The Trump administration's engagement with interim President Delcy Rodríguez since Nicolás Maduro's January 2026 removal has prioritized energy sector cooperation, security coordination, and gradual stabilization over installing opposition leader María Corina Machado. Washington has repeatedly described Rodríguez as a workable partner while noting Machado lacks the domestic support or institutional respect needed for leadership, leaving her in exile with repeated return attempts blocked. Ongoing U.S.-brokered talks with select opposition figures and recent oil agreements further reinforce this approach, with no public signals of a shift toward formal recognition of Machado by December 31. A sudden policy reversal, major crisis forcing Rodríguez's exit, or binding congressional action could still alter the trajectory before year-end.