In an unprecedented military operation, U.S. forces have extracted Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro from his Caracas residence, transporting him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. However, the anticipated democratic transition has stalled as President Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control rather than supporting the internationally recognized opposition.
The development represents a devastating setback for Venezuela’s opposition movement, which had spent years preparing for Maduro’s removal with bipartisan U.S. support. Instead of installing opposition leadership, the Trump administration has chosen to work with Rodríguez, a key figure from Maduro’s repressive regime.
Most prominent opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, remain either imprisoned or in exile. Machado, despite being the legitimate winner of the 2024 presidential election according to detailed tally sheets and international recognition, was barred from running by Maduro’s government and ultimately represented by proxy candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
Trump publicly expressed skepticism about Machado’s leadership capabilities, stating she lacks sufficient domestic support and respect. Ironically, Machado’s consistent praise for Trump—including dedicating her Nobel Prize to him and supporting aggressive U.S. policies toward Venezuelan migrants—has diminished her popularity at home.
Constitutional uncertainties cloud Venezuela’s political future. While the constitution mandates elections within 30 days when a president becomes permanently unavailable, Maduro loyalists in the Supreme Court have declared his absence temporary, allowing Rodríguez to assume power for up to 90 days, extendable to six months with legislative approval.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to clarify Trump’s controversial statement about the U.S. “running” Venezuela, emphasizing instead that Washington would leverage control over Venezuela’s oil industry—home to the world’s largest proven crude reserves—to force policy changes.
The opposition now faces monumental challenges: both Machado and González remain in exile, while Rodríguez consolidates power among ruling party factions. Experts warn that bypassing the legitimate opposition movement risks damaging Venezuela’s democratic spirit and humiliating citizens who voted overwhelmingly for change.