A classified CIA assessment presented to U.S. President Donald Trump concluded that senior loyalists of Nicolás Maduro, including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, were best positioned to maintain stability if Venezuela’s longtime leader lost power, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The findings were shared with Trump and a small circle of senior national security officials, the sources said.
The assessment helped shape Trump’s decision to back Rodríguez rather than opposition leader María Corina Machado, the sources added, confirming an exclusive report earlier published by the Wall Street Journal. The analysis suggested that continuity within the existing power structure offered the most realistic chance of preventing chaos during a leadership transition in Caracas.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the classified nature of the intelligence. They said the report weighed internal political dynamics and the risks of fragmentation or unrest if power shifted abruptly away from Maduro’s inner circle.
The White House declined to confirm the CIA report or its conclusions. In a statement, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump is “routinely briefed on domestic political dynamics all over the world” and emphasized that the administration’s decisions are aimed at ensuring Venezuela aligns with U.S. interests while improving conditions for its citizens.
The revelation underscores the pragmatic calculations behind Washington’s approach to Venezuela following Maduro’s removal, highlighting a willingness to engage with figures from the existing regime in the name of stability rather than throwing full support behind long-standing opposition leaders.
