"I am pleased to say that this week, we have formally recognized the Venezuelan government. We have actually legally recognized them," Trump at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida.
In the wake of Maduro's capture, the Venezuelan Supreme Court temporarily transferred the duties of the head of state to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was officially sworn in as acting President on January 5. Since then, Washington and Caracas have undertaken a series of steps to thaw their long-strained ties.