John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, went public with the names three senior Venezuelan figures earlier this week after Juan Guaido, the 35-year-old opposition leader, called for a military uprising. 

Vladimir Padrino, the defence minister, Maikel Moreno, the head of the Supreme Court, and Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala the head of the presidential guard, were all named as being prepared to turn on the Venezuelan president. 

Mr Bolton said that the plan involved the Supreme Court saying that Mr Guaido, who has cited the constitution in declaring himself interim president, was the rightful leader, with that in turn giving “cover” for the military to defect. 

Elliott Abrams, the US envoy for Venezuela, went a step further, saying that a 15-point document had been discussed between Mr Guaido’s allies and members of Mr Maduro’s inner circle. 

However on Thursday it appeared that the plot had fallen short, with Mr Padrino appearing alongside Mr Maduro in a high profile show of support and criticising those behind the attempted military uprising.