The entire political landscape surrounding Venezuela is a joke, a spectacle, a circus; they no longer bother to feign seriousness. The cynicism is immense, and mockery and sarcasm reign supreme at press conferences. My stomach turns when Trump says, "We saved Venezuela from a dictatorship." Nothing could be further from the truth. Furthermore, the agreements are only helping to ensure the political survival of Chavismo in power. The dictatorship was not just Chávez or Maduro; it is an entire conglomerate that extends throughout, has penetrated, and is deeply rooted in this country, with no hope or sign of real democracy. Yes, they took Maduro away, but the dictatorship continues only now with the support and funding of the United States.

One thing is the rhetoric of “building a democracy,” and another is allying with the Chavista government that continues to rule and with a corrupt politician to manage 65 billion barrels of oil.

Rubio can say that elections shouldn't be held tomorrow with the current machinery, and he's right. He can also say that María Corina, as a Venezuelan, has the right to return to the country, and he's also right.

But the real process that the Trump administration is fostering is something else entirely:

• Negotiations with the National Assembly (2015) and Delcy's government,
• Institutional reforms negotiated with those who already control the state,
• Long-term oil deals with a politically useful operator,
• and increasing legitimacy for Delcy as president.

“We are very pleased with the president-elect,” Trump said today.

That can coexist with rhetoric of “transition,” but it doesn't demonstrate one.

Selling the process as a democratic cleansing while the oil deal passes through a businessman from the Chavista ecosystem, investigated in Europe and now defended by the US, reveals the real criteria: Utility and backing.

They aren't choosing the cleanest actor to rebuild the State; they're choosing the actor who can operate fields, open doors, and fit into the Delcy-Washington arrangement.

Why are they clinging to Rubio's rhetoric again, even seeing how they're whitewashing Alejandro Betancourt's image (some even calling him a traitor)?

Simple, because Rubio gives them the language they need: conditions, democracy, a CNE accepted by all, etc.

But Trump gives them the fact they don't want to prosecute:

"We're fine with Delcy," the oil deal is negotiated with her, the partner is Betancourt.

The cycle is this:

Rubio talks about democracy → "it's coming."

Trump praises Delcy or signs with her → silence or "it's a strategy."

Another quote from Rubio emerges → once again, “he said it all.”

That’s not analysis, it’s emotional regulation.

They need the next dose of hope to avoid accepting that the visible path is a pragmatic Chavismo allied with the US, not a transition to democracy.

Rubio can describe what a democracy should be like, but Trump is demonstrating, through his actions, who he works with:

The Chavismo of Delcy Rodríguez and, now, Alejandro Betancourt.

As long as these two lines don’t align, using a Rubio interview to announce that “the democratic transition is coming” is just another artificial boost of hopes and illusions.

The hard fact remains the same: power was reconfigured, not handed over.