Rodríguez Appointed Interim President of Venezuela

Caracas, Jan. 4, 2026 — Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president, following the forced removal of President Nicolás Maduro to the United States during a U.S. military operation early Saturday, Reuters reported.
In a ruling issued by the Constitutional Chamber, the court said Rodríguez would take over presidential duties to ensure administrative continuity and safeguard the country’s overall defense amid what it described as the president’s “compulsory absence.”
The court stated that the decision was necessary to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty and maintain the functioning of state institutions during the unfolding crisis. It added that further legal deliberations would be conducted to determine the constitutional framework for governing the country during the president’s absence and to clarify how executive authority will be exercised.
The dramatic development comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington, following reports of a U.S. operation that resulted in Maduro being transferred out of the country. The Venezuelan government has yet to provide full details of the incident, while international reactions continue to pour in from across Latin America and beyond.
Delcy Rodríguez, a close ally of Maduro and a key figure in Venezuela’s ruling leadership, now assumes control at a time of deep political uncertainty, heightened security concerns, and intense international scrutiny.