A newly leaked audio recording has shed light on the tense moments following the capture of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by US forces, with Venezuela’s then vice president and now interim President Delcy Rodriguez allegedly claiming that senior leaders were given 15 minutes to comply with US demands or face death.
The remarks were reportedly made during a meeting held seven days after the US strike that led to Maduro’s ouster. The audio, first reported by local investigative outlet La Hora de Venezuela, has not been independently verified by HT.com.
What the Leaked Recording Claims
In the recording, Rodriguez can be heard on speakerphone describing what she said were threats issued immediately after Maduro was taken into custody.
“They gave us 15 minutes to respond, or they would kill us,” she allegedly said, referring to herself, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and her brother Jorge Rodriguez, who was then head of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
According to the audio, Rodriguez said the threats began “from the very first minute” after Maduro was captured. She added that the leadership was under intense pressure and feared being portrayed as traitors amid reports that some officials may have been in contact with Washington.
‘We Were Told Maduro Was Assassinated’
Rodriguez also claimed that she was initially informed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been assassinated, not kidnapped. According to a report by The Guardian, she said she responded by telling those present that she, her brother, and Cabello were “ready to share the same fate.”
“It hurt to have to assume responsibilities in these circumstances,” Rodriguez allegedly said during the call, which lasted nearly two hours.
She outlined three stated objectives for the post-Maduro leadership:
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Preserving peace
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Securing the release of detained leaders, whom she described as hostages
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Maintaining political power
Unverified Footage and Political Fallout
The meeting appears to have taken place via a video conferencing platform, with some participants joining remotely. It remains unclear how or by whom the recording was leaked.
There have been earlier reports suggesting Rodriguez and her brother may have agreed to cooperate with the Trump administration prior to Maduro’s capture. However, the leaked audio suggests that members of the remaining leadership were deeply concerned about internal divisions and public perception.
Was There ‘Internal Complicity’?
Since assuming interim leadership, Rodriguez has adopted a dual approach — projecting defiance domestically while signalling openness to dialogue with Washington.
US President Donald Trump recently described her leadership as “very strong” and said the United States was already receiving a share of Venezuela’s oil output.
However, Margarita López Maya, a Venezuelan historian and political analyst, told The Guardian that it is difficult to determine whether Rodriguez’s life was genuinely threatened.
“It may be a narrative Rodriguez herself is constructing to hold the base together,” she said, adding that Maduro’s removal could only have occurred with internal complicity.
