Brief
Trump consulted Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot before U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Maduro
Trump spent hours questioning Grok about Venezuelan sentiment, and the AI’s prediction of celebrations matched events after the capture.
By Felo News Desk · Published
According to a U.S. official cited by TIME and reported by News18, former President Donald Trump consulted Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot during a private meeting with Musk in December 2025. Trump asked how Venezuelans would respond if the United States captured then‑President Nicolás Maduro.
What happened
Trump spent several hours querying Grok, and the AI replied that Maduro was a “repressive and deeply unpopular dictator” and that many Venezuelans would likely celebrate his downfall. The U.S. military operation to seize Maduro took place on January 3, 2026, after which celebrations reportedly broke out across Venezuela.
What the reports add
News18 notes that the official told TIME Trump “came away thinking Grok was ingenious” because the chatbot’s forecast appeared to align with the post‑capture celebrations. The article also links the Grok consultation to broader Pentagon use of AI, citing that the same AI model helped deploy and strike targets during the ongoing Iran war and that Musk and Palmer Luckey were slated to co‑lead a study on advanced technology in warfare.
What was said
The unnamed U.S. official quoted by TIME said Trump “came away thinking Grok was ingenious.” News18 repeats that Grok described Maduro as “deeply unpopular” and predicted celebratory reactions.
How it came about
Felo’s earlier coverage on October 1, 2026, detailed Trump’s meeting with Musk and his extensive use of Grok ahead of the Venezuela operation. This brief builds on that background, adding the official’s comment on Trump’s impression of the AI’s insight.
Key facts
- Donald Trump consulted Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot in December 2025 about Venezuelan reactions to a possible capture of Nicolás Maduro. (news18.com)
- Grok predicted that many Venezuelans would celebrate Maduro’s downfall, describing him as a repressive and unpopular dictator. (news18.com)
- The U.S. captured Maduro on January 3, 2026, and celebrations were reported in Venezuela. (news18.com)
- A U.S. official said Trump thought Grok was ingenious after the prediction matched events. (news18.com)
- The Pentagon has used Grok for military planning, including target deployment in the Iran war. (news18.com)
Sources
- [1] news18.com — originally reported as “Asked Grok? Trump Reportedly Consulted Musk's AI Chatbot Before Capturing Maduro”
