Trump Asked Grok to Forecast Reaction to Maduro’s Capture

President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot to forecast how Venezuelans might react if the United States captured President Nicolás Maduro, according to an account from a U.S. official who attended a private meeting in December 2025. U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3, 2026, in an operation in Caracas. The official’s account, reported to TIME and repeated in the supplied reports, says Trump spent hours questioning Grok during the meeting, including about a possible operation against Maduro. Grok characterized Maduro as repressive and unpopular and predicted that many Venezuelans would welcome his removal, according to the official’s account. The reporting describes Trump seeking a prediction about public reaction. It does not establish that Grok recommended capturing Maduro, planned the operation or influenced Trump’s decision to proceed. The chatbot exchange is not accompanied in the reports by a transcript or other direct record, and the details trace back to the same attendee rather than separate firsthand accounts. The official said Trump was impressed by Grok’s assessment after celebrations reportedly followed Maduro’s capture.