Nicolás Maduro is not an innocent bystander swept away by history. His claim to the presidency has been deeply contested, and credible reporting raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of his mandate. Yet even a flawed or illegitimate presidency does not grant the United States the right to bomb a capital, seize a head of state, and announce itself as the country’s temporary ruler. Trump said the United States would “run the country” until a leadership transition could take place and openly stated that U.S. oil companies would move into Venezuela. We can acknowledge that Nicolás Maduro’s presidency is credibly disputed and that his government has silenced rivals, eroded institutions, and inflicted real harm.

Source: The Guardian January 05, 2026 12:26 UTC