In a shocking press conference, US President Trump addressed the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, announcing the US's intent to oversee a transition in Venezuela, fueling uncertainty over the country’s leadership. Trump's comments about Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, stating that she is 'essentially willing to do what we think is necessary,' has stirred debate over whether she will cooperate with the US government.
Rodríguez later rebuked these assumptions, deeming Maduro's detention a kidnapping and insisting that Venezuela would not succumb to foreign control.
According to Venezuela's constitution, the vice-president should assume presidential duties when the president is not available. This aligns with the Venezuelan Supreme Court's ruling to recognize Rodríguez as the acting president. Observers had foreseen a different outcome following US intervention due to the illegitimacy of Maduro's presidency, which has not been recognized by the US and many other countries.
Instead, the US has acknowledged Edmundo González, a candidate from the opposition who took over after María Corina Machado was barred from running. As the chaos unfolds, commentators are left questioning what this means for the future of Venezuela's governance and the role Rodríguez will take amid these turbulent times.
