Maduro and his wife plead not guilty at first court appearance since capture in Venezuela

Venezuela has been a key partner to Cuba for decades, but following the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, uncertainty in Cuba has grown. NBC News’ Ed Augustin reports on the mood in the country after it says 32 Cuban officers were killed in U.S. strikes in Venezuela.

Cuba reacts after U.S. military operation to remove Nicolás Maduro

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An attack on a country after a military buildup and embargo at sea. A leader deposed by a superpower that views them as illegitimate.

While some are drawing parallels between the United States’ dramatic action in Venezuela and China’s ambitions for Taiwan, experts say Beijing is less concerned about the self-ruled island’s sovereignty and instead views the attack as an opportunity to undermine America’s global leadership.

As the Trump administration withdraws from global institutions and upends long-standing norms, Beijing has sought to cast itself as the true champion of the rules-based international order. Chinese state media commentaries on the Venezuela attack argue that the U.S. is now one of the biggest threats to that order, and that its actions have undermined its credibility in Latin America.

“This is a country which just behaved like a hegemon, right?” said Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. “How can you trust a country that would deal with its weak neighbors this way?”

Read the full story here.

María Corina Machado said in an interview on “Hannity” tonight that she dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump as soon as she learned she had been awarded it, saying she believed in him even more after Trump’s capture of Maduro.

Asked whether she had offered to give Trump the prize, Machado said: “It hasn’t happened yet, but I’d certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him.”

Machado added that international leaders should not trust Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim leader, calling her “one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco-trafficking” and an ally of Russia, China and Iran.

Machado said that she hopes to return to Venezuela as soon as possible but that for now she thinks she is more useful to her cause in exile.

Doral, Florida, home to the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S., has seen mixed reactions to Maduro’s capture. Some community members spoke with NBC News’ Tom Llamas about their concerns for the country’s future.

‘New era for Venezuela’: Venezuelan Americans react to Nicolás Maduro's removal

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Top lawmakers tonight left a classified briefing about the operation in Venezuela with reactions split along party lines.

The so-called Gang of Eight — the top Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate, as well as the leaders of each chamber’s Intelligence Committee — was briefed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Republicans left the briefing calling Maduro’s capture justified. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the Trump administration, saying the operation in Venezuela “was a decisive and justified action.”

“This is not regime change. This is demand for a change of behavior by a regime,” Johnson said.

Democrats, meanwhile, said they left the briefing with more questions than answers, as well as concerns about what could come next.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said tonight that “everything” is on the table as far as Maduro and Flores are concerned, widening the threat to include the other co-defendants in the Justice Department’s indictment.

“Everything else is still on the table, not only with them, but with the other co-defendants who are charged,” Bondi said on Fox News’ “Hannity.”

Bondi name-checked the alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, Niño Guerrero; Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra; and Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Bondi added that the operation Saturday was legal, “well within the president’s Article II powers.”

Meet the Press NOW — January 5

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Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, said tonight one of his primary concerns with the United States' ouster of Maduro is that it sets a bad precedent for other world leaders.

Speaking with Kristen Welker on NBC News' "Meet the Press NOW," Warner used a hypothetical example in which Russian President Vladimir Putin could extract and arrest wartime foe Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, over any perceived violation of Russian law.

"Does that mean if Vladimir Putin thinks that Zelenskyy has broken Russian law that he could be extracted with no consequence?" Warner asked.

He imagined chaos should other nations follow suit with arrests and extractions of their own.

"This idea that gives you a blessing to take whatever unilateral action you want would completely destroy any kind of international order," Warner said.

Videos circulating on social media appear to show some sort of tracer bullets or antiaircraft fire streaking across the sky in Caracas tonight. Two White House officials told NBC News that the U.S. is not involved.

“The administration is closely tracking the reports of gunfire out of Venezuela. The U.S. is not involved," the officials said.

Amid questions about the United States' ability to steer Venezuela in the wake of Maduro's ouster, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Venezuelan officials are falling in line.

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper tonight, Miller said government officials "have sent message after message making clear that they will meet the terms, demands, conditions and requirements of the United States."

At the same time, he said, indicted officials need to cooperate with the United States, and he argued it would be the "best decision" they could make as the Trump administration seeks control of the government and Venezuela's oil reserves.

Among those indicted officials are Maduro and his interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, described in charging documents unveiled Saturday as "one of the most powerful officials in Venezuela.” He is a military captain, co-creator of the nation's "street muscle" militants and vice president of Venezuela's ruling party — someone whose cooperation may be essential.

Two days after the U.S. military operation to remove Maduro, its allies in Europe remained cautious in their criticism of Trump while asking for more answers about Washington's justification for Maduro's removal.

German government spokesperson Sebastian Hille told reporters today that Washington must "explain to the international community on what basis the actions we have witnessed over the last few days should be judged, and this has not yet happened."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, saying it was "for the U.S. to justify the action that it has taken. It is not straightforward. It is complicated." But he said he "won’t shy away from the fact that international law is the framework and is the benchmark.” 

Washington's traditional foes have decried the operation as a flagrant violation of international law, but much of Europe appeared to be measured in its initial response, appearing to be cautious about upsetting Trump as he negotiates a peace deal for Ukraine — an issue of existential importance to the continent's leaders.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche today shrugged off concerns about the legality of the arrests of Maduro and his wife, saying the Trump administration “did everything within the law.”

The U.S. didn’t do “anything that violates international law,” Blanche said on NBC News NOW’s “Top Story with Tom Llamas” when he was asked whether the military attack and the subsequent arrests violated the United Nations charter, as some foreign governments have alleged.

“Absolutely, positively not,” Blanche said.

Read the full story here.

After Maduro's, there is one person who still wields considerable power in Venezuela: Diosdado Cabello, its interior minister.

Cabello is named as a defendant in the federal indictment announced Saturday that charges Maduro, his wife and four other people with various narco-terrorism conspiracy and other drug and weapons offenses. The indictment alleges Cabello conspired with drug cartels to bring cocaine to the United States.

A 2020 indictment alleges conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and violation of federal U.S. firearm laws. That led to an offer of a reward for Cabello’s capture, which increased to $25 million last year.

The latest indictment says Cabello, whose ministry includes oversight of police, is “one of the most powerful officials in Venezuela.”

Besides his appointment as a Maduro Cabinet minister, Cabello has held other potent roles, including vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, member of the nation’s National Constituent Assembly — the result of efforts to fortify Maduro’s hold on the presidency — and captain in the military.

Venezuela will not have new elections in the next 30 days, Trump said in an interview with NBC News today, projecting a longer-term engagement two days after U.S. forces captured Maduro.

“We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next month. “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health.”

Read the full story here.

In a rare joint statement, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized the White House for excluding the Judiciary Committee from today’s briefing about the capture of Maduro.

“There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing,” the statement said. “The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable and we are following up to ensure the Committee receives warranted information regarding Maduro’s arrest.” 

The Senate leaders pointed out that Trump's administration has described Maduro’s capture as a law enforcement operation on multiple occasions. All three agencies involved in the operation — the Justice Department, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration — are under the committee's oversight.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, told reporters he felt the decision to capture Maduro was "an appropriate action" before he headed into a congressional briefing on the operation that ousted him.

“What’s very important to acknowledge here is that this is an operation that did not require prior consent of Congress, prior authorization of Congress,” Johnson said. “It required notification.”

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was more critical of the Trump administration's lack of transparency at a news conference today, where he said there remained "a lot of questions that need to be answered."

"This wasn’t a law enforcement action," Jeffries said. "They are lying to the American people when they say that. It was an unprecedented military action."

Colombia is aligned with the U.S. government's shared goal of defeating drug trafficking, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a statement to NBC News following Trump's public feud with Colombia's president.

Sánchez remarked that Colombia has paid the high price of fighting drug trafficking as hundreds of its soldiers and police officers have been killed while "confronting this criminal cancer." He described Colombia as the most reliable ally in the fight against illegal drugs.

"We invite world leaders to learn firsthand about our reality, so that they have direct and objective information to inform their decision-making, and to prevent self-serving interests and disinformation from distorting the truth of this global fight," Sánchez said.

Trump appeared to threaten Colombian President Gustavo Petro as he spoke to reporters on Air Force One last night, calling him a "sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." In his statement to NBC News, Sánchez emphasized that Colombia has prevented "billions of doses" of cocaine from entering the global market.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the work of the military for its "support of law enforcement" in Venezuela on Saturday night when the U.S. captured Maduro.

"And then we saw, three nights ago, in downtown Caracas in Venezuela as nearly 200 of our greatest Americans went downtown in Caracas," Hegseth said in a speech at a shipbuilding facility in Virginia.

He also took a dig at Russian air defenses, which he quipped "didn’t quite work so well" that night. Hegseth described the Venezuela operation as "re-establishing deterrence."

"Because of President Trump’s leadership, the world is taking notice. They are noticing American power," Hegseth said.

In Bogotá, things are quiet and life is progressing as normal. But people here, like most people in the region and around the world, are trying to figure out what just happened and what it all means.

After having witnessed a unilateral regime change and the capture of Maduro in neighboring Venezuela, people are wondering where it goes, will there be more countries to follow and is this just the start. 

Now it seems we know what the Trump doctrine is. He hinted at it when he was first elected. One of the first things he did after he took office was rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

In those first few days, he also talked about how China had taken over Panama and how the U.S. should control Greenland.

Delcy Rodríguez told Venezuelans that she came "with sorrow" to be sworn in as interim president after Maduro was captured and taken to the U.S., which she described as an "illegitimate military aggression."

"I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two colleagues in the United States of America: President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady of the country, Cilia Flores," Rodriguez said during the televised oath.

She also invoked the name of Símon Bolívar, the Venezuelan hero who led the revolution against Spanish rule, as an inspiration for the nation's future. Rodríguez said she would not rest until Venezuela reached its "destiny" as a free and sovereign nation.

"Let us swear as one country to move Venezuela forward in these terrible times of threats against the stability and peace of the nation," she said.

Jane Rosenberg

Maduro and Flores in court in New York today.

Venezuela's government has ordered police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” according to a text of the decree published today.

The decree has been in force since Saturday, when a state of emergency was put in effect after the U.S. attack that ousted Maduro. It was published in full today.

China is watching. Russia is watching. This is a momentous time when the geopolitical plates of the world seem to be shifting and realigning. 

People in China could argue that if Trump can do what he wants and impose his will on countries close to the U.S., well then, China should be able to do what it wants in Taiwan, the self-ruling island democracy Beijing claims as its territory. 

Similar arguments could be made in Russia about Ukraine.

Venezuelans waiting outside today’s court hearing said they were not surprised that Maduro pleaded not guilty but hoped he would ultimately “face justice.”

“It doesn’t surprise, because they’ve played the victim for years,” Grecia Vera, 35, a Venezuelan immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for three years, said in Spanish.

Asked what she thought about Maduro’s telling the court he had been “kidnapped,” she said she felt he was mocking the Venezuelan people.

“He is the one who has kidnapped millions of Venezuelans, politicians, students, even colleagues of mine,” she said.

Delcy Rodríguez, who was Venezuela's vice president under Maduro, has been sworn in as the country's new president.

She was sworn in by her brother Jorge Rodríguez, who earlier today was himself sworn in as president of the National Assembly.

Venezuela’s supreme court ruled that Delcy Rodríguez would assume the role of acting president after American forces captured Maduro and took him to the U.S. He made his first court appearance in New York City today.

Rodríguez has invited the U.S. to collaborate with Venezuela but said the country maintains its right to “peace, development, sovereignty and a future.”

Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president

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Switzerland has frozen any assets held in the country by Maduro and associates, the governing Federal Council said today, following his arrest by U.S. forces in Caracas and transfer to the U.S.

The measure, effective immediately and valid for four years, aims to prevent an outflow of potentially illicit assets, and it is in addition to existing sanctions imposed on Venezuela since 2018, the statement said.

The asset freeze does not affect members of the current Venezuelan government, and Switzerland said it will seek to return any funds found to have been illicitly acquired to benefit the Venezuelan people.

The Federal Council said the situation in Venezuela was volatile, with various outcomes possible in the coming days and weeks.

Sixteen tankers that were docked in Venezuela are no longer visible and four are confirmed to have departed the country, according to Samir Madani, co-founder of Tankertrackers.com, who tracks the whereabouts of crude oil tankers in specific areas.

Madani said he noticed the 16 tankers were no longer there shortly after the U.S. military removed Nicolás Maduro from the country.

The four tankers confirmed to have left hold approximately 12 million barrels of primarily crude oil, Madani told NBC News.

The State Department posted a graphic of Trump with the words "This is OUR hemisphere" superimposed on it.

In the post on X, the agency added: "President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened."

Protesters against Trump’s actions in Venezuela gathered this afternoon among dueling crowds of demonstrators in New York City.

As a drum banged, the large crowd chanted, "Release Maduro right now!" and "Hands off Venezuela’s oil, hands off Venezuela's soil!"

Many held signs calling for the release of the deposed Venezuelan leader and his wife.

Rae Lee, the chair of Seattle Against War, told NBC News that tax dollars should be serving the needs of Americans. Lee was among activists who recently went to Venezuela, where the group met many Venezuelans in support of Maduro who blamed the country’s problems on U.S. imperialism and the years of sanctions against the leftist government.

Rae Lee and other protesters call for Maduro's release. Daniella Silva / NBC News

"We believe that U.S. intervention and foreign wars should stop," Lee said. "It doesn’t serve the American people."

Lee added that many Venezuelans in the U.S. have been treated terribly by the Trump administration, which has canceled legal forms of immigration relief and ramped up deportation efforts.

"Venezuelans who have been forced to migrate because of the difficult conditions of U.S. sanctions that have killed people are being kidnapped by ICE raids," Lee said.

Cilia Flores had bandages and bruising on her face in court today, according to witnesses.

How the courtroom reacted as Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty

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Her attorneys also mentioned in court that she may be injured elsewhere, including bruising to her ribs.

Flores and Nicolás Maduro referred to themselves as the first lady and president of Venezuela, respectively. They also took notes in court.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is still "deeply concerned" that international law was violated in the U.S. military action in Venezuela ahead of the emergency Security Council meeting called to address the incident.

Guterres' concerns were outlined in a statement this morning, addressed to President Donald Trump, by his undersecretary, Rosemary DiCarlo. It was described as a potentially "flagrant violation" of the U.N. charter and as a risk of deepening Venezuela's economic and political turmoil.

"Mr. President, excellencies in situations as confused, as complex as the one we now face, it is important to stick to principles, respect for the U.N. charter and all other applicable legal frameworks to safeguard peace and security, respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states," DiCarlo said. "The prohibition of the threat or use of force the power of the law must prevail."

Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, was seen leaving the court following the Venezuelan leader's arraignment this afternoon.

When asked to comment on Maduro's claims that he was kidnapped, Pollack told NBC News, "I think what President Maduro said in court speaks for itself."

At the very end of Maduro's arraignment, he turned to wave at the crowd, prompting a man to stand up and share a message to the ousted Venezuelan leader.

"You will pay on behalf of Venezuela," the person said.

In response, Maduro said: "In the name of God, I will be free."

With a large Venezuelan flag draped around her shoulders, Pia Baez said her people had "so little hope" that Maduro would ever be truly taken out of power.

"This was a light at the end of the tunnel and it was so joyful," said Baez, 40, just as Nicolás Maduro's federal hearing on narco-terrorism conspiracy and other charges began in New York City today.

"We are here for our families and so many others," she told NBC News, adding her parents and other relatives are still in Venezuela and subsist off money she is able to send them from the U.S.

Pia Baez. Daniella Silva / NBC News

Baez said she understood that a full transition of Maduro’s government could not happen overnight, but she hopes that eventually Venezuela will finally have a government the people voted for, citing the vast allegations that the country’s last election was fraudulent.

Mile Rojas, 53, and her husband, Manuel Rojas, 57, were also among the protesters. The two are Venezuelan immigrants living in Florida who arrived in New York City this weekend to the news that the U.S. had captured Maduro.

“There are so many emotions really, because we have been waiting for this for so many years,” Mile Rojas said. “This man caused the total destruction of my country.”

Manuel Rojas said they knew they had to come outside the courthouse today. 

Mile Rojas. Daniella Silva / NBC News

“We wanted to be a part of history,” he said, adding that the protesters who are against Trump taking Maduro "don’t understand."

When asked what he thought about what would come next for Venezuela’s government, he sighed and said, “That, we’ll have to see.”

The next court hearing in the case will be March 17 at 11 a.m., Judge Alvin Hellerstein said.

Nicolás Maduro gathered his papers and stopped to look at the gallery before he was escorted out of the courtroom along with his wife.

Cilia Flores has "severe bruising on her rib" and "will need appropriate attention" while she is held in the Metropolitan Detention Center and awaits trial, her lawyer said in court today.

Judge Hellerstein noted that attorneys can work that out with prosecutors.

It is not immediately clear how Flores sustained the bruising. She was captured on Saturday by U.S. forces from her home in Venezuela with Maduro.

Pollack said in court that Maduro also has "some health and medical issues" that required appropriate medical attention in detention.

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he is "not seeking release at this time" on bail, but that he may later.

"When appropriate, you can make your bail application," Judge Alvin Hellerstein said.

Judge Hellerstein notified Maduro and Flores of their right to confer with consular officials while they are held on federal charges in New York, a right Maduro said they would like to exercise.

"Yes, we understand it, and we would like to have a consular visit," Maduro said in court.

U.S. law requires foreign nationals to notify their country's nearest consulate.

Cilia Flores entered a not guilty plea in court minutes ago.

"Not guilty, completely innocent," Flores said in Spanish when asked by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

After being read a summary of the charging documents against him, ousted Venezuelan leader Maduro pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York.

"I am not guilty," Maduro said in Spanish when Judge Hellerstein asked how he would plead.

"I am a decent man. I am still the president of my country," Maduro added.

'I am still the president of my country': Maduro pleads not guilty in arraignment

02:04

Minutes after today's proceedings started, Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked Nicolás Maduro to identify himself.

Maduro, who called himself the president of Venezuela, said he was “kidnapped” and “captured” from his home in Caracas, Venezuela.

"I am a prisoner of war," he added in Spanish.

Hellerstein told him that he has the right to an attorney at no cost if he can't afford one, and that he could be released before trial unless there is a reason not to.

"I did not know of these rights; your honor has informed me of them now," Maduro said.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein walked into the courtroom minutes ago, and the case was called, officially kicking off today's proceedings in Manhattan.

Maduro is walking into the federal courtroom in Manhattan. His initial court appearance is set to begin any minute.

He is wearing an orange shirt with a blue shirt over it, beige pants and orange slippers. He put a headset on so he could hear a Spanish translation.

His wife, Cilia Flores, is sitting two seats away, wearing similar prison garb. 

Nicolás Maduro's first court appearance since his arrest last week is expected to begin shortly at a Manhattan federal courthouse.

His attorney, Barry Pollack, arrived at the courtroom minutes ago. Pollack walked over to the prosecutors and shook hands with each one of them.

A large crowd of Venezuelans supportive of the detention of Maduro stood outside the lower Manhattan courthouse ahead of his hearing today, in an emotional gathering where many celebrated the toppling of the Venezuelan leader and lamented what they lost at home. Venezuelan flags of all sizes filled the crowd, along with some signs supporting Trump.

“Thank you, President Trump! I don’t know how to thank him,” Carmen, 50, a Venezuelan immigrant, said through tears in Spanish. 

Carmen, who said she was afraid to give her last name because of fear for her loved ones in Venezuela, has been in the U.S. for three years with her family after fleeing the regime.

“This is a dream for me,” she said.

Carmen, who only gave her first name, demonstrates outside the court today. Daniella Silva / NBC News

“That man who is being held here is an assassin!” she yelled while pointing at the courthouse.

The large crowd chanted in Spanish, “Venezuela! Freedom!” and broke out in song, singing Venezuela’s national anthem and then cheering.

Carmen said she hoped one day her country would see true democracy.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein will be presiding over the Nicolás Maduro case.

The 92-year-old was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton in 1998 to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He became a senior judge in 2011.

Hellerstein has presided over many high-profile cases throughout his career, including a lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein and many 9/11-related cases.

Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Maduro’s son, is speaking now before the Venezuelan National Assembly.

He referred to his dad as "President Maduro" and called for the release of his parents, whom he described as being "kidnapped" in his speech. Guerra asserted that Venezuela was fighting "for the well-being and very existence of all humanity."

"International law exists to curb empires, and without international law, the world returns to the law of the jungle," he said. "If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today, it is Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that decides not to submit."

Maduro heads into the court as his son speaks to the Venezuelan General Assembly

05:22

Russian U.N. Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenz condemned the Trump administration's attack on Venezuela and arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro, calling it "a return to an era of lawlessness."

"There are no and can be no justifications for the crime cynically committed by the United States in Caracas," Nebenz said.

Nebenz also called on the U.S. to release Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

"The United States must not be allowed to assert itself in the role of some kind of supreme judge — the only one with the right to invade any country, determine guilt, impose punishments, and carry them out, disregarding the principles of international jurisdiction, sovereignty, and non-interference," Nebenz said.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's Swiss assets were frozen by the Swiss Federal Council today, according to a news release.

People associated with Maduro also had their Swiss-based assets frozen, the council said, not specifying the individuals.

"Should future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people," the council said in a statement.

The asset freeze went into effect immediately and will remain valid "for four years until further notice," according to the council.

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be represented in court by Barry Pollack, a Washington-based attorney, according to court documents filed this morning.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived at a Manhattan courthouse earlier this morning ahead of today's court appearance.

Pollack, a noted trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience, recently negotiated a plea agreement that led to Julian Assange's release from prison. Assange, the publisher of WikiLeaks, was charged under the Espionage Act for publishing classified information.

President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters today that Mexico does not condone U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

"We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries," Sheinbaum said. "The history of Latin America is clear and compelling. Intervention has never brought democracy. It has never generated well-being or lasting stability. Only the people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources, and freely define their form of government."

Unilateral action and invasion, she added, cannot be the basis for international relations in the 21st century.

"It's necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico, the people are in charge and that we are a free, independent, and sovereign country," Sheinbaum said. "Cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no."

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, Trump said the U.S. has "to do something with Mexico," claiming that drug cartels are running the country. Sheinbaum said today Mexico has been combating illegal drug trade, and cooperates with the United States to prevent fentanyl and other drugs from reaching its population, particularly young people.

Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images

Demonstrators hold signs in support of the ousted Venezuelan leader outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse as Maduro awaits his arraignment hearing today.

Cilia Flores, the wife of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, will be represented by Mark Donnelly, a Texas-based attorney, according to court documents filed this morning.

Donnelly assisted in the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Florida's two senators and a House lawmaker, all Republicans, are commending and defending the Trump administration's actions over the weekend in Venezuela.

"When I got the phone call early, very early, Saturday morning from Marco Rubio, I was ecstatic. I was always hoping this was going to happen," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said at a press conference in Miami about the U.S. capture of Maduro.

Scott praised Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, whom he said is "not probably getting enough recognition today." He added: "If it hadn’t been for what she was willing to do and others ... we also wouldn’t be here. And I want to congratulate her [on winning the] Nobel Peace Prize."

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., said that Maduro "hijacked" the Venezuelan government and was "not the rightful president."

Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was the vice president in Maduro's administration, is set to be sworn in today, but how she will steer the country forward remains to be seen.

Rodríguez has been a longtime confidant of Maduro's and a fierce critic of U.S. politics and Trump, but she changed her tune yesterday. Venezuelans are hoping to get a better idea of her plan today at her swearing-in ceremony, when she will address the nation for the first time as president.

People in the country are still grappling with what happened Saturday, a shock wave that hangs over the population.

Some in the country don't care who runs their country, as long as Maduro and his team are out. Others believe Trump crossed the line and that Venezuelans should choose who runs the country.

04:21

Around a hundred protesters gathered outside a courthouse in New York City this morning to make demands concerning Venezuela.

Many held Venezuelan flags, while some held up signs reading "Free Pres. Nicolá Maduro and Cilia Flores, Now!" and "U.S.A. HANDS OFF VENEZUELA."

Demonstrators outside court in New York this morning. Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images

While many demanded that the U.S. cease its actions in the South American country, one woman supported those actions.

"Thank you, America, thank you, army," the woman said in Spanish. "Thank you, Donald Trump!"

Demonstrators protest outside New York courthouse before Maduro arraignment

00:23

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in the U.S. over the weekend ahead of a scheduled court appearance in New York today at noon, as Trump declared the U.S. now runs Venezuela aboard Air Force One last night.

"We're gonna run it, fix it," Trump said yesterday, referring to the South American nation. He declined to confirm that U.S. troops wouldn't be involved on the ground, and issued a warning to Venezuela's interim leader.

02:47

Strikes broke out overnight Friday into Saturday as 150 American aircraft launched from 20 bases. The attack was long planned.

The U.S. will exert control by maintaining a hold over Venezuela's oil, saying it will keep restrictions on oil there in place for "maximum leverage."

Cleanup operations are underway in Caracas and Catia La Mar following damage caused by U.S. strikes on Venezuela. The scenes below show citizens dealing with the destruction of homes across the two cities.

A maintenance employee helps pick up debris and clean a home yesterday that was damaged after a missile impacted in the backyard, in Caracas. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Employees from a waste disposal company pick up debris at a home yesterday, which was damaged by a missile in the backyard in Caracas. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Family members embrace by the rubble after a U.S. airstrike destroyed a TV and telephone tower that collapsed onto their home, on the outskirts of Caracas. Maxwell Briceno / Reuters

A man stands at his home, which he says was hit during U.S. military operations to capture Maduro, in Catia La Mar yesterday. Matias Delacroix / AP

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on the United States' capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro at 10 a.m. today in New York City.

Venezuela formally requested the meeting of the council, which includes as permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as 10 other nonpermanent member nations, according to a U.N. statement.

A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement Saturday that the United States' actions in Venezuela "constitute a dangerous precedent. The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect — by all — of international law, including the UN Charter."

The United Nations has also documented human rights abuses, including alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence by Venezuelan officials. But the U.N. said those issues can be considered separately from a nation's attack on another sovereign state for violations of its laws from abroad.

"Alleged violations do not justify a military intervention that breaches international law, while the illegality of such an intervention does not diminish the responsibility of Venezuelan officials for years of repression, amounting to crimes against humanity," the U.N. said, attributing the argument to Canada-based human rights lawyer Alex Neve.

The Security Council's tools include imposing economic sanctions on a country deemed to have acted outside the law and the charter, military action, and facilitating multinational solutions to conflicts.

The Russian Embassy in Caracas is warning its citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela.

"In connection with the U.S. armed aggression against Venezuela and threats of further attacks, Russian citizens are strongly advised to refrain from traveling to Venezuela unless absolutely necessary," said a warning from the embassy, distributed by the Russian Foreign Ministry today.

An artist holds his painting of Nicolás Maduro during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Russia, one of Maduro's closest allies, has called the U.S. military operation to remove the Venezuelan leader "an unacceptable encroachment on the sovereignty of an independent state" despite invading its neighbor, Ukraine, nearly four years ago. Moscow has also called for the release of Maduro and his wife from U.S. custody.

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said in a Sunday statement that while Trump's actions in Venezuela are unlawful, they are consistent with other actions he's taken.

"And this is by no means something Trump invented," Medvedev said. "Uncle Sam’s main motivation has always been simple: other people’s resources. One need only recall the maliciously cynical Albright, who openly said that it was unfair for Russia to have been given such wealth, therefore it should be redistributed. The same logic applies to Ukraine’s rare-earth materials, which Trump immediately brought up."

More than 48 hours after the U.S. captured Maduro, thousands of Americans remain stranded abroad, with airlines scrambling to catch up after temporary airspace restrictions over parts of the Caribbean and Venezuela.

The restrictions, which were lifted yesterday, affected more than a dozen airports and led to more than 1,000 flight cancellations during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year following the holidays.

02:27

There's a snowball effect, which means it may take time for airlines to catch up and return to their regular schedules.

Law enforcement officials secure the area of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse as Maduro arrives for his initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges this morning.

Shannon Stapleton / Reuters

Trump's talk of regime change puts the United States at the center of conflict in a new region, with countries around the world watching closely.

That leaves both America and Venezuela facing challenges in the days and weeks ahead.

02:57

A senior White House official tells NBC News that Maduro’s "overt arrogance," including his rejection of multiple offers to surrender and regular public dancing, helped persuade some within the president’s team that Maduro was mocking them and trying to call Trump’s bluff over his future.

The New York Times first reported the news.

The same official tried to clarify the different answers from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over whether the U.S. is, in fact, running Venezuela.

"The oil embargo will remain until the U.S. demands are met,” the official said, adding that "the U.S. has now been placed in a position of maximum leverage where we will continue to make demands of the Venezuelan government that align with the interests of both the American and Venezuelan people."

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrived at a federal courthouse in Manhattan today for a court appearance. Cameras and police lined the streets along the courthouse.

07:10

He was loaded into an armored truck on his way to the courthouse, where he will face charges of narcoterrorism, among others listed in the indictment. His son and three other top lieutenants are also listed in the indictment, but only Maduro and his wife are expected in court today.

The couple will appear before a senior U.S. district court judge and enter a plea. The arraignment is the first court appearance for both Maduro and Flores.

The hearing could be quick, but it remains to be seen how long the procedural appearance could take. Following court, Maduro and Flores are likely to stay at the Metropolitan Detention Center as they await trial, which could be as long as a year away.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport this morning as he heads toward the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges.

Adam Gray / Reuters

Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appeared in handcuffs as he was escorted out of the Metro Detention Center in Brooklyn where he was being held and put on a helicopter. He's due to appear in a New York City court in a few hours.

WNBC

Stills from a WNBC news helicopter show Maduro escorted by federal agents today.  WNBC

Several of the companies that could be well positioned to profit from a surge in oil activity in Venezuela saw their stock prices jump this morning.

Shares of Chevron, the only U.S. energy firm that is currently authorized to operate in Venezuela, soared as much as 10% in premarket trading. Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips shares also rose around 4%.

Oil prices swung overnight, as investors and traders weighed the market forces that could be unleashed by Trump’s attack on Venezuela and his comments about what could be next for the country and its massive oil reserves.

Read the full story here.

After Trump appeared to threaten a military operation, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said the U.S. president’s comments “disregard the fundamental principles governing relations between sovereign states” and are “incompatible” with respect due to Colombia’s democratic institutions.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One last night, Trump threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling him a “sick man” and adding he “likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. He’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you.”

Asked about a potential U.S. operation in Colombia, he said, “It sounds good to me.”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogota in October.  Ivan Valencia / AP

In response to Trump, the ministry said Petro was legitimately elected, and “any statement that attempts to disqualify him, directly or indirectly, constitutes undue interference in the internal affairs of the country, contrary to the norms of international law.”

Separately, Petro posted a strongly-worded post on X, saying he was ready to take up arms if Colombia is threatened. “So know that you are facing a commander of the people. Free Colombia forever,” he wrote.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry called today for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores to be freed after what Tehran said was a “completely illegal” capture of the couple by the U.S.

“Kidnapping the president of Venezuela and his wife is not something to be proud of,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.

Iran has condemned the U.S. operation to remove Maduro, saying it violated rules of international law. “This dangerous precedent will certainly have serious consequences for the entire international community,” Baghaei said today.

It comes amid widespread protests that have rocked Iran for nearly a week, prompting Trump to threaten intervention if a crackdown continues and “peaceful protesters” are killed. Trump reiterated those threats aboard Air Force One last night, saying: “We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.” 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a call with Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado yesterday as the pair condemned Nicolás Maduro’s "brutally oppressive, criminal, and illegitimate regime."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Montreal, Quebec, in Nov. Andrej Ivanov / AFP via Getty Images

Machado is not seen as a possible replacement for Maduro after Trump said he believed she did not have the support or respect to become the leader of the country.

Machado intended to run against Maduro in 2024, but was barred from running for office. She went into hiding fearing persecution, but escaped in secret with the help from the U.S. government to claim her Nobel Peace Prize. Machado supported Trump's pressure campaign on Maduro in the months before he was removed.

Carney and Machado underscored "the importance of seizing this opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity in Venezuela," the readout of the call said, as Carney promised Canada's support for a "peaceful, negotiated, and Venezuelan-led transition process that promotes stability and respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people."

Supporters of Maduro took to the streets of Caracas yesterday to protest his capture and the U.S. attack. Armed paramilitary members, known as “colectivos,” were pictured at the protest alongside the large civilian crowd.

Demonstrators rally during a protest against Nicolas Maduro's capture, in the center of Caracas yesterday. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Paramilitary members (known as "colectivos") in the center of Caracas yesterday. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

A paramilitary member holds his weapon during rally protesting Maduro's capture, in Caracas yesterday. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

A Maduro supporter at a rally in the center of Caracas yesterday. Andrea Hernández Briceño / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has hit back after Trump last night likened his country to Venezuela and its leadership under Maduro, suggesting Petro might experience a similar fate.

"I will respond to them once I know what Trump’s illegitimate threat really means," Petro said in a post on X.

Trump's remarks drifted to Colombia as he spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on the flight back to Washington. He called Venezuela a "very sick neighbor," then turned to the country that produces as much as 80% of the world's cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Colombia is very sick, too," he said. "Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you."

When a reporter asked if there will be an operation against Colombia by the United States, Trump responded: "Sounds good to me."

Tensions and confusion rise along Venezuela’s border with Colombia after U.S. attack

02:08

Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to refer to the U.S. attack on Venezuela in comments today, saying the world was experiencing turbulence and that “unilateral bullying seriously impacts the international order.”

“All countries should respect the development path independently chosen by other peoples, abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and major countries should take the lead,” he said during a meeting in Beijing with the Irish prime minister, without mentioning the U.S. by name.

Chinese President Xi Jinping talks to Ireland's prime minister during a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing today. Andy Wong / AFP via Getty Images

China, one of Venezuela’s main allies, has strongly condemned the U.S. attack, saying it violated international law and threatens peace and security in Latin America.

At a regular briefing in Beijing today, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson again called on the U.S. to immediately release Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, “stop subverting the Venezuelan regime, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation.”

Cuban state media said 32 Cubans were killed in the U.S. attack launched as part of the effort to take Maduro into custody.

The 32 died "after fierce resistance, either in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings of the facilities," it said in a statement, adding that two days of mourning will take place starting Tuesday.

Trump mentioned Cuba’s casualties while speaking with reporters Sunday night aboard Air Force One on the flight back to Washington.

“You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,” Trump said. “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side. But a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday trying to protect him.”

New details emerge about planning before Venezuela raid

02:06

Asked who was currently in charge of Venezuela by reporters aboard Air Force One last night, President Trump said the U.S. was "dealing with the people that just got sworn in. And don’t ask me who’s in charge, because I’ll give you an answer, and it’ll be very controversial."

Asked what that meant, he said: "It means we’re in charge."

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas, on Jun. 23, 2025.  Pedro Mattey / AFP via Getty Images

Trump said he had yet to speak with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez but again reiterated that if she does not cooperate, she will face a situation “probably worse” than Maduro. Pressed on the future of elections in Venezuela, Trump said, “We’re going to run it, fix it. We’ll have elections at the right time.” 

Trump last night said Maduro's capture will affect a pipeline of cash from Venezuela to Cuba that has supported the island nation’s totalitarian communist government, but he denied any planned U.S. action against the Cuban government.

“I think it’s just going to fall. I don’t think we need any action," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the flight back to Washington when asked about possible U.S. action against Cuba.

Trump's comments contrasted those of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who during a news conference Saturday, said, “Look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit."

During an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” yesterday morning, Rubio said “the Cuban government is a huge problem" and that, "I don’t think it’s any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime.”

But Trump sounded a milder note last night, telling reporters that the country "now has no income" following Maduro's ouster.

02:04

Major air travel disruptions caused by the U.S. raid on Venezuela began to ease yesterday, even as some flight disruptions lingered.

Danny Cabrera, who was vacationing in Saint Croix, said the mood was "somber."

"Right now, it just feels like everybody is just kind of drained," he said.

Cabrera was supposed to fly out Saturday to visit his grandmother who is in hospice care in the United States. While he did manage to get a flight out last night, others were still stuck.

Emma Blanco, who was vacationing in Aruba, was only able to find a flight that leaves Wednesday to Toronto, followed by another flight the following day to get her back home to New York.

Oil prices edged higher in Asian trading, while the prices of precious metals surged as markets registered a mixed reaction to the U.S. capture of Maduro in a weekend raid.

Share prices opened higher, with benchmarks in South Korea and Japan again setting fresh records. U.S. futures were mixed after eking out small gains Friday.

Shortly after trading began, U.S. benchmark crude oil was up 12 cents at $57.44 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 14 cents to $60.89 per barrel.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 jumped 2.9% to 51,777.99. The index closed at a year-end high for 2025 and resumed trading only on Monday. South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.3% to 4,406.55. It had ended Friday with a record high close. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.1% to 8,735.60, while Taiwan’s benchmark climbed 2.1%.

The congressional “Gang of Eight,” as well as the top two lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations/Affairs committees, will get a classified briefing this evening about the operation to capture Maduro, four sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

The Gang of Eight are Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va.; House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark.; and House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes, D-Conn. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi are all expected to attend.

Though a briefing for the entire Senate and House has not been scheduled, a Senate GOP leadership aide said there’s an ongoing effort to hold an all-senators briefing as early as midweek.

Oil prices swung this evening, as investors and traders weighed the market forces that could be unleashed by Trump’s attack on Venezuela and his comments about what could be next for the country and its massive oil reserves.

The price of U.S. crude oil, known by traders as West Texas Intermediate, initially fell when trading began at 6 p.m. ET, before rising as much as half a percent and then falling again shortly after 10 p.m.

The international benchmark, known as Brent crude oil, followed a similar pattern. As of 10:40 p.m., it was trading slightly lower than it had when markets first opened.

“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country,” Trump said yesterday, shortly after U.S. forces captured Maduro.

Read the full story here.

Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear in federal court at noon tomorrow, according to a notice from the Southern District of New York.

He will appear before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein at the U.S. Courthouse.

Cilia Flores, Maduro's wife, is also expected to make a court appearance tomorrow, a court spokesperson said. Additional details about the proceedings were not immediately available.

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting leader, invited the United States today to work together on an agenda but said Venezuela maintains its right to “peace, development, sovereignty, and a future.”

She made the remarks in a statement on Telegram, in which she also said Venezuela can exist in a balanced relationship with the U.S. and neighbors while maintaining "non-interference."

"We extend an invitation to the U.S. government to work together on a cooperation agenda, oriented toward shared development, within the framework of international law, and to strengthen lasting community coexistence," Rodríguez said.

She directed a line at Trump: "Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. That has always been President Nicolás Maduro's position, and it is the position of all of Venezuela at this moment."

How Trump is warning Venezuela's new leader to cooperate 

03:42

Trump laid out a stark warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, telling The Atlantic that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

Trump’s comments are a shift in rhetoric from yesterday, when he told reporters that Rodríguez had a “gracious” conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“She had a long conversation with Marco, and she said, ‘We’ll do whatever you need,’” Trump told reporters. “I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice. We’re going to have this done right.”

Read the full story here.

• A CIA team, steel doors and a fateful phone call: How the U.S. captured Maduro in Venezuela
• Analysis: A new Trump foreign policy doctrine emphasizes threats of regime change
• U.S. allies and foes fear Maduro’s capture sets precedent for more American intervention
• Marco Rubio says he believes Cuba is ‘in a lot of trouble’