Venezuelan vice president calls on US to release Maduro following capture

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Saturday demanded that the U.S. free President Nicolás Maduro following his capture in his own nation.

She appeared on state TV and demanded the “immediate release” of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were both indicted in the Southern District of New York.

Rodriguez also condemned the U.S. strikes on Venezuela and said the nation will not surrender.

President Donald Trump during a news conference said Rodríguez had been sworn in as president shortly before he spoke to reporters and added she had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“She is essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again. Very simple,” Trump said.

Earlier, opposition leader María Corina Machado said that the opposition candidate Edmundo González should assume power, saying that he rightfully won the 2024 presidential election.

Trump announced that the U.S. military captured Maduro early Saturday morning. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said he is facing the following charges:

• Narco-terrorism conspiracy
• Cocaine importation conspiracy
• Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
• Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the U.S.

In South Florida, Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro’s capture at a rally held outside a South American eatery.

People wrapped themselves in Venezuelan flags, ate fried snacks and cheered as music was playing at the event. At one point, the crowd chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”

The rally took place in Doral, Florida, a city of 80,000 people surrounded by Miami sprawl and home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.