Overview
- President Donald Trump said U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and removed them from Venezuela after an operation reported with viral images.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded a proof of life for Maduro and stated authorities do not know his location.
- Reports cited by The New York Times place Rodríguez in Caracas under protection, with Maduro’s party keeping her as its choice to succeed him.
- Under Venezuela’s constitution, the vice president is first in line to assume the presidency, though power dynamics and international sanctions could shape recognition.
- Rodríguez, a 56-year-old lawyer and longtime chavista official, has led key portfolios from foreign affairs to economic management, and Trump told Fox News he would "analyze" whether to back opposition leader María Corina Machado for a transition.