If you’re looking for a straightforward name to the question of who is the leader of Venezuela, you won't find one. Not a simple one, anyway. As of January 2026, the country is essentially split between a "president" sitting in a jail cell in Brooklyn and an "acting president" in Caracas who is trying to figure out if she’s taking orders from a U.S. "Viceroy" or her old boss.
It sounds like a movie script. Honestly, it kind of is.
The current power struggle in Caracas
Right now, Delcy Rodríguez is the acting president of Venezuela. She was sworn in on January 5, 2026, just two days after a massive U.S. military operation called "Operation Absolute Resolve" snatched the previous leader, Nicolás Maduro, right out of his compound.
Rodríguez was Maduro’s Vice President. Now, she’s sitting in the Miraflores Palace. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, is the head of the National Assembly. Together, they are trying to keep the "Chavista" movement alive while navigating a reality where the U.S. military has a very, very long reach.
But is she really the "leader"?
That depends on who you ask. The Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice says she is. The military—at least the high command—says they recognize her. But just a few days ago, on January 15, 2026, Donald Trump was at the White House meeting with María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who most of the world thinks actually won the 2024 election.
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It’s a mess.
Why there are two "leaders" (again)
We’ve been here before. Remember Juan Guaidó? This is like that, but with more tanks and less hope for a quick fix.
- The De Facto Leader: Delcy Rodríguez. She has the keys to the palace. She has the backing of the local courts. She has the military (for now).
- The Democratic Leader: Edmundo González Urrutia. He was the guy on the ballot in 2024. Most independent observers and about 80% of the Venezuelan public believe he won that election by a landslide.
The U.S. has basically sidelined González and Machado for the moment to deal directly with Rodríguez. Why? Because Rodríguez has the oil.
The Maduro factor: From Miraflores to MDC Brooklyn
You can't talk about who is the leader of Venezuela without talking about the man who isn't there. Nicolás Maduro ruled for over a decade. He was the hand-picked successor of Hugo Chávez.
On January 3, 2026, he was captured.
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He’s currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York. He’s facing four counts related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. He pleaded "not guilty" on January 5.
Even from a jail cell, his shadow is huge. Rodríguez still calls him the "only president." Government supporters still march with his picture. He’s a martyr to some and a dictator to others, but he’s definitely not running the country’s day-to-day operations anymore.
The "Viceroy" and the oil
Here is the part that gets really weird. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been nicknamed the "Viceroy" of Venezuela by some international media outlets.
Trump basically told Rodríguez: "Give us access to the oil, or pay a price bigger than Maduro."
She’s cooperating. Sorta. She’s releasing political prisoners—about 56 so far—and talking about a "new political moment." But she’s also using state TV to say she’ll never let Venezuela become a "colony." It’s a high-stakes balancing act where the real leader might actually be the guy in Washington holding the remote control.
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What this means for people on the ground
If you’re living in Caracas or Maracaibo, "who is the leader" is less important than "can I eat?" and "is the power staying on?"
The economy is still a wreck.
The currency is barely worth the paper it’s printed on.
And now, there's a U.S. blockade on oil tankers trying to sneak past sanctioned routes.
María Corina Machado, who just won a Nobel Peace Prize, is pushing for a real democratic transition. She doesn't want another "acting" leader from the old regime. She wants the 2024 results respected. But without the guns to back her up, she’s stuck in the lobby of the White House while Rodríguez signs deals in Caracas.
Actionable insights for following the situation:
- Watch the oil flows: If Rodríguez starts handing over control of the state-owned oil company (PDVSA) to U.S.-approved entities, her "presidency" will likely be tolerated by the West for the short term.
- Monitor the military: Watch Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López. If he stops appearing next to Rodríguez, it means the internal "Chavista" coalition is cracking.
- Track the New York trial: Maduro’s trial will be a media circus. Anything he says in court could destabilize the current acting government in Caracas.
- Check for election dates: Rodríguez is technically an "interim" leader for 90-day renewable chunks. If she doesn't set a date for new elections by mid-2026, expect the "acting president" label to expire in the eyes of the international community.
The reality of who is the leader of Venezuela is that it's a fractured crown. Rodríguez holds the title, the U.S. holds the leverage, and the people are still waiting for the democracy they voted for two years ago.