On a nearly three-week visit to South America, during which I interviewed the presidents of Argentina and Peru, many friends asked me the same question: “Who is actually running Venezuela?”

My answer was, “The same crooks as before.”

President Donald Trump has claimed he’s running Venezuela following the US raid that captured former dictator Nicolás Maduro, and even posted a picture of himself on social media calling himself “Acting President of Venezuela.”

He also said he has talked extensively with former Maduro vice-president — now interim president — Delcy Rodriguez, describing her as a “terrific person” who will presumably follow his commands.

She is, indeed, under pressure from a US naval blockade that could cripple Venezuela’s vital oil exports.

To be sure, Venezuela has released dozens of political prisoners since Maduro was captured in Caracas on Jan. 3 and flown to New York to face narcoterrorism charges.

Still, more than 800 political prisoners remain,........

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