Trump asked Grok about Venezuelans' reaction to Maduro capture before US operation: Report

US President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot Grok how Venezuelans would react if the US captured then-President Nicolas Maduro weeks before ordering the operation that seized him, Time magazine reported Thursday.

Trump held a private meeting with Musk at the Oval Office in December 2025 and spent hours asking Grok questions about his presidency and legacy, the magazine reported, citing an official who was present.

One of Trump's questions concerned how Venezuelans would respond if the US captured Maduro.

According to the official cited by the magazine, Grok described Maduro as a “repressive and deeply unpopular dictator” and said many Venezuelans would likely celebrate his downfall.

The following month, Trump ordered the mission to seize Maduro.

US forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a military operation in Caracas on Jan. 3 and flew them to the US.

Maduro was taken to New York to face federal charges related to drug trafficking, which he denies.

After some Venezuelans celebrated Maduro's capture, Trump came away thinking Grok was “ingenious,” the magazine reported, citing officials.

-Anadolu