Nicolás Maduro Captured: Who Leads Venezuela Now As Trump Says US Will ‘Run’ The Country?
Venezuela was plunged into deep political uncertainty after President Nicolás Maduro was captured by the US military in a sudden overnight operation on Saturday. While government ministries and military units continued to function, the country was left without a clear and accepted political transition, raising urgent questions about who now holds real power.
Soon after Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s highest court directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president. At the same time, the United States declared that it would effectively run the country during what it described as a transitional phase.
The US operation came after months of allegations that Maduro’s government was involved in narco-terrorism. It also followed earlier US strikes earlier in the week on alleged Caribbean drug boats and a Venezuelan port. Maduro’s sudden removal marked a dramatic end to his long rule, which had survived coup attempts, mass protests, military revolts, and years of severe economic sanctions.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would take control of Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be ensured. Outlining his vision, Trump said, “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
He added that a designated team would oversee the process. “We’re going to be running it with a group, and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” Trump said.
When asked who from Venezuela would be involved in this group, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in contact with Vice President Rodríguez. Trump claimed Rodríguez was open to working with Washington and said she had spoken extensively with Rubio, showing willingness to do “whatever” the US needed.
Trump also dismissed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, saying she did not have enough backing to lead the country.
Inside Venezuela, Rodríguez delivered a sharply contrasting message. Speaking shortly after Maduro’s capture and standing alongside senior civilian officials and top military commanders, she rejected the US operation outright. She demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and described the military action as a violation of international law. “There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolas Maduro,” Rodríguez said.
Under Venezuela’s constitution, the absence of a president typically requires new elections within a month. However, there is no clarity on whether that process applies in the current situation or if it has begun.
Rodríguez, who has served as vice president since 2018, is next in the constitutional line of succession. Trained as a lawyer in Europe, she has long represented the Chávez–Maduro movement internationally and, unlike several hardline figures, has not been charged in US courts. She has also previously engaged in talks with US political and oil industry-linked figures, adding another layer of complexity to Venezuela’s unfolding power struggle.
Soon after Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s highest court directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president. At the same time, the United States declared that it would effectively run the country during what it described as a transitional phase.
The US operation came after months of allegations that Maduro’s government was involved in narco-terrorism. It also followed earlier US strikes earlier in the week on alleged Caribbean drug boats and a Venezuelan port. Maduro’s sudden removal marked a dramatic end to his long rule, which had survived coup attempts, mass protests, military revolts, and years of severe economic sanctions.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would take control of Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be ensured. Outlining his vision, Trump said, “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
He added that a designated team would oversee the process. “We’re going to be running it with a group, and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” Trump said.
When asked who from Venezuela would be involved in this group, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in contact with Vice President Rodríguez. Trump claimed Rodríguez was open to working with Washington and said she had spoken extensively with Rubio, showing willingness to do “whatever” the US needed.
Trump also dismissed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, saying she did not have enough backing to lead the country.
Inside Venezuela, Rodríguez delivered a sharply contrasting message. Speaking shortly after Maduro’s capture and standing alongside senior civilian officials and top military commanders, she rejected the US operation outright. She demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and described the military action as a violation of international law. “There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolas Maduro,” Rodríguez said.
Under Venezuela’s constitution, the absence of a president typically requires new elections within a month. However, there is no clarity on whether that process applies in the current situation or if it has begun.
Rodríguez, who has served as vice president since 2018, is next in the constitutional line of succession. Trained as a lawyer in Europe, she has long represented the Chávez–Maduro movement internationally and, unlike several hardline figures, has not been charged in US courts. She has also previously engaged in talks with US political and oil industry-linked figures, adding another layer of complexity to Venezuela’s unfolding power struggle.
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