Nominated for key positions, including diplomatic, economic and intelligence positions that will influence Donald Trump's positions on sanctions, pressure and negotiations with Venezuela, include critics of the government of Nicolás Maduro.
The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has already announced his candidates to occupy high-ranking positions that will be key during his second term in matters of diplomacy, politics, energy, economic sanctions, possible criminal penalties, migration, anti-drug fight and human rights regarding Venezuela.
His nominees, who must be confirmed by the United States Senate where his party has guaranteed a majority in the votes, include several Republican leaders as his future close advisors on foreign affairs.
Next, the Voice of America presents the list of officials chosen by Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, to take positions and decide strategies in the face of the Venezuelan political crisis after the controversial results of the presidential election on July 28, which the opposition claims to have won, but that the ruling party attributed to the still head of government Nicolás Maduro.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Republican senator, member of the foreign relations committee and the intelligence committee of the upper house. Son of Cuban immigrants. He has criticized Chavismo for years, calling the government of Nicolás Maduro a “dictatorship.” He asked the US authorities to request Interpol for a red alert for search and capture against Maduro. He has accused him of being a “criminal”, denounced his alleged links to drug trafficking and more recently accused him of stealing the July presidential election.
Christopher Landau, Undersecretary of State
Lawyer, former US ambassador to Mexico. He is the son of an experienced diplomat who served as the highest North American representative in Venezuela, Paraguay and Chile. Trump affirmed that both Rubio and Landau will help promote the security and prosperity of their nation through the “America First” policy.
Also the son of Cuban immigrants, he is considered to have played a fundamental role in Venezuela in Trump's first presidency. After the elections, Landau has accused Maduro of staying in power through “violence” and maintaining a “tyranny.” According to the diplomat, Maduro committed “blatant electoral fraud.”
Michael Waltz, National Security Advisor
Republican congressman from Florida, veteran US Green Beret. He will advise Trump in the White House on national security matters.
Trump considers him ideal to lead a policy of “peace through strength.”
His legislative role has focused on finding solutions to China's influence and he was the promoter of a law to limit access to resources from the Venezuelan government and that seeks to end the contracts of US government agencies with companies that work with Chavismo. the “BOLIVAR Law”.
Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
He is a hedge fund manager in the US. He was one of the largest fundraisers and donors and financial advisor to the president-elect in his presidential campaign. The United States Treasury Department is a fundamental body in the application of sectoral and individual economic sanctions, as in the case of Venezuela. Also, it is key in investigations into corruption, money laundering and bribery, among other financial crimes, in the US and international system. In addition, it is the leading voice regarding economic sanctions and licenses in sectors such as energy.
Kristi Noem, Director of Homeland Security
She has been governor of the state of South Dakota since 2019. She was a congressman for 8 years. Trump believes he will play a “very strong” role in his border security policy. He was among the pre-candidates for the vice president of the current president-elect.
He will direct a fundamental department on immigration issues, such as the designation of Venezuela as a country benefiting from Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole, which has benefited tens of thousands of Venezuelans.
Direct deportation flights will be part of Noem's purview. According to Trump this month, the Venezuelan government will have to accept them if it does not want to face “harsh economic consequences.”
Pam Bondi, Attorney General
59 years old, she is a legal expert, she was attorney general of Florida for 8 years. He was part of Donald Trump's legal defense team in his impeachment trial.
He headed the legal department of the America First Policy Institute.
The position he aspires to occupy managed the criminal accusations in 2020 against Maduro and several of his political and military partners, such as Diosdado Cabello, for alleged drug trafficking and the reward of 15 million dollars in exchange for information that would allow him to be arrested.
Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce
Billionaire businessman, he chairs the financial services firms Cantor Fitzerald and BGC Group. Philanthropist, 63 years old. He helped raise funds for Trump in the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns.
In 2019, during the Trump presidency, the commerce secretary outlined an aid plan for the economic reconstruction of Venezuela once a democratic transition began, which included credits and investment, as well as reforms of its financial systems and international support.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Military veteran, with participation in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was host of the network Fox News. In the first Trump administration, he led the department of veterans affairs.
He holds one of the most influential government positions not only in the United States, but in the world. The armed forces of the North American country are considered to be -by far- the most numerous and powerful on the planet, by far.
Chavismo has for years accused the United States of leading armed conspiracies against it, frequently mentioning the Southern Command.
Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy
Engineer and businessman specialized in the oil business. He is founder of the energy services company Liberty Energy.
He is a director of a nuclear technology company, Oklo Inc., and of a royalty payment firm for mining and mineral exploitation rights, EMX Royalty. His office will be key in energy affairs between the US and Venezuela.
This month, Trump announced that his country should not buy oil from Venezuela, as outgoing president Joe Biden authorized two years ago. “We don't have to buy energy from Venezuela when we have 50 times more than them, it's crazy,” he said in his first press conference after winning the election.
Elise Stefanik, ambassador to the United Nations
She is one of the most influential Republican congresswomen, representing the state of New York. In 2014, she was the youngest elected congresswoman in history. The embassy to the United Nations is one of the highest diplomatic positions in the US foreign service.
The Venezuelan case was aired during its most recent annual assembly, when more than 40 countries, including the United States, spoke out demanding transparency in the results of the July elections and an end to repression against the opposition. The role of the United States is also key in the Security Council, where it has the possibility of veto along with 4 other nations, and in the Human Rights Council.
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Former Democratic Party congresswoman, later independent. Retired military member of the US National Guard.
While his critics have highlighted his inexperience in the field of intelligence, Trump highlighted that Gabbard has fought for American freedoms for more than 2 decades and is now a Republican.
If confirmed, Gabbard will direct the US intelligence and espionage services, a coalition of 18 agencies and organizations that are decisive in the access, processing and transmission of privileged and strategic information on US internal and external affairs.