(NewsNation) — In the aftermath of the U.S. capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the next hurdle facing the Trump administration is this question: Who will be running the South American country?
President Trump said Saturday that the U.S. and an unnamed group will be in charge of operations for the time being.
“We’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” Trump said. “We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, which will cost billions of dollars. It’ll be paid for by the oil companies directly. They will be reimbursed for what they are doing.”
The attack on Venezuela followed months of escalating pressure by the Trump administration, which has built up naval forces in the waters off South America. Since early September, U.S. forces have killed at least 115 people in 35 strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Trump also revealed that U.S. troops might also be on the ground in Venezuela. “We’re designating people, we’re talking to people. We’re designating various people, and we’re going to let you know who they are,” he said.
As for the Caribbean nation’s future leader, here are a few candidates who could be put in charge:
JD Vance
Vice President JD Vance says he was heavily involved in the planning of the Venezuela strike that led to Maduro’s capture.
” Vice President Vance was deeply integrated in the process and planning of the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest,” his office said. “He joined several late night meetings via secure video conference with National Security principals leading up to the operation.”
Delcy Rodriguez
Delcy Rodriguez was the vice president under Maduro after being named to the position in 2018. She is not cooperating with Trump after contradictory statements from him that she had been sworn in after Maduro’s capture. Rodriguez demanded Maduro’s release.
Rodriguez, 56, is the daughter of left-wing guerrilla fighter Jorge Antonio Rodriguez, who founded the Liga Socialista party in the 1970s.
Rodriguez’s roles included being finance and oil minister for Venezuela. She has become a key figure in the management of the country’s economy and gained major influence with the country’s withered private sector.
Edmundo Gonzalez
Gonzalez was the de facto winner of the 2024 election against Maduro in Venezuela.
González replaced Maria Corina Machado after she was banned from running for the presidency by the Maduro-run high court.
The United States recognized González as the legitimate leader of Venezuela despite Maduro ignoring the election’s results.
María Corina Machado
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Machado, is the head of the Vente Venezuelan party.
Machado overwhelmingly won Venezuela’s presidential primary three years ago, but was blocked from running for president by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.
Vladimir Padrino López
Lopez currently holds the position of Venezuela’s highest-ranking officer. He has gained recognition for suppressing oppositional protests in the country.
Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello, a retired lieutenant of Venezuela’s army, is the interior minister of the country. Cabello was a close confidant of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.