Venezuela's vice president on the 3rd (local time) said the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and the first lady have not been confirmed after a U.S. military strike, and demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that the presidential couple is alive.
Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a phone interview with state-run TV (VTV) that "the whereabouts of President Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores are unclear," adding, "we cannot know where they are." She then urged the U.S. government to "immediately clarify whether the presidential couple is alive."
Vice President Rodriguez, mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump by name, added, "Trump must immediately present proof that the Venezuelan presidential couple is alive."
Earlier, President Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social that "the United States successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro." He also said that Maduro "was arrested with his wife and flown out of the country (Venezuela)."
According to the Spanish-language outlet El Español, under Venezuela's constitution, if President Maduro becomes incapacitated, the presidency passes to Vice President Rodriguez.