President Donald Trump said he may meet Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, opening the door to their first publicly known face-to-face encounter after months of expanding cooperation between Washington and Caracas.
Trump made the comment aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Sept. 13, while returning to the United States from Ireland.
Asked by CNN White House reporter and producer Alejandra Jaramillo whether he would meet Rodríguez at the United Nations later this month, Trump replied, "I may be, I may be."
The president did not provide additional details, and neither government has formally announced a meeting. Rodríguez's attendance at the gathering has also not been confirmed publicly. However, the possibility has been debated and speculated widely in the last couple of weeks.
🇻🇪Asked Trump if he’ll meet Delcy Rodriguez at the United Nations in New York later this month:
— Alejandra Jaramillo (@AlejandraJMillo) September 14, 2026
“I may be, I may be.” pic.twitter.com/4eZwN1iqeF
The high-level general debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly will run from Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Saturday, Sept. 26, before concluding Monday, Sept. 28, according to the United Nations.
Trump is expected to address the General Assembly during the opening morning on Sept. 22. As leader of the host country, the U.S. president traditionally speaks after Brazil, which opens the national addresses. Exact speaking times can change because leaders frequently exceed their allotted time.
Venezuela could receive a speaking slot on any of the six debate days. If Rodríguez travels to New York, the most likely window for a meeting with Trump would be between Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, when world leaders conduct bilateral talks on the sidelines of the assembly.
Any encounter would mark a dramatic new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.
Rodríguez served as vice president and oil minister under Nicolás Maduro before becoming interim president after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 3. Rodríguez was formally sworn in two days later, while Maduro was transferred to New York to face federal drug and weapons charges, which he denies, Reuters reported.
Trump initially warned Rodríguez that she could face severe consequences if she refused to cooperate with Washington. The relationship soon shifted toward direct engagement.
Trump and Rodríguez spoke by telephone in January about oil, trade, national security and the potential restoration of diplomatic relations. CIA Director John Ratcliffe subsequently met with her in Caracas. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have also traveled to Venezuela for negotiations involving oil and critical minerals.
The relationship has increasingly revolved around Venezuela's vast energy reserves. Rodríguez's government signed a sweeping oil agreement with Washington that the Trump administration says will increase production, reduce energy prices and limit Chinese and Russian influence.
The arrangement has also generated criticism in both countries. Opponents describe it as coercive and accuse Washington of granting legitimacy to a longtime Maduro ally while sidelining Venezuela's democratic opposition.
Rodríguez's government is also moving to regain oversight of Citgo Petroleum, the U.S.-based refiner controlled by opposition-appointed boards since Washington withdrew recognition from Maduro's government in 2019. The opposition is expected to lose that authority following the U.S. decision to work with Rodríguez's interim administration, according to Reuters.
A Trump-Rodríguez meeting could address the oil agreement, sanctions, Citgo, diplomatic relations and the release of political prisoners. It could also clarify whether Washington intends to press Rodríguez for elections and a democratic transition or continue prioritizing energy cooperation and political stability.
For now, Trump has offered only a possibility. But after months of telephone calls, official visits and energy negotiations, his answer suggests the U.N. gathering could provide the setting for the relationship's most consequential meeting yet.
