Venezuela Denies U.S. Capture of President Maduro, Urges Calm

The Venezuelan military has instructed citizens to resume normal activities, forcefully denying online rumors that President Nicolás Maduro was captured by the United States. In a national address, Defense Minister Vladímir Padrino López called the viral reports a "false alarm" and a product of "psychological warfare." He stated that President Maduro remains in command of the country. The unfounded claim spread rapidly on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). It caused brief but significant confusion both inside Venezuela and internationally. The Venezuelan government often accuses the United States of plotting to overthrow it. The two nations have had no formal diplomatic relations since 2019. The U.S. and other countries consider Maduro's 2018 re-election illegitimate. Authorities have not identified the source of the rumor. The call for normalcy suggests officials moved quickly to prevent public unrest.