Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has publicly demanded proof that President Nicolás Maduro is alive after US claims that he was captured in a military operation. Rodríguez made the statement on state television early Saturday, calling for confirmation of Maduro’s status and location after a dramatic escalation in US–US-Venezuela tensions.
The demand comes as President Donald Trump claimed US forces had captured Maduro and flown him out of the country following explosions in Caracas. Conflicting messages and a lack of independent verification have left Venezuelans and the international community seeking clarity.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez Demands Proof of Life of President Maduro
Speaking in a telephone interview with state-run television, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez insisted the government needs to see Maduro alive. Her remarks came soon after Trump publicly announced the capture of the Venezuelan leader.
Rodríguez’s demand highlights deep concerns in Caracas about the uncertainty surrounding Maduro’s fate. Without independent confirmation, the government and citizens alike are demanding evidence that their president is alive and well.
Trump’s Statement on Maduro’s Capture
Earlier Saturday, President Donald Trump posted on social media that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the Country.” He also confirmed that the United States had carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” Trump wrote in the social media post.
Trump added that US law enforcement was involved in the operation, though he did not specify which agencies participated or how the capture was executed.
Role of Delta Force in Reported Operation
American news outlets cited unnamed officials saying that Delta Force, the US Army’s elite special forces unit, was responsible for the operation that reportedly detained Maduro. Delta Force, known for its counterterrorism and high-risk capture missions, has rarely been publicly linked to operations in Latin America.
The unit previously carried out the 2019 mission that killed former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
US Claims and Republican Statements
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah said he spoke by phone with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Lee said Rubio told him he “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody.”
On social media platform X, Lee wrote that Maduro was arrested “to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States,” and that the military action was designed “to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.”
Maduro was indicted in an American court in 2020 on charges of alleged narco-terrorism, charges he denies.
Venezuela’s Military Buildup and Recent US Actions
The reported capture follows months of US military pressure in the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and several warships were deployed to the Caribbean. In recent weeks, the United States also seized two Venezuelan oil tankers and struck more than 30 vessels that US officials say were carrying drugs.
President Trump has previously targeted what he called “the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.”
Why Proof of Life Matters for Venezuela
The demand for proof of life underscores the confusion and tension surrounding the operation. Without independent confirmation, doubts remain about Maduro’s condition, location, and the legality of his detention.
For Venezuelans, seeing Maduro alive could calm fears and restore some sense of national stability. For international observers, concrete evidence will be key to assessing the legitimacy of the US action and its broader implications.
