Trump Plans First-Ever Meeting With Delcy Rodríguez on UN General Assembly Sidelines

Axios reported September 17 that President Trump is planning a first-ever face-to-face meeting with Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, potentially as early as the following Tuesday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York (Sept 22–28). A Trump adviser told Axios: 'Venezuela is without a doubt the president's top success, and Delcy is a key to that,' noting Rodríguez's cooperation with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on normalizing relations, including the recent oil agreement. Trump had signaled openness to the idea on September 14, telling reporters 'I may be, I may be' when asked about meeting Rodríguez. A US administration source cautioned no final decision has been made, and some in Trump's circle worry a meeting could undermine Rodríguez domestically by making her appear to be an American proxy. The encounter would come near the New York-area facility holding Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges; potential agenda items include sanctions, election timing, and continued security cooperation. The Venezuelan exile community in South Florida has voiced growing unease that neither Trump nor Rubio has publicly demanded Rodríguez schedule elections.