Thank Marco Rubio, but beware the caprice of his boss. When President Donald Trump sent American special forces to snatch Venezuela's dictator, Nicolás Maduro, in January, it did not sound as though restoring democracy was his priority. He boasted endlessly about how he now controlled Venezuela’s oil, while barely mentioning the country’s political future. He installed as interim president Delcy Rodríguez, the deposed despot’s widely hated deputy.

Many worried that without a strong American commitment to a democratic transition, the old, brutal kleptocracy would carry on. The cynical gesture toward a new leader only deepened doubts about U.S. intentions. While Rubio argued for a genuine democratic opening, the administration's primary focus appeared to be securing oil assets and punishing an adversary, not fostering free elections.

The path ahead remains uncertain. Without credible steps toward a free vote and an independent judiciary, Venezuela's suffering may continue under a different face.