CIA concludes regime loyalists best suited to lead Venezuela after Maduro, sources say

WASHINGTON - A classified CIA assessment presented to U.S. President Donald Trump concluded senior Maduro loyalists, including Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, were best positioned to maintain stability if the Venezuelan leader lost power, two sources briefed on the matter said on Monday.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal.

Trump was briefed on the report and it was shared with a small group of his senior national security team, the sources said.

The assessment was one reason why Trump decided to back Nicolas Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, instead of opposition leader María Corina Machado, the sources said.

The White House declined to confirm the report.

“President Trump is routinely briefed on domestic political dynamics all over the world. The president and his national security team are making realistic decisions to finally ensure Venezuela aligns with the interests of the United States, and becomes a better country for the Venezuelan people," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in response to a query.

Steve Holland in Washington and Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry/Reuters