adding that the administration’s actions have liberated the Venezuelan people "from socialism, from disaster, from misery." Salazar expressed confidence that international observers would soon help facilitate "new and fair elections."
The Florida representative also addressed domestic issues, including the recent detention of exiled Venezuelan journalist Luis Galeano in Miami. Although she has criticized Rodríguez in the past, Salazar urged the administration to ensure Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deports "dangerous individuals" without treating "political exiles like criminals." Additionally, Salazar defended President Trump’s decision to bar several news organizations from White House coverage, attributing the move to his "style" and describing him as "accessible."
For voters in South Florida, these foreign policy developments are occurring as the region faces a local cost-of-living crisis. The DCCC reports that families in the district are paying an average of $3,000 more annually due to tariffs, while housing costs have risen to consume up to 50% of income for many residents. Renters and homeowners in the Miami-Dade area would notice these changes in their monthly bills and grocery costs. The administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Rodríguez in April already removed her from the Specially Designated Nationals List, signaling a legal shift in how U.S. entities can interact with the interim Venezuelan government.
What happens next: President Trump is scheduled to meet with Rodríguez in New York City during the week of September 21, 2026. This meeting coincides with the U.N. General Assembly and precedes a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Domestically, Salazar faces Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez in the November 3 midterm elections, where all 435 House seats will be decided. Voters will determine if the current administration's approach to Venezuela and economic tariffs remains the policy of the legislative branch as the House is currently in recess until mid-November.