Who is Nicholas Maduro?

Nicolás Maduro was born on November 23, 1962, into a working-class family and began his career as a bus driver.

He rose to prominence supporting Hugo Chávez, campaigning for his release after the 1992 coup attempt, and later winning a seat in the legislature following Chávez’s 1998 election.

Maduro went on to serve as president of the National Assembly and foreign minister before being hand-picked by Chávez as his successor.

Elected president in 2013 after Chávez’s death, his tenure has been marked by economic collapse, food shortages, mass emigration, alleged election rigging, and crackdowns on protests.

Facing U.S. sanctions and indictments, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026.