Trump to meet with Venezuela's acting president: report

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump is making plans for a first-ever meeting with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez as early as next week, US online news outlet Axios reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

Trump wants to make time for a meeting with Rodriguez as early as Tuesday, the sources told the news outlet.

"Iran is tough, but Venezuela is without a doubt the president's top success, and Delcy is a key to that," a Trump adviser was quoted as saying. "Unless something goes really wrong, the president wants to make time."

"Nothing is finalized. This is up to the president," the report quoted another senior administration official as saying.

The meeting, expected to be held in New York, could happen just blocks from the federal lockup where Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro awaits trial, according to the report.

On Jan 3, US military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York.