Trump consulted Musk’s chatbot Grok before abducting Venezuela’s president: report

Donald Trump reportedly turned to Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, while weighing the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. TIME reports that during a December meeting with Musk, the president spent hours quizzing the tool about his presidency and legacy, including how Venezuelans would respond if Maduro were ousted. An unnamed official told the magazine that Grok predicted many would celebrate, since Maduro was an unpopular dictator. The Independent says it has asked the White House for comment.

U. S. forces seized Maduro in Caracas in early January 2026, following months of planning for an operation called Absolute Resolve and strikes on alleged drug boats. Trump approved the attack on January 2. Bombers, fighters and helicopters took part, and Cuba says 32 of its citizens died. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, ended up in New York, where he faces narcoterrorism and cocaine conspiracy charges. He denies wrongdoing, and his trial is set for next June. Some Venezuelans abroad did celebrate, and officials say Trump was impressed that Grok had called it.

Grok still has a government role despite the reported rift between Trump and Musk: it helps power the new America. gov chatbot alongside Google's Gemini.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →