Many of the 8 million Venezuelans scattered across the Americas received the news of their president's capture with caution.

The lack of change in government was underlined by a recent classified intelligence assessment that determined that top members of the Maduro regime — including former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in as interim president on Monday — were best positioned to lead Venezuela’s government and maintain stability.

For all Venezuelans, the nighttime raid opened a period of deep uncertainty. For the families of those killed, it meant the grim task of burying their relatives.

As social-media timelines flood with Venezuela explainer content, Venezuelans ask outsiders to stop explaining their struggle.

Venezuela’s sudden release of detainees brought relief and guarded optimism to a country consumed by uncertainty.

In January 2026, the U.S. military struck Venezuela's capital and captured the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, under the orders of President Donald Trump. People on social media quickly began sharing what they claimed were images and videos of people in Venezuela responding to the attack.

Venezuelan community leaders in Philadelphia say the past several days have been a "roller coaster of emotion," fueled by the capture of Nicolás Maduro and conflicting statements from federal officials about whether some Venezuelans in the United States may qualify for refugee status.

Residents of Venezuela’s capital reflect on the US attack and capture of their president, Nicolás Maduro, as they head out to run errands a day later.