The United States on Saturday detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an operation inside Venezuela and took them to New York, triggering a rapid but tightly controlled political transition in Caracas.

Shortly after the arrest, Venezuela’s judiciary issued an order appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. Rodríguez, a long-time confidante of Maduro, enjoys the backing of the country’s courts and key political institutions.

In a televised address on Saturday, Rodríguez demanded Maduro’s release, insisting that he remains Venezuela’s “only legitimate president,” underscoring the continuity of power within Maduro’s inner circle despite his detention.

US President Donald Trump said Venezuela would be administered by the United States until a “safe and proper transfer of power” is ensured. In practice, however, Venezuela’s power structure remains firmly in the hands of Maduro’s closest allies, even as he remains in custody.

Trump did not clarify how Washington plans to govern Venezuela or who would be involved, saying only that it would be a “collective effort.”

He further claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in contact with Delcy Rodríguez and that she has shown willingness to work in line with US demands. Publicly, however, Rodríguez has reiterated her support for Maduro and vowed to prevent Venezuela from becoming a “colony of empire,” a stance that appears to contradict Trump’s assertions.

Rodríguez and her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, currently hold key leadership positions in Venezuela’s National Assembly. Since Maduro came to power in 2013, the siblings have emerged as some of the most influential figures in the country’s political landscape. Another powerful ally, Diosdado Cabello—a former military captain and close associate of late President Hugo Chávez—has also condemned Maduro’s detention and called for unity.

Strong backing for the interim leadership is coming from the armed forces, led by Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino. Padrino has publicly pledged support for Rodríguez, saying the military remains committed to defending Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rubio said Washington would judge the situation based on Venezuela’s concrete actions rather than public statements made during the interim period. He said the United States is prepared to “test” Venezuela’s second-tier leadership and would keep all options open to protect US interests if Caracas fails to meet expectations.

Trump earlier dismissed opposition leader María Corina Machado as lacking the support or legitimacy needed to lead the country. Machado campaigned extensively for Edmundo González in the 2024 election, which her party claims González won by a wide margin.

Concerns are also growing over the risk of territorial clashes among illegal armed groups inside Venezuela. Colombian guerrilla groups, particularly the ELN, are known to have a presence in the country, exerting control over communities and drug trafficking routes, further complicating the already fragmented power landscape.

US officials say there is no immediate plan for renewed military intervention in Venezuela. Trump, however, warned that the United States would not hesitate to deploy troops if necessary, a threat echoed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said further strikes remain an option.

Trump also said US oil companies would enter Venezuela to rebuild infrastructure and begin extracting oil, arguing that such engagement would benefit both Venezuelans and the United States.

The Venezuelan government has accused Washington of seeking to seize the country’s strategic assets—particularly oil and minerals—through the operation, alleging that the US is attempting to undermine Venezuela’s political independence by force.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Although its crude is heavy and relatively difficult to refine, it is well suited for the production of diesel and asphalt.