Shocked Venezuela Demands ‘Proof of Life’ of President Nicolás Maduro

In a stunning turn of global events, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is demanding the United States prove that President Nicolás Maduro is still alive after Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had “captured” the longtime socialist leader.

The former president made the explosive claim Friday night on Truth Social, saying American troops had carried out a “large-scale” strike across Venezuela and detained both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, before flying them “to a secure location outside the country.”

“We have apprehended Nicolás Maduro and his corrupt regime,” Trump wrote. “Venezuela will soon be free.”

Hours later, Rodríguez appeared on national television in Caracas, her voice trembling as she confirmed Maduro had been seized but insisted his location—and that of the First Lady—remains a mystery.

“We demand proof of life,” Rodríguez said. “The Venezuelan people have a right to know where their president is being held and under what conditions.”

Maduro’s sudden disappearance has left the country teetering on the edge of chaos. Crowds gathered outside the Miraflores Palace overnight, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting “¡Queremos saber la verdad!”—“We want to know the truth!”

Under Venezuela’s constitution, Rodríguez would temporarily assume control if the president is incapacitated or missing. However, no official transition has been announced, fueling speculation that power struggles are already unfolding behind the scenes.

Venezuela’s defense minister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino López, condemned the alleged U.S. operation as “a criminal act of aggression” and “the greatest outrage this nation has ever suffered.” State television repeatedly aired footage of anti-aircraft batteries on alert across Caracas as rumors spread of additional U.S. incursions.

Maduro, 63, has ruled Venezuela since 2013, surviving years of economic collapse, U.S. sanctions, and multiple coup attempts. The Biden administration previously recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s rightful president, but that claim was dropped in 2024 amid shifting diplomatic priorities.

“This is an unprecedented moment,” said Dr. Carlos Pereira, a Latin American politics expert at Georgetown University. “If Trump’s claim is true, it represents one of the boldest U.S. interventions in the region since the Panama invasion in 1989.”

From his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump told reporters he would reveal more about the operation during a Saturday morning press conference. “The world is going to see what we did,” he said. “Freedom is coming back to Venezuela.”

The Pentagon has yet to confirm or deny involvement, leaving questions about the scope—and legality—of the mission.

Meanwhile, in Caracas, street rumors swirl that Maduro and Flores may be in U.S. custody at a naval base in Puerto Rico or Guantánamo Bay. Others fear they may never be seen again.

“This feels like history repeating itself,” said one Caracas resident watching the news from her balcony. “But this time, nobody knows who’s really in charge.”