The ascent and descent of Nicolanda Maduro, the brutal dictator of Venezuela

Maduro, who is renowned for getting what he wants out of any circumstance, put on an amazing display of insolence in the face of US aggression

That could be difficult right now, according to Terry Tanaka.

Nearly a year ago, Nicols Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores triumphantly arrived at Venezuela's National Assembly in Caracas for his third swearing-in ceremony as president. They will have plenty of time to consider the impact of a year after being taken from their beds by US commandos and placed in one of the harshest prisons in New York. However, according to The Times, Maduro "put on a remarkable display of insouciance" right up until the very end. He wore a sombrero, danced on stage with supporters, and attended Christmas tree lightings as US military forces gathered off the coast.

According to the Financial Times, Maduro, 63, is "known to be a cunning and ruthless operator" who enjoyed "playing the role of David to the US Goliath" despite his seeming foolishness. He has always been a survivor up to this point. He escaped a drone attack during a military procession in 2018, and he survived a disastrous mercenary attack in 2020. Maduro had an improbable ascent to power after taking on "the revolutionary mantle" of his mentor, leftist strongman Hugo Chavez, after Chavez passed away from cancer in 2013.

Contrary to expectations, however, he managed to hold onto power despite Venezuela's economy collapsing due to the mismanagement of his regime. He did this by brutally suppressing dissent, subjugating courts, and freely giving out favors in order to maintain his hold on power. The Times reports that elections were conducted, "but outcomes were rarely in doubt." Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, experienced one of the worst economic contractions in history while Maduros was in power. The GDP has decreased by nearly 80% since 2013, and violent crime, corruption, and human trafficking have all increased as basic necessities have become more scarce. This has led to an "unprecedented" migration. According to UN estimates, up to eight million Venezuelansor one-third of the country's populationhave left.

Nicols Maduro: Who is he?

Maduro and Cilia Flores, his spouse.

Maduro was "steeped in left-wing activism from an early age" after being born in 1962 and growing up in the blue-collar Caracas suburb of El Valle, according to The Telegraph. Although records indicate he never graduated, he started his political career as president of his high school student union. Maduro, a passionate baseball player, went to Cuba "to receive a year of ideologic instruction" in 1986, according to Fortune. He eventually returned to Caracas to work as a union activist and bus driver. After "El Comandante" was imprisoned for a failed coup attempt in 1992, he turned to Chavez and quickly advanced through the ranks of the ruling party when Chavez assumed office in 1999. However, Maduro's appointment as his successor on his deathbed "stunned supporters and detractors alike" later.

According to The Telegraph, Maduro claimed on television shortly after Chavez's passing that the late revolutionary's spirit had "reappeared to him as a tiny songbird" while he was praying in a chapel. The "heavily armed militias of motorcycle-riding Chavista supporters" he used "to terrorise opponents" were a stark contrast to this. The US claims that Maduro and his wife Cilia, whom he referred to as the "first combatant" rather than the "first lady," were part of the "Cartel de los Soles" (Cartel of the Suns), a drug trafficking organization run by Venezuelan military officials that brought thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States.

The majority of Venezuelans are happy that the dictator has been removed, but they are also concerned about what might come next. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro's future appears bleak and that he will "soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil." However, a former associate claims that Maduro is a man who is constantly considering how to get what he wants out of any situation. That appears to be quite a challenge at the moment.

What does this mean for opposition leader Mara Corina Machado of Venezuela?

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, is an opposition leader from Venezuela.

This "should be Mara Corina Machados moment" after Nicols Maduro was overthrown, according to the Financial Times. However, the leading opposition figure in Venezuela, who has been living in hiding for a long time, had to make tough decisions. Should she go back to her native country after leaving to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in December, or should she mobilize her followers to demand a change of government?

58-year-old Machado has experienced a "roller coaster" ride. Her political career reached its zenith in 2023 when she emerged victorious in the opposition's primary election as an industrial engineer from Caracas. They were forced to go into hiding after being prohibited from holding public office. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, she experienced a "humiliation" when Donald Trump ignored her. Trump concluded that she did not have enough "support or respect" in Venezuela to be the leader, despite her positive remarks about the US president and his actions there. Instead, Trump is collaborating with Maduros' deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, who is currently serving as Venezuela's acting president.

The Wall Street Journal claims that Trump was informed by CIA analysts that Machado and her presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzlez Urrutia, would have difficulty gaining credibility and encounter opposition from pro-regime security services, drug trafficking networks, and political rivals.

The Washington Post speculates that Trump may have made the decision out of personal annoyance over her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. "She would be the president of Venezuela today if she had declined and said I can't accept it because it's Donald Trump," an insider told the newspaper.

The Economist notes that Trump has discussed a democratic transition following the reconstruction of the oil industry, which he claims could take 18 months. However, this could take longer, giving the regime opportunities to "simply outlast Trump" or thwart the opposition. "Try to speed things up" is Machado's best chance.

In an appearance on Fox News on January 5, Machado expressed gratitude to Trump for his "courageous actions" and pledged to use "suggesting sweet talk is still her method" to turn Venezuela into an energy hub. "Machado has shown himself to be incredibly clever and resilient. Her greatest obstacles, however, are yet to come. A "