Trump says Venezuela’s acting leader ‘has to say’ Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president

President Donald Trump belittled Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez’s recent tenure Comment to NBC News Nicolás Maduro is still the legitimate leader of Venezuela and his response to reporters on Monday was political necessity, he said.

“I think he probably has to say that. I think politically, maybe he has to say that,” Trump said during a meeting with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Florida.

“He’s doing a very good job dealing with Venezuela, and I completely understand that statement.”

Rodríguez made the comments in an exclusive NBC News interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in Caracas last week.

“I can tell you that President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this as a lawyer. Both President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores are innocent,” Rodríguez said.

USA caught the couple in a surprising surprise raid early last month. Maduro and his wife were indicted on narco-terrorist conspiracy charges and did not admit his guilt a few days later in federal court in New York.

Since Maduro’s capture, Trump has praised Rodríguez’s leadership and touted its potential benefits. Venezuela’s oil resources for both countries.

In an interview with NBC News, Rodríguez said that he was invited to America, while Energy Minister Chris Wright, who went to Venezuela to meet with the new leader, said: he told reporters before leaving from the country to which he and other Cabinet secretaries, and possibly Trump, will return.

This article was first published on: NBCNews.com