WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump stated from the White House that Venezuela is not yet prepared to host new democratic elections, citing an insufficient democratic infrastructure to guarantee a fair vote.

The remarks come eight months after former President Nicolás Maduro was captured by American forces. While Trump explicitly noted that the South American nation remains unready for a presidential ballot, he praised the interim administration of Delcy Rodríguez for its bilateral energy cooperation and steps toward economic stabilization. American officials reiterated that oversight and infrastructure rebuilding must progress further before any election timeline can be established.