Trump says U.S. is ‘in charge’ of Venezuela and sends warning to interim leader
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Trump laid out a 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.”
What we know
- Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to make his first court appearance in New York City tomorrow after the United States captured him in a surprise attack early yesterday and flew him to New York.
- Maduro faces a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge. He and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores, were both charged with cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses.
- The U.S. will continue striking alleged drug boats, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told “Meet the Press” this morning. “We are at war against drug trafficking organizations; it's not a war against Venezuela,” he said.
- President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela temporarily and will tap into its oil reserves. Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has maintained that Venezuela will defend its resources.
- Trump laid out a warning to Rodríguez, saying in an interview with The Atlantic that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price.”
- Rubio said today that the U.S. does not have forces on the ground in Venezuela; however, Trump has not ruled it out.
- The administration’s surprise ouster and capture of a foreign head of state have drawn praise from Trump’s supporters but also bipartisan criticism, with some lawmakers on Capitol Hill questioning the legality of the attack and expressing fears it could drag the U.S. into another costly and drawn-out war.
- Sigue las actualizaciones en vivo en español en Noticias Telemundo. (Follow live updates in Spanish on Noticias Telemundo.)
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'We're in charge' of Venezuela, Trump insists
Trump insisted tonight that "we're in charge" of Venezuela, even as the country's interim leader has said it will defend its resources.
Trump told reports on Air Force One that he has not spoken to Delcy Rodríguez but that "at the right time I will."
Asked whether he’ll demand free and fair elections in the upended nation, Trump said, "It depends.” Before elections take place, he said, the country needs to be "fixed."
“We’ll have elections at the right time, but the main thing you have to fix — it’s a broken country," he said.
Trump, who has made no secret about wanting to tap into Venezuela's vast oil reserves, also said oil companies want to enter the country.
“We’re going to have to have big investments by the oil companies and bring back the infrastructure,” he said.
U.S. needs 'total access' to Venezuela's resources, Trump says
The U.S. needs Venezuela's interim president to provide "total access" to her country's resources, Trump said tonight.
“We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he said during a media gathering on Air Force One.
He said that Delcy Rodríguez is “cooperating” with the U.S. and that his administration is "dealing with the people that just got sworn in."
Asked where he stands on Rodríguez, Trump said she "will face a situation probably worse than Maduro."
Case against Maduro is 'infallible,' Trump says
Trump tonight expressed confidence that Maduro will be convicted, calling the case against him "infallible."
Trump was speaking to reporters when he was asked what the "endgame" is regarding Maduro's court appearance tomorrow.
"There is no endgame. We're just going to go through a slog of a trial. ... We'll see how we do. The case is, it's infallible," Trump said.
'We have to run' Venezuela 'right' before presidential elections, Trump says
Elections in Venezuela should take place only after the country is stabilized following the capture of Maduro, Trump told the New York Post today.
“We should run the country with law and order. We should run the country where we can take advantage of the economics of what they have — which is valuable oil and valuable other things,” he told the newspaper.
Asked about Venezuelan opposition leader Marina Corina Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October, Trump reiterated his belief that she does not have the popular support needed to run the country.
“She could only win an election if I did support her. But I like her very much,” he added.
Machado won the opposition’s primary election and intended to run against Maduro last year, but the government barred her from running for office.
Trump went on to say: “Maybe [Machado] should run. Maybe somebody else should run. But first, we have to run the country right.”
Venezuelan opposition figure Edmundo González asks army to recognize him as president
Edmundo González, whom the U.S. and other governments recognized as the winner of Venezuela’s 2024 contested presidential election, referred to himself as "president" of the country in a video on social media today and asked the army to recognize him as commander in chief.
“Today, the one who usurped power is no longer in the country and faces justice,” he said in a video on X.
“True normalization of the country” will come when “the majority choice expressed by the Venezuelan people on July 28th is unequivocally respected, as various political and social actors have already stated," he said.
In the July 28, 2024, election, Venezuela’s electoral council, which was stacked with regime loyalists, declared Maduro the winner, though the U.S. recognized González for winning majority of votes. In light of Maduro’s capture yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron has pitched González to “swiftly ensure this transition” and lead Venezuela.
However, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president.
"This is a historic moment, and we face it with serenity, clarity and democratic commitment," González said.
Caracas resident recalls hearing explosions and seeing flashing lights during U.S. strike
Andrea Huerta, 38, who lives in Caracas, described hearing what sounded like thunder in the sky early yesterday when the U.S. launched strikes in Venezuela and captured Maduro.
“I looked out the window and saw many lights flashing, and these lights fell right on a neighborhood across the street, where there are some antennas, and caused a huge explosion. Obviously, there were many civilians in that neighborhood, and the power went out immediately,” she said in an interview conducted in Spanish.
She recalled hearing “many, many explosions in downtown Caracas.”
“When I saw the explosions and heard the screams, I thought, ‘They’re invading us!’” she said. “Obviously, we were expecting this moment because the Venezuelan government had already spoken to us many times about this situation, and we knew that something could happen at any moment.”
Huerta described a feeling of unease among fellow Venezuelans and uncertainty about the future.
“Venezuela has never been a country at war, and obviously we’re very surprised, nervous and obviously a little afraid of what might happen in the coming hours and days,” Huerta said. “At the same time, we have a kind of doubt, a sense of unease; we don’t really know where we stand, what new laws will be applied or how we, as a people, will benefit or be harmed. Obviously, we’re waiting to see what happens.”
She said she’s convinced the U.S. will make direct decisions in the country.
“Let’s hope everything goes well and that the people don’t end up suffering the consequences of other people’s actions,” Huerta said.
‘She is going to pay a very big price’: Trump issues new threat to interim leader of Venezuela
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.”
Rodríguez had been vice president under Maduro, and the country’s supreme court declared that she would immediately assume the role of acting president after U.S. forces captured Maduro and brought him to the U.S.
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 yesterday. “I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice. We’re going to have this done right.”
European Union calls for release of all political prisoners held in Venezeuala
The European Union is calling for the unconditional release for all political prisoners who have been held in Venezuela, E.U. high representative Kaja Kallas said in a statement backed by 26 E.U. member states.
"The European Union calls for calm and restraint by all actors, to avoid escalation and to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis," Kallas said.
She said the E.U. has repeatedly said Maduro "lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president and has advocated for a Venezuelan-led peaceful transition to democracy in the country, respectful of its sovereignty."
"The right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected," she said, adding that the E.U. is in close contact with the U.S.
"Respecting the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the current crisis," the statement said. "At this critical time, it is essential that all actors fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law."
Protesters gather outside detention center where Maduro is being held
Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City, where Maduro is being held, to decry U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Many clapped and chanted “Hands off Venezuela’s oil” and “No, no blood for oil.” Others carried signs that said “No U.S. War on Venezuela,” “Stop Bombing Venezuela” and “U.S. Out of the Caribbean.”
Police were also at the scene, setting up metal barriers.
A CIA team, steel doors and a fateful phone call: How the U.S. captured Maduro in Venezuela
Trump gave the Venezuelan leader one last chance to step down.
In a private phone call a week ago, Trump told Maduro that he had to go.
By that point, an armada of U.S. warships was floating off Venezuela’s shores. A CIA team had crept into the country, tracking Maduro’s movements and habits: where he slept, what he ate, where he traveled.
“You got to surrender,” Trump said, recalling the conversation at a news conference yesterday at his Mar-a-Lago home.
Maduro took the gamble of his life. He “came close” to giving in, Trump said, but stayed put.
Recent video shows the damage and destruction in Venezuela after the U.S. attack and extraction of leader Nicolás Maduro.
Ana Vanessa Herrero, a journalist based in Venezuela, talks about how residents are in a state of confusion and scrambling to recover.
Cuba watching Venezuela with unease, analyst says
Cuba will be watching the U.S. strike on Venezuela with unease, viewing Washington’s actions through the lens of its own long and fraught history with U.S. intervention, according to an expert on the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s "primary interest is in Cuba, not in Venezuela,” Michael Paarlberg, a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for International Policy, told NBC News.
Rubio’s focus on Venezuela, he said, is “through the lens of Cuba,” adding that he sees Venezuela “somewhat anachronistically as the chief patron of the Cuban regime” and that taking out Maduro “possibly would close off the last real lifeline that Cuba has.”
Asked in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” whether the Trump administration’s next target is the Cuban government, Rubio said, “The Cuban government is a huge problem.”
He said: “I’m not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard. But I don’t think it’s any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime.”
While past U.S. regime-change efforts in Cuba have failed, dating back decades, Paarlberg said the Cuban government would still most likely “be worried about something like a direct parallel.”
Spain and Latin American countries state concerns about 'any attempt at government control'
The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay released a joint statement expressing concern over the U.S. action in Venezuela.
In the statement, the countries said they reject the military intervention and are concerned about "any attempt at government control." It was described as a dangerous precedent that endangers civilian lives.
"We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law," the letter said.
The countries called on United Nations members to assist in de-escalating tensions in the name of regional peace.
Vance addresses criticism over Trump's intervention in Venezuela
Vice President JD Vance addressed some criticisms of the U.S. action in Venezuela, particularly in regard to drugs and oil.
The majority of Vance's post on X focused on those who have said the decision to intervene in Venezuela "has nothing to do with drugs because most of the fentanyl comes from elsewhere." Vance said that fentanyl is still coming from Venezuela and that cocaine, the main drug exported from the country, funds cartels.
"If you cut out the money from cocaine (or even reduce it) you substantially weaken the cartels overall," Vance wrote.
He also addressed critics who have expressed concern over the U.S. interest in Venezuela's oil reserves. Vance wrote that Venezuela's leaders "recently used that stolen property to get rich and fund their narcoterrorist activities," referring to oil expropriated from U.S. companies two decades ago.
Maduro scheduled to appear in court tomorrow
Maduro is expected to appear in federal court in lower Manhattan tomorrow at noon, according to the Southern District of New York.
U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein has been assigned the case.
Photos: Venezuelans around the world react to Maduro’s capture
Rallies around the world followed the United States' attack on Venezuela and capture of Maduro yesterday. Below are scenes showing celebration and protest from South America to Europe.
A demonstrator holds the Venezuelan flag in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a rally yesterday after confirmation of Nicolas Maduro's capture. Tobias Skarlovnik / Getty Images
Members of the Venezuelan community in Genoa, Italy, celebrate after the confirmation of Maduro's capture yesterday in Caracas. Emanuela Zampa / Getty Images
Dozens of Venezuelans living in the capital protest outside the Venezuelan Embassy in Mexico City following the capture of Maduro. Alejandro Aguilar Lopez / Anadolu via Getty Images
A man with the Venezuelan flag painted on his face at a rally in Bogota, Colombia, yesterday. Andres Rot / Getty Images
Dozens of pro-Trump Venezuelans at the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain, celebrate the capture of Maduro yesterday. Marc Asensio / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Venezuela's National Electoral Council demands 'proof of life' and 'immediate release' of Maduro and his wife
Venezuela's National Electoral Council is demanding "proof of life" and the "immediate release" of Maduro and his wife from the U.S. today.
In a statement, the council said that the attacks by the U.S. yesterday were directed at "state facilities and homes," which it said caused "the deaths of public servants and civilians in the city of Caracas, Aragua, Miranda, and the state of La Guaira."
"Even more serious is the vile kidnapping of our Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the First Lady, Dr. Cilia Flores de Maduro, in acts of war carried out by the government of Donald Trump, violating international law once again," the statement said. "Therefore, we demand proof of life, their physical integrity, respect for human rights, and the immediate release of the Head of State and Government and the First Lady."
The council said that the "armed incursion" is a "flagrant violation of international law" and is an "act of criminal imperialism."
Maduro and his wife were seen yesterday in New York as they were brought to Manhattan to face federal charges.
DOJ, FBI and DEA say U.S. pursued lawful options to resolve matter with Maduro 'peacefully'
The Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI said in a joint statement today that the U.S. "pursued every lawful option to resolve this matter peacefully" with Venezuela's Maduro.
"Those opportunities were repeatedly rejected. The responsibility for this outcome rests solely with those who chose to continue criminal conduct rather than disengage," they said in a statement shared on X by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The operation to capture Maduro and his wife yesterday in Venezuela "required months of coordination, detailed planning and seamless execution across multiple components of the federal government," the statement said.
"The mission was conducted to support an ongoing criminal prosecution tied to large-scale narcotics trafficking and related offenses that have fueled violence, destabilized the region, and contributed directly to the drug crisis claiming American lives," it said.
Maduro and his wife were indicted yesterday in New York on drug-related and narco-terrorism charges.
Trump tells The Atlantic that if Rodríguez 'doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price'
Trump laid out a warning to Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, saying in an interview with The Atlantic that "if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro."
In the interview, which The Atlantic said was conducted this morning over the phone, Trump discussed rebuilding Venezuela.
"You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now," he told reporter Michael Scherer. "Can’t get any worse."
Trump also reiterated his previous calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, which is part of Denmark, a NATO ally.
"We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump told The Atlantic. "We need it for defense."
Protests against U.S. intervention take place outside the detention center holding Maduro
Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center today in New York City, where Maduro is being held.
Demonstrators outside Metropolitan Detention Center in New York protest Sunday against American intervention in Venezuela and for the release of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Adam Gray / Getty Images
Demonstrators outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. Kena Betancur / AFP - Getty Images
Federal officers walk around the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. Yuki Iwamura / AP
A man holds the flags of Venezuela and Puerto Rico, outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. Adam Gray / Getty Images
Demonstrators outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. Adam Gray / Getty Images
Demonstrators outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. Kena Betancur / AFP - Getty Images file
Large part of Maduro's security team killed in U.S. operation, Venezuela defense minister says
A large part of Maduro’s security team was killed in the U.S. raid that led to the leader’s Saturday capture, Venezuelan Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino said in a televised statement today.
Padrino did not provide an exact figure for casualties, but endorsed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's declaration as interim president and said the armed forces have been activated nationwide to guarantee sovereignty.
Photo of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, at heliport last night
A photo obtained by NBC News shows Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, at a Manhattan heliport last night. Flores was captured from her home in Caracas with her husband to face criminal charges in New York.
A source familiar with the transport confirmed the authenticity of these photos to NBC News.
Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, is escorted by police at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., on Saturday. NBC News received the photo with blurring. Obtained by NBC News
An SDNY court spokesman told NBC News a hearing for Maduro and Flores is expected tomorrow.
U.S. allies and foes fear Maduro’s capture sets precedent for more American intervention
By capturing Venezuela’s leader, Washington sent shockwaves felt far beyond Caracas.
The United States stunned the world by launching military strikes in Venezuela and seizing the country's leader Nicolás Maduro, swiftly ending his 13-year rule in an operation the Trump administration framed as a demonstration of American power, as Trump boasted that the U.S. possessed “capabilities and skills our enemies can scarcely imagine.”
America’s adversaries heard him loudest.
Russia and China swiftly condemned the strikes and called for the release of Maduro, who has been brought to the U.S. to face criminal charges. Iran and Cuba denounced what they called a violation of international law, their objections carrying an edge of unease that they, too, could find themselves in Washington's sights.
Photos of Maduro being transported from New York airport last night
New photos obtained by NBC News show Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro being escorted by DEA agents at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, New York, last night. NBC News previously reported that Maduro was seen walking off a jet around 5:25 p.m. at the airport around 50 miles north of Manhattan.
Maduro appeared to wear a gray sweatshirt and shackles as he walked down the plane's stairs and into a hangar, surrounded by federal agents.
A source familiar with the transport confirmed the authenticity of these photos to NBC News.
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is escorted by DEA agents at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., on Saturday. NBC News received the photo with blurring. Obtained by NBC News
DEA agents wait on the tarmac at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., on Saturday. Obtained by NBC News
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is escorted by DEA agents at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., on Saturday. NBC News received the photo with blurring. Obtained by NBC News
Rubio says elections in Venezuela would be ‘premature at this point’ after Maduro’s capture
American Airlines adds nearly 5,000 additional seats to and from eastern Caribbean as airpace reopens
American Airlines has added nearly 5,000 seats to and from the eastern Caribbean today, now that the airspace has reopened. The airline has also deployed larger aircraft — including a Boeing 777-300, the largest in its fleet — to carry as many customers as possible.
"That work will continue as the American team does everything it can to help customers affected by the FAA-mandated airspace closure," the airline said in a statement.
According to the airlines, the additional flights on Jan. 4 include:
Antigua, Antigua (ANU)
AA9621 (MIA-ANU)
AA9622 (ANU-MIA)
Aruba, Netherland Antilles (AUA)
AA9605 (CLT-AUA)
AA9607 (AUA-CLT)
AA9616 (AUA-MIA)
AA9618 (MIA-AUA)
Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)
AA9615 (BGI-MIA)
Curacao, Netherland Antilles (CUR)
AA9617 (ORD-CUR)
AA9619 (CUR-ORD)
Melville Hall, Dominica (DOM)
AA9630 (MIA-DOM)
AA9631 (DOM-MIA)
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
AA9603 (CLT-SJU)
AA9604 (SJU-CLT)
AA9609 (MIA-SJU)
AA9610 (SJU-MIA)
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
AA9608 (MIA-STT)
AA9608 (STT-MIA)
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX)
AA1485 (ORD-STX)
AA2205 (STX-ORD)
St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles (SXM)
AA9611 (MIA-SXM)
AA9612 (SXM-MIA)
St. Lucia, St. Lucia (UVF)
AA9623 (CLT-UVF)
AA9624 (UVF-CLT)
Flights on Jan. 5 with a Boeing 777-300
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
AA9604 (MIA-SJU)
AA9605 (SJU-MIA)
AA9606 (MIA-SJU)
AA9613 (SJU-MIA)
Photos: Venezuela one day after Maduro's capture
New images out of Venezuela this morning show damage to residential buildings, armed civilians on the streets and soldiers atop an armored vehicle traveling toward Caracas.
Residents look at a damaged apartment complex today in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, that neighbors say was hit during U.S. strikes to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Matias Delacroix / AP
Pro-government armed civilians stop motorcyclists in Caracas, Venezuela, today. Ariana Cubillos / AP
Jesus Linares, right, removes a painting of independence hero Simon Bolivar today at his home Catia La Mar, which he says was hit during U.S. military operations to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Matias Delacroix / AP
A soldier stands atop an armored vehicle on the highway leading from the international airport toward Caracas, Venezuela, today. Matias Delacroix / AP
Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodríguez become interim president
The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered yesterday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early yesterday in an operation by U.S. forces.
The court ruling said that Rodríguez would assume “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation.”
The ruling added that the court will debate the matter in order to “determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic.”
"In a historic decision, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) determined on January 3, 2026 that the Executive Vice President, Delcy Eloína Rodriguez Gomez, immediately assume the duties of President-in-charge of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, having called it a “foreign military aggression” the kidnapping of the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro Moros, occurred on the same date," the country said in a Sunday statement.
France welcomes Maduro ousting, says U.S. violated international law
France welcomed the ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, but noted that the overnight U.S. operation constituted a violation of international law.
“France takes note of these increasingly numerous violations of the principles of international law. Respect for borders, respect for the right of peoples to self-determination,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French TV network France 2.
He described Maduro as “an unabashed dictator who confiscated freedom from Venezuelans and stole the elections," calling his departure “good news for Venezuelans.”
Barrot said Venezuela’s opposition should help oversee a peaceful transition of power and hoped the right to self-determination would be exercised by the Venezuelan people.
U.S. actions in Venezuela 'a flawless operation,' Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today reiterated his support for the United States' attack on Venezuela, congratulating Trump and labeling it “a flawless operation.”
“I would like to express the full government’s support for the determined decision and resolute action of the United States to restore freedom and justice to that part of the world,” he said as he opened the government’s weekly Cabinet meeting.
He said that the world was witnessing a “transformation” in Latin America, with many countries “returning to the American axis” and subsequently renewing ties with Israel.
Venezuela strike forcing allies to rethink U.S. behavior, says analyst
Europe’s response to the Venezuela strike revealed less about Caracas than about growing unease in capitals long accustomed to American restraint, said H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.
“European countries were counting on the U.S. and certain types of U.S. behavior that perhaps they can’t do anymore,” Hellyer told NBC News, arguing the operation forced allies to reassess how predictable Washington remains.
“Many of the reactions to the Venezuela strike have very little to do with Maduro and have everything to do with, you know, lining up with the U.S. on a particular issue,” he said.
A civilian today helps relatives clean up their apartment in Catia La Mar, which was damaged during U.S. military operations in Venezuela. Matias Delacroix / AP
That anxiety, he added, was evident in the care with which some governments framed — or avoided — their reactions. Denmark, in particular, appeared cautious because “they know that Greenland is in the firing line,” Hellyer said, referring to President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions that the U.S. could buy or otherwise take control of the strategically vital Arctic territory.
Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Møller Sørensen, shared what he said was a “friendly reminder” on X yesterday that “we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” pushing back at Trump-aligned figures who had raised the issue in the wake of the Venezuela strike.
The overall result, Hellyer added, was a familiar but increasingly strained formula: public support for international law paired with reluctance to confront Washington directly. Europe, he said, was “expressing support for international law, but without wanting to be identified as opposing the U.S.,” raising a deeper question about the durability of the rules-based order.
“What’s the point of invoking a system that isn’t backed by the strongest power in the world?” he said.
Rubio: 'The Cuban government is a huge problem'
Asked during an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" whether the Trump administration's next target is the Cuban government, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that "the Cuban government is a huge problem."
Asked to clarify whether his comment meant yes, Rubio said, "I think they're in a lot of trouble."
"Yes," he added. "I'm not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard. But I don't think it's any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime."
Rubio says 'we don't have U.S. forces on the ground'
Asked during an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" how many U.S. troops were in Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. does not have forces on the ground.
"We don't have U.S. forces on the ground," he said, adding that forces were in Venezuela "for about two hours when they went to capture Maduro."
The president said yesterday that "we’re not afraid of boots on the ground."
Rubio says U.S. will continue striking alleged drug boats and seizing sanctioned ships
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" that the U.S. would continue to strike suspected drug boats and seize sanctioned boats, appearing to refer to oil tankers, to pressure Venezuela to address problems.
“We are at war against drug trafficking organizations, it's not a war against Venezuela,” he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., yesterday. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
"We will continue to target drug boats if they try to run towards the United States," he said. "We will continue to seize the boats that are sanctioned with court orders. We will continue to do that, and potentially other things, until the things we need to see addressed are addressed."
The U.S. has repeatedly hit boats that the administration claims were carrying drugs, and has intercepted multiple oil tankers near Venezuela.
Unclear how Trump administration will work with interim Venezuelan government
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed power in Venezuela following the arrest of the country’s President Nicolás Maduro, but it’s unclear how the Trump administration plans to navigate this relationship, Geoff Ramsey, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told "TODAY."
Trump said Saturday that the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future, but he gave few details of how.
“What we haven’t heard so far, either from the White House or from this interim Venezuelan government, is what exactly this means for democracy, for the Venezuelan opposition, and whether we’ll see a timetable for new elections in the country,” Ramsey said.
Trump said Maduro masterminded the flow of drugs into the U.S. and was illegitimately in power due to vote-rigging.
But Ramsey said the United States' decision to attack Venezuela and depose Maduro went beyond just combating illicit drug trafficking.
“This is about security and counter-narcotics, but it’s ultimately about the U.S. re-establishing primacy and a strong presence, including a military presence, in our own hemisphere,” he said, adding that the Trump administration was looking to dissuade Russia and China from increasing their influence in the region.
North Korea condemns U.S. strikes
North Korea has denounced the U.S. strikes on Venezuela as "the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty," state news agency KCNA said, citing a spokesperson for the country’s Foreign Ministry.
Pyongyang said the incident shows “the rogue and brutal nature of the U.S.”
The statement came hours after the country launched at least two ballistic missiles, the country’s first in two months, into the sea between the Koreas and Japan.
Cheong Seong-Chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute, a Seoul-based private think tank, told NBC News that North Korea would now be even less amenable to holding talks with Washington following yesterday’s action in Venezuela.
“Kim Jong Un is also likely to adopt an even more passive and negative attitude toward holding a summit with President Trump,” Seong-Chang said in an emailed statement.
“North Korea will closely monitor the Venezuela situation and exploit it as propaganda to justify its development of nuclear weapons, missiles, and conventional arms,” he added.
Photos: Fort Tiuna strikes before and after
A satellite image shows military buildings and equipment at Fort Tiuna in Caracas, Venezuela, on Dec. 22, 2025, before the U.S. strikes. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.
A satellite image shows damage to military buildings and equipment at Fort Tiuna after the U.S. strikes on Saturday. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.
Newly released satellite imagery from Vantor reveals the extent of the damage to Fort Tiuna, a major military complex near Caracas, following yesterday's strikes by the U.S.
Flights to Caribbean resuming, airlines say
Flights to the Caribbean are resuming today, key carriers American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta have confirmed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised airlines on Saturday that Caribbean airspace curbs would expire at midnight, paving the way for a resumption of air travel to the region on Sunday.
American Airlines said it had added 3,000 additional seats to and from the region on top of the resumption of scheduled services.
“This includes adding a number of extra flights and, where possible, deploying larger aircraft — including widebody aircraft — to add as much lift as possible to support as many customers as possible,” the airline said in a statement.
United said most scheduled flights to the region were expected to depart on Sunday and added that it was working to add additional flights to assist customers whose travel was disrupted.
Delta Air Lines expects to fly its normal Caribbean schedule on Sunday, with possible schedule adjustments as airline resources are repositioned.
Asian countries call for de-escalation and dialogue
Countries across Asia this morning have responded to the U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the arrests of President Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry said it “opposes all forms of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of other States, as well as the threat or use of force.”
The ministry said in a statement that it is “crucial” for the U.S. and Venezuela to “exercise maximum restraint and seek peaceful solutions through dialogue and diplomacy."
Singapore is "gravely concerned by the U.S. intervention" in Venezuela, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Singapore has consistently opposed actions contrary to international law by any parties, including foreign military intervention in any country," the statement added.
Japan’s foreign ministry struck a slightly more neutral tone, reiterating its position as a member of the G7 and offering assistance “pursuing diplomatic efforts toward the restoration of democracy and the stabilization of the situation in Venezuela.”
South Korea’s foreign ministry echoed calls for de-escalation and dialogue between the U.S. and Venezuela and said it hoped democracy would be restored in the South American country soon.
Photos: Destruction in La Guaira city
Images verified by NBC News show destruction to an apartment building in La Guaira following the U.S. strikes yesterday. Wreckage can be seen in the aftermath of an explosion.
Venezuela's main port city, which is close to the country's capital Caracas, was struck in the operation in the early hours of Saturday, with video showing fire and smoke billowing as explosions continued to ring in the background.
Pope Leo watching Venezuela developments with 'a soul full of concern'
Pope Leo said Venezuela must maintain its sovereignty, a day after the United States’ toppling of President Nicolás Maduro.
During his weekly Angelus address, Leo, the first Pope born in the United States, said he was watching the developments in Venezuela with “a soul full of concern.”
He urged “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people” to prevail over all else, ensuring that human and civil rights are upheld and protected.
Leo did not directly mention the United States or Trump.
Map of strikes in Venezuela
Multiple targets were hit in Venezuela in the raid early yesterday morning. The sites hit include Fort Tiuna, a major military complex near Caracas; Venezuela’s main port, La Guaira; La Soublette apartments; and Higuerote airport.
The U.S. launched strikes in Venezuela around 2 a.m. local time.
Latin American countries’ varying responses shows region’s political divides
The reaction from different Latin American countries to the U.S. attack on Venezuela shows the political divisions in the region.
Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and Cuba condemned the attack in varying ways and called on the United Nations to seek a peaceful solution and take action, The Associated Press reported. But Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador praised the news Maduro had been captured.
Panama expressed support for Venezuela’s political opposition, which was widely believed to have won the 2024 presidential election amid credible evidence. Guatemala called for more dialogue.
Reposting Democratic U.S. Sen Chris Van Hollen's criticism of the Trump administration's actions as an "illegal act of war," Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, a Trump ally who has repeatedly criticized Maduro, said on X: "So you just want to defend thugs."
Iran's foreign minister calls U.S. action 'state terrorism' in call with Venezuelan counterpart
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, late Saturday, calling the U.S. strikes and arrest of the country’s President Nicolás Maduro “a clear example of state terrorism” and an "attack on the sovereignty and national will of the Venezuelan people.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul in June 2025. Ozan Kose / AFP via Getty Images
In remarks published by Iran's state-run news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Araghchi declared “solidarity” with Venezuela and expressed support for the “legitimate Venezuelan president.”
Earlier Saturday, Iran’s foreign ministry urged the United Nations to intervene in what it called illegal U.S. aggression against Venezuela.
U.N. Security Council to hold emergency meeting Monday
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday after the U.S. attacked Venezuela and captured the country’s President Nicolás Maduro.
Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats told Reuters.
The U.N. Security Council has met twice — in October and December — over the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
The U.N. released a statement on Saturday saying that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela," and that the United States' actions “constitute a dangerous precedent."
“He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
China calls on U.S. to immediately release Maduro
China’s foreign ministry urged the U.S. to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in custody in New York yesterday. @RapidResponse47 via Reuters
"Stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation," a spokesperson said.
China once again described the U.S. operation as a “clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” and said the U.S. should ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife.
Happiness and joy at a demonstration in Bogotá
Demonstrators held a pro-U.S. rally in the center of Bogotá in an event that had a celebratory atmosphere.
Some waved or draped Venezuelan flags around themselves in the capital city of Colombia, which borders Venezuela.
“As a Colombian, we are very happy for our neighbors because this moment represents freedom and a milestone in the history,” one woman said. “This is epic. This is very happy for every one of us and our neighbors in Venezuela. We are very happy for this moment."
China and Russia condemn U.S. actions
Venezuela's most potent allies, China and Russia, have strongly decried the U.S. military action against the South American nation.
In remarks published online, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry criticized the United States and suggested the attack constituted a violation of international law.
Fire is seen at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas yesterday. STR / AFP via Getty Images
"China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president," the spokesperson said.
The statement continued: "Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. seriously violate international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region."
The spokesperson said the United States should abide by international law and the United Nations Charter "and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security."
In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said the capture and detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, "constitute an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state, respect for which is a key principle of international law."
Earlier, the ministry reiterated Russia's expression of solidarity with Venezuelans and called the U.S. incursion a violation of their sovereignty.
"Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, external intervention," the foreign ministry said.
Venezuela's oil reserves are the largest in the world
Venezuela’s vast oil reserves are the largest in the world, likely the equivalent of about 300 billion barrels, according to the Energy Institute, a research firm. Its reserves top those of even the No. 1 OPEC oil-producing country, Saudi Arabia.
But ramping up oil production would likely require years of work and sizable investments to modernize its industry, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, something that will also require a certain level of political stability.
Federal jail where Maduro will be held also housed ex-Honduras president and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
The federal jail where Maduro is expected to be held pretrial has had several recent high-profile inmates.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, known as MDC for short, for a little more than a year before he was sentenced to over four years in federal prison in October.
Two sources said Maduro is expected to be processed elsewhere then transferred to the detention center.
Currently jailed at MDC is Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what federal prosecutors have called a cold-blooded targeted killing.
Cryptocurrency exchange FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, now serving 25 years in prison after being convicted of fraud, also was jailed at the MDC.
Juan Orlando Hernández was the former president of Honduras when he was arrested in February 2022, and he was held at MDC after his extradition to the U.S., Reuters reported at the time.
Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of conspiring to distribute more than 400 tons of cocaine and other counts, and he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, the Justice Department announced at the time.
Trump pardoned Hernández on Dec. 1, and he has been released from prison.
CIA had source inside Maduro's circle, source says
A clandestine CIA team that operated in Venezuela to track Maduro since August had the help of a human source inside the leader’s circle, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
The team, which also had the support of stealthy drones, created a detailed picture of Maduro’s “pattern of life,” which paved the way for his capture, the source said.
The New York Times first reported on the informant inside the regime.
U.S. to end flight restrictions over Caribbean
Flight restrictions imposed early today to keep passenger traffic out of harm's way during the U.S. operation in Venezuela will expire at midnight ET, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said tonight.
"The original restrictions around the Caribbean airspace are expiring at 12:00am ET and flights can resume," he said on X.
Duffy said he expected airlines to update their schedules as flights get back on track, but he asked travelers to check in with their airlines to determine revised schedules.
Earlier, Duffy said the restrictions were ordered "to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public."
Flights in the region were backed up today as a result of the early-morning restrictions, with some travelers reporting they couldn't find flights home to the United States from Caribbean trips for the entire week ahead.
Among those unable to rebook flights home was Max Blum, who said more than 20 relatives were stuck in Saint Lucia after the U.S. operation thwarted their return travel and backed up flights home for at least a week.
“The communication and the uncertainty of the whole situation has been tough,” he said.
Venezuela's supreme court orders Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume role of acting president
Venezuela’s supreme court tonight decreed that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president after Maduro's capture by the U.S.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas in June 2025. Pedro Mattey / AFP via Getty Images
In a statement, the court — citing powers vested in it by Venezuela's constitution — said Rodríguez should assume the office with immediate effect.
“It is ordered that the citizen Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, vice president of the Republic, assume and exercise in her capacity all the powers, duties and inherent faculties as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to guarantee the administrative continuity and the integral defense of the Nation," the court said.
Rodríguez was serving as the country's vice president as recently as this morning. Trump had earlier said she would be working with the U.S., but she has sounded a different tone since the outset of the U.S. attack, calling it "brutal" and "savage" and demanding that Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores be freed.
ConocoPhillips says it would be ‘premature’ to speculate about expanded oil production in Venezuela
ConocoPhillips, one of three major U.S. oil companies, said tonight that it would be premature to speculate on its participation in expanded oil production in Venezuela.
Trump said at his news conference this morning that “we’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in [to Venezuela], spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country.”
A ConocoPhillips spokesman said the company is "monitoring developments in Venezuela and their potential implications for global energy supply and stability. It would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments."
ExxonMobil, another U.S. oil giant, did not respond to questions about Trump’s remarks. Chevron already operates in Venezuela in a limited way. Other major international oil companies that participate in widespread global production, such as Shell, BP, TotalEnergies and Saudi Aramco, also did not respond to questions today.
Federal personnel stand outside Metropolitan Detention Center
Federal law enforcement personnel stood watch outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn tonight.
After landing at a New York airport, Maduro was scheduled to be taken by helicopter to a location in New York City to be processed, then transferred to the detention center, two sources said.
Yuki Iwamura / AP
Yuki Iwamura / AP
Kamala Harris says ‘Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer’
Former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris today said that Maduro was a dictator but that U.S. military action to remove him was wrong.
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris said on X.
“That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise. We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price,” Harris wrote.
“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to,” she said.
She said Trump’s actions were “about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.”
Maduro was picked by dying Hugo Chávez as successor
Maduro was a bus driver in Caracas before he rose to favor with then-President Hugo Chávez, who named him as his preferred successor when he died of cancer.
Maduro was elected as president in Venezuela 13 years ago, in April 2013.
Last year an electoral council declared Maduro the winner of a contested election — although the U.S. and other governments recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the real winner.
Chávez became president in February 1999 after he was elected the previous December. Maduro was the country’s foreign minister for six years, and in 2012 he was appointed vice president.
Chávez died of cancer on March 5, 2013.
But before he died, Chávez picked Maduro as his successor and urged people to vote for him when he died.
Chávez called Maduro “a complete revolutionary, a man of great experience despite his youth, with great dedication and capacity for work, for leading, for handling the most difficult situations.”
Maduro was narrowly elected president in April 2013, one month after Chávez died.
DOJ accuses Maduro and his wife of narco-terrorism conspiracy in indictment
Attorney General Pam Bondi today posted an unsealed indictment in the case of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Federal prosecutors allege Maduro “is at the forefront of that corruption and has partnered with his co-conspirators to use his illegally obtained authority and the institutions he corroded to transport thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States.”
Since Maduro’s “early days in Venezuelan government,” he has “tarnished every public office he has held,” they wrote.
“As a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, MADURO MOROS moved loads of cocaine under the protection of Venezuelan law enforcement. As Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, MADURO MOROS provided Venezuelan diplomatic passports to drug traffickers and facilitated diplomatic cover for planes used by money launderers to repatriate drug proceeds from Mexico to Venezuela,” the indictment said.
Prosecutors added: “As Venezuela’s President and now-de facto ruler, MADURO MOROS allows cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish for his own benefit, for the benefit of members of his ruling regime, and for the benefit of his family members.”
Chuck Schumer slams Trump for keeping Congress ‘in the total dark‘
On a media call this afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Trump administration has not responded to his and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries’ request for a so-called Gang of Eight briefing and a full congressional briefing.
“We want to know the administration’s objectives, its plans to prevent a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster that plunges us into another endless war,” Schumer told reporters.
Schumer, who said he has not been briefed, said Congress has been kept “in the total dark.”
“Congress should not be sidelined as the Trump administration gets sucked into another nation-building quagmire, and we’re going to hold them accountable,” he said.
He outlined Senate Democrats’ plan for accountability as:
- Requesting a Gang of Eight and a full congressional briefing. The so-called gang refers to the top four Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress and top four Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees.
- Holding a vote on a war powers resolution requiring congressional authorization for any future U.S. military action against Venezuela.
- Relevant congressional committees’ acting to hold the administration “accountable.” Schumer said: “You’ll be hearing more from them in the coming days.”
Schumer said Republican chairs of relevant committees have privately “expressed a lot of troublesome comments” about Trump’s actions to their Democratic colleagues as they’ve spoken throughout the day.
He also called Trump’s “excuse” for not notifying Congress to avoid leaks “outrageous and dangerous.”
NBC News producer says family in Venezuela woke up to the ‘sounds of bombs’
NBC News senior producer Geraldine Cols Azócar described relatives' reactions to the U.S. attack on multiple locations in Venezuela.
One brother who lives near a Venezuelan military base "woke up to the sounds of bombs," Azócar said, while another, in East Caracas, said "his house shook every time a bomb happened."
In Cuba, residents defiant but worried about what comes next
The mood in Havana is defiant following the U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president.
Early this morning, the Cuban government organized an emergency rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana to condemn the U.S. capture of Maduro. Around 30,000 people attended. President Miguel Díaz-Canel characterized the Trump administration’s military operation as “a criminal assault against our America” and “an unacceptable attack on international law.”
Participants at the rally were mainly older — reflecting the strata of society that tend to be likelier to support the government — and indignant at what they see as an abduction.
Mirna Fernandez, 53, who said she worked as a synchronized swimming teacher in Venezuela from 2012 to 2014, said she was worried about her 12-year-old godson who lives in Caracas.
“I have many dear friends there who took me in as family,” she said. “That’s why I’m here, for my family in Venezuela and for the Venezuelan people.”
Venezuela supplies Cuba with oil, with around 30,000 barrels arriving in Cuba every day. Already, most of Cuba is living most of the day without power.
There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a news conference earlier today that “Cuba is a disaster,” echoing comments made by Trump.
“It’s run by incompetent, senile men,” Rubio said. “It has no economy; it’s in total collapse.”
Cuba has been the target of “maximum pressure” sanctions that aim to wreck the economy. Economists say they cost the country billions of dollars a year. Rubio was the architect of them during the first Trump administration, and they have been ratcheted up in the last few months.
Rubio said Maduro’s guards and Venezuela’s spy agency were “full of Cubans.”
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, at least a little bit,” he said.
Read more coverage of Maduro's capture
- Tears, relief and questions about what comes next: Venezuelans in U.S. celebrate Maduro capture
- U.S. will look to tap Venezuelan oil reserves, Trump says
- Some lawmakers criticize Trump’s attack in Venezuela, fearing a costly new war
- Maduro arrives in New York as Trump says U.S. will govern Venezuela until there’s a ‘proper transition’
