In an interview with NEWSMAX, Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, made statements indicating a significant shift in direction. He emphasized that the country aims to “advance (…) through a free market economy” and to promote laws that encourage investment, particularly from the United States, in sectors such as oil.
Rodríguez confirmed that he frequently communicates and maintains a “mutual respect” relationship with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, coordinating a working relationship with the U.S. government for the “stabilization” of the nation. Key points discussed include a proposed amnesty law for opposition sectors and the dismissal of immediate elections, prioritizing national reconciliation.
The deputy also spoke about reforming energy laws to facilitate foreign investment in untapped oil fields, a consensus reached with the opposition. Regarding President Nicolás Maduro, who has been detained and taken to the U.S., Rodríguez requested his release according to international law, while emphasizing that interim president Delcy Rodríguez holds full control of the government.
Read on to discover more details about Rodríguez’s revelations regarding the relationship with Washington, the amnesty, and Venezuela’s political future.
Byline: La Tabla Data Journalism Platform 10 FEB 2026
Jorge Rodríguez gave his first high-profile interview since Maduro’s capture to Newsmax, a right-wing cable channel whose founder, Chris Ruddy, is a personal friend of Donald Trump.
The communication strategy was intentional: they released a simple recap on their website, while on their YouTube channel, they uploaded a 13-minute video with selected questions where Rodríguez reveals (among other “scoops”) the pivot towards a free market and his direct coordination with Marco Rubio. This compilation, rather than the official summary, contains the real news.
This transcript was prepared by La Tabla and is absolutely faithful to the audiovisual content.
Rob Schmidt
Mr. Rodríguez, it’s a pleasure, thank you so much for the interview and for speaking with us. It’s great to see you.
I want to start by saying it’s been about 36 days since the United States intervened, captured your leader, Nicolás Maduro, and took him back to the United States to face drug charges.
I wanted to start by asking, how has your country processed that moment right now?
It seems quite stable how your government has processed that moment.
Jorge Rodríguez
The country has been incredibly mature about it. Although it was a traumatic event, Delcy Rodríguez’s government is looking to stabilize the country completely. Everything is going well to reconcile the entire Venezuelan population.
We know that it’s been quite near Caracas lately and that you may have seen normalcy in the streets.
We are very aware that people just want to consolidate and return to normal and live their lives.
Rob Schmidt
I’ve seen images of Maduro; there are signs asking for his release in the city.
Do you think Maduro could be released? Is that part of a…
I know you are now working closely with the U.S. government.
Is that part of a negotiation for you to give something and then recover Maduro?
Jorge Rodríguez
Definitely, what I believe is that President Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores, having been captured, should be released according to international law.
Rob Schmidt
I wanted to ask you—this country is a very close ally of China and Russia.
Both powerful countries that are your allies have been very quiet since your leader was captured over a month ago.
What’s your reaction to that?
Is it a disappointment for you?
Jorge Rodríguez
Venezuela has always called for peace diplomacy and operates on the world stage, but there’s a very undeniable reality. We are on the American continent.
It’s not my duty, you know. I’m not in charge of diplomatic relations; that’s the duty of the executive branch, and we have relations with all countries worldwide, including China and Russia.
Rob Schmidt
Right now you are the leader of your country; your government is coordinating with the U.S.
This contrasts radically with everything your government has fought for, or rather, this type of government, over the past 25, 26 years.
How has that process been?
Jorge Rodríguez
Firstly, this government is completely under the control of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, and is fully in charge of Venezuela and its sovereignty according to the Venezuelan Constitution.
However, yes, the relationship between Venezuela and the U.S. is very intense.
But what we can say is that in the past 36 days we’ve had a very good understanding and working relationship with the U.S. government.
We hope and aim to have a relationship where everyone wins, both for the people of Venezuela and those of the United States.
Rob Schmidt
Is there anyone you speak to regularly? Do you talk to Marco Rubio, Scott Besant—who do you deal with and how’s that relationship?
Jorge Rodríguez
Much more with Marco Rubio than with Scott Besset, for sure. And this has been a relationship based on our mutual respect which will be very fruitful.
We have faced every situation that has come up with the goal of working together.
And we can only say that it is very promising that underground, right here in Venezuela, we have the largest oil reserves in the world.
But that underground oil is no good for anyone.
We may also have the biggest gold reserve in the world.
And we also possess one of the largest gas reserves around the globe.
And you know, we have a great deal of joint work ahead.
And as President Donald Trump recently mentioned, there’s much to do.
And what we want to do is take that oil that’s underground and turn it into hospitals, schools, things for the Venezuelan people.
Rob Schmidt
I mean, this is probably one of the best pieces of land a country could have in the world.
It’s beautiful. There are huge amounts of resources—gold, oil.
These are very valuable things.
However, your country has declined a lot economically.
And I wanted to ask you, you know, this is a socialist country.
I don’t get it. I understand your opinion on capitalism.
But do you agree that it’s time for capitalist investment to come in here and bring this country back to where it was 50 years ago?
Jorge Rodríguez
Over the last 25 years, we’ve focused on a more equitable distribution of wealth in Venezuela.
But we must say that under the blockade, there have been certain difficulties.
There have also been some mistakes we have made, and well, the interest of Venezuela is to advance and promote education, culture through a free market economy.
Rob Schmitt
So that would be a change.
Jorge Rodríguez
What we are seeking and what we are doing is adapting laws to promote investment, especially from the United States of America.
Let me clarify and give a very clear example.
We had an energy law implemented between 2008 and 2009.
At that time, we were producing between 3.2 million and 3.5 million barrels daily.
Until now, that law made it difficult for new companies to come and exploit what we call “green fields.”
Green fields are those that haven’t been explored or touched at all.
So, responding to a request from President Rodríguez, we reformed that law specifically, which was unanimously approved by both government and opposition, and that reform basically allows and facilitates investment for foreign companies to come and work in those fields.
Rob Schmitt
Do your people agree that oil companies and capitalist oil companies should return?
What’s the opinion of the people?
Yesterday we talked to many people who seemed optimistic about a more prosperous future for this country.
But what do they think about it?
Jorge Rodríguez
Very much so. They are very much in agreement. Venezuela is a country that has over a century of tradition in oil production.
People are realizing that the arrival of new companies will only bring prosperity to the country.
So you see people in the streets, which I’m sure you have noticed.
What people want, what they expect, is for people in Venezuela to live in peace.
They also want to guarantee a future for their sons and daughters.
They want to work safely, and they want those incomes to come from oil and be distributed equitably among the entire population.
Rob Schmitt
The U.S., the United Nations, and the Trump administration believe that Nicolás Maduro’s last elections were illegitimate and want other elections. I believe they want honest elections that they can monitor.
Given that conversation with Marco Rubio, is this administration willing to accept anything here in Venezuela?
Jorge Rodríguez
So, the first thing I should mention is that every conversation with Marco Rubio is based on mutual respect.
What they have said and repeatedly emphasized is that our independence and sovereignty must be guaranteed by us.
President Rodríguez is currently the acting president, as stated in the Venezuelan Constitution.
So, what we have agreed on, and Marco Rubio has mentioned both in private and public, is the need for stability for Venezuela.
And what is also very important for us is the reconciliation of Venezuela.
Over the last 20 years, there have been issues with significant political polarization among the population.
We have engaged with all sectors of the opposition that have presented multiple proposals.
One of which is particularly special, the amnesty law, which has already been approved in the first round and will continue forward.
Rob Schmitt
And that’s very quick.
So, there won’t be other presidential elections in five years.
Jorge Rodríguez
All I can say is that there will not be elections in this immediate timeframe where stabilization must be achieved.
If we reach an agreement with all opposition sectors to establish a timeline for elections that everyone agrees on, then elections promoting stabilization, coexistence, and peace will be held.
Rob Schmitt
In that response, you admit that the last elections were not legitimate.
Jorge Rodríguez
No. There’s a reality that speaks to the fact that we have been divided for a long time.
Rob Schmitt
Will María Machado be welcomed back to this country to campaign freely for future elections?
If she returns here, will she be arrested, or will she be allowed to do as she pleases?
Jorge Rodríguez
Let me not mention a single name, because there are many actors abroad whom, as you know, we can include in this discussion.
Let me give you my personal opinion.
There is an amnesty law currently being drafted that contemplates working with people.
But there are sectors of the opposition abroad that have promoted violence.
They have called for invasions, advocated for violent acts against Venezuela.
Let me clarify this.
We want to make it very clear that through this amnesty law, we are promoting that all sectors of the opposition abroad comply with the law and can return to the country.
Rob Schmitt
Understood. One last question.
The president, our president, likes this program; he watches it quite often. I wanted to ask if you have any message for him.
Jorge Rodríguez
Right now, we have a golden opportunity.
In the past 33 days, things have advanced very quickly; it has been very intense, but now we have opportunities for mutual respect and cooperation to build a situation where everyone wins—both countries and peoples.
We have an oil industry that needs development and will develop further.
And we are confident that we can maintain this path of mutual respect and cooperation.
We have a very bright future ahead of us.
Now we have an oil industry that will be guaranteed by Venezuela and by all the companies that come to Venezuela.
Rob Schmitt
Mr. Rodríguez, thank you. Thank you very much. It’s been a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for the interview.
Well, there’s the interview.
I was a bit nervous about going to that country at a moment like this, but I was there.
And Venezuela has the largest amount of oil in the world.
You probably knew that.
We are about to see a great boom as U.S. capitalist companies settle in.
You know, everyone tells the same stories, the same spin.
You change the channel, and it’s always the same.
But we don’t; we are different.
We report the news across networks, without distortions, just the facts.
Come to us, and you won’t look back.
Tune in to Rob Schmidt tonight on Newsmax.