Trump says Venezuela is not ready for elections, but has made progress

U.S. President Donald ‌Trump on Friday (July 24, 2026) told reporters Venezuela ​was not ready ⁠to hold elections, but added that the country had made ‌a lot of progress under acting President Delcy ‌Rodriguez.

Last month, the ruling ‌party ⁠and opposition members ⁠met for the first time since the two sides signed a ​deal to hold ‌2024 presidential elections.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accused of rigging the vote, was seized by ‌U.S. forces in January. ​Washington left the government in place without announcing ⁠plans for free elections. “As far as the elections ‌in Venezuela, they’re not really ready for them yet, but boy, a lot of progress has been made. Delcy’s been doing a ‌fantastic job,” Mr. Trump told reporters ​in the White House. Trump said that when the ⁠country was ready for a ⁠vote, “we’re going to be standing right on top ‌of it”.