Trump says he’ll visit Venezuela, touts good relations with interim president

President Trump said he plans to visit Venezuela and hailed his relations with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

“I’m going to make a visit to Venezuela,” Mr. Trump told reporters Friday at the White House ahead of his trip to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to thank the troops who captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro.

Mr. Trump said he hadn’t decided when he’d make the trip and offered no other details.

The day before, Mr. Trump said his administration was “dealing very well” with Ms. Rodriguez.

“Relations between Venezuela and the United States have been, to put it mildly, extraordinary!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Venezuela this week to assess the country’s oil industry as the Trump administration seeks to rebuild the South American country’s dilapidated energy sector.

Mr. Wright got a warm welcome and met with Ms. Rodriguez as well as other government officials and oil executives.

The Trump administration has been lifting sanctions on Venezuela to let foreign oil companies operate in the country.

U.S. troops on Jan. 3 burst through the country and seized Mr. Maduro and his wife to transport them to the U.S.

The couple are sitting in a New York City jail awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges.

Ms. Rodriguez on Wednesday said Venezuela’s relationship with the U.S. has had “highs and lows,” with both countries working on a mutually beneficial energy agenda.