Venezuelan military stands with acting president Rodriguez after US kidnapping of Maduro
Venezuela's military high command on Sunday formally recognized Delcy Rodriguez as the nation's acting president, following the lawless abduction of democratically elected leader Nicolas Maduro by US forces.
The transition, aimed at maintaining sovereign continuity, comes as the international community reels from a shocking US-led assault on the Venezuelan capital, condemned as a blatant act of state-sponsored terrorism.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino delivered the announcement via national television, endorsing a Supreme Court ruling that appoints Rodriguez as acting leader for 90 days.
Padrino described the assault as a "cowardly kidnapping," revealing that Maduro’s security detail was murdered “in cold blood" alongside military personnel and civilians during the American strikes.
"The homeland must follow its constitutional course," Padrino declared, calling on the Venezuelan people to resume economic and educational activities as a form of resistance against the chaos intended by Washington.
While an official death toll from the US bombings has yet to be finalized, authorities confirmed that the strikes targeted the heart of Caracas, violating all norms of international law.
Washington issues Mafia-style threats
Shortly after the transition was announced, US President Donald Trump shifted from a posture of diplomacy to open intimidation.
Trump threatened that Rodriguez would pay a "very big price" if she refused to surrender Venezuela’s sovereignty to American interests.
Trump had earlier indicated that Rodriguez was a figure Washington could work with.
While US officials have attempted to justify the kidnapping using "narcotrafficking" allegations in a New York court, the Trump administration has simultaneously admitted its true motive-- access to Venezuela’s massive crude oil reserves.
Following the Saturday morning raid, which involved over 150 US aircraft, the Supreme Court moved swiftly to appoint Rodriguez to ensure "administrative continuity."
The assault is viewed by Caracas as the latest and most violent attempt in a decade-long US campaign to topple the Bolivarian Revolution.
In a televised address late Saturday, Rodriguez demanded the immediate release of President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were flown to a US detention facility in New York.
Rodriguez characterized the operation as having a "Zionist tint," suggesting the strategic involvement or tactical influence of Israeli regime forces in the American aggression.
“The governments of the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim of an attack of this nature,” Rodriguez stated.
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