A mediocre coup d'etat attempt has failed," said defense minister Vladimir Padrino on a state radio broadcast Tuesday afternoon, following prior statements saying he was ready put down the rebellion by force. And in a television appearance Padrino further called the day's events "ridiculous". 

Meanwhile national security advisor John Bolton has stated this is "not a coup" given that the US already sees opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's president. Bolton said of the rapidly unfolding and increasingly violent events that "it is not a coup for Juan Guaido to try and take command of the Venezuelan military."