Washington, (Reuters): A classified CIA assessment presented to US President Donald Trump concluded that senior figures loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—particularly Vice President Delcy Rodríguez—are best positioned to preserve stability after Maduro lose power, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The assessment, first reported by “The Wall Street Journal”, was shared with Trump and a small group of senior national security officials, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. According to the briefing, the CIA determined that regime insiders with control over state institutions and the security apparatus would be more capable of preventing political fragmentation or civil unrest than opposition figures. The analysis reportedly influenced Trump’s decision to support Rodríguez rather than opposition leader María Corina Machado. The White House declined to confirm the contents of the intelligence report.“President Trump is routinely briefed on political dynamics around the world,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The president and his national security team are making realistic decisions to ensure Venezuela aligns with US interests and improves conditions for the Venezuelan people.”
Opposition leader María Corina Machado strongly rejected Rodríguez’s leadership, accusing her of playing a central role in repression under Maduro’s government. Speaking to Fox News from an undisclosed location, Machado said she intends to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible” and dismissed Rodríguez as “one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, and narcotrafficking.”
Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, has signalled a willingness to cooperate with Washington following recent political developments. Machado insisted that Rodríguez lacks public legitimacy and claimed overwhelming support for the opposition. “In free and fair elections, we will win by more than 90%,” she said. She also pledged to dismantle criminal networks, revive Venezuela’s energy sector, and facilitate the return of millions of Venezuelans who have fled the country amid years of political and economic crisis.
