Venezuela live updates: Maduro held at Brooklyn jail ahead of court appearance as Trump says US will ‘run’ country for now

Venezuela shaken by series of explosions in capital Caracas

Why has Trump attacked Venezuela? What we know so far as Maduro captured

This is the moment that Donald Trump unleashed anarchy

Who is Nicolas Maduro? The Venezuela president ‘captured’ by Trump’s US forces

Key Points

• Donald Trump reveals new details on US operation and says he's not afraid to use 'boots on the ground'
• Maduro and wife Cilia Flores arrive in New York after being indicted
• Trump shares new photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima as Venezuelan president is captured
• Venezuelan opposition leader hails 'hour of freedom'
• Where have the attacks taken place? - Mapped
• Explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard in Venezuela's capital

Non-U.S. airlines also cancel flights

Several European and South American airlines also canceled flights.

The curbs would be lifted "when appropriate," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had said in a post on X.

American military activity near Venezuela led to a near mid-air crash in November between a JetBlue airliner and a U.S. aerial refueling tanker, media said.

Several carriers waived change fees and fare differences for customers affected by the closures if they postponed travel.

Saturday's U.S. military operation captured Venezuela's long-serving President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump said, promising to put the country under American control for now, by deploying U.S. forces if necessary.

Air Canada said its Caribbean and South American operations were normal, under guidance from Transport Canada, and it was monitoring the situation, adding, "We will update as required if the situation changes.

"Commercial air traffic over Venezuelan airspace appeared to stop after Saturday's attack, records on tracker FlightRadar24 showed.

U.S. lifts Caribbean airspace curbs after attack on Venezuela

The United States has advised airlines its Caribbean airspace curbs will expire at midnight ET and flights could resume as schedules are quickly updated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday.

The comments on X followed the cancelation of hundreds of flights by major airlines after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.

Key carriers United Airlines and Delta were readying to resume flights to the Caribbean by Sunday.

In a statement, United said a flight to San Juan in Puerto Rico was planned for Saturday night, adding, "We expect to operate most scheduled flights to the region for Sunday".

Delta Air Lines expects to fly its normal Carribean schedule on Sunday, it said in a statement, but adjusted to reposition resources.

Even after the removal of curbs, however, airlines will need several day to restore normal operations, said airline analyst Robert Mann, adding, "They have a day's worth of passengers basically," already stranded in the Caribbean.

American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways began cancelling flights, in line with Federal Aviation Administration airspace closures in the Caribbean.JetBlue canceled 215 flights, an airline spokesperson said.

In a notice to airmen, the FAA said it closed the airspace to U.S. carriers "due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity."In other security notices for non-U.S. air carriers, the agency warned them away from Venezuelan airspace.

It cautioned British operators against "potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry and heightened military activity" if flying within 100 miles (160 km) of Venezuelan airspace.

The FAA declined further comment.

Mamdani says he called Trump to personally object to Venezuela attack and capture of Maduro

Zohran Mamdani called Donald Trump personally to object to the U.S. military action in Venezuela, saying that the operations in South America would “directly impact New Yorkers.”

“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,” Mamdani said at a press conference Saturday.

Mamdani says he called Trump to personally object to Venezuela attack

Maduro is out but his top allies still hold power in Venezuela

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro – praised by President Donald Trump as stunning and powerful – leaves behind uncertainty about who is running the oil-rich country.

Trump said on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, part of the powerful cabal at the top of the country's government, had been sworn in after Maduro's arrest and that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leading to speculation that she would take the reins.

Under Venezuela's constitution, Rodriguez becomes acting president in Maduro's absence and the country's top court ordered her to assume the role late on Saturday night.

But shortly after Trump's remarks, Rodriguez appeared on state television flanked by her brother, the head of the national assembly Jorge Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and said that Maduro remained Venezuela's only president.

The joint appearance indicated the group that shared power with Maduro is staying united – for now.

Trump publicly closed the door Saturday on working with opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, widely seen as Maduro's most credible opponent, saying she doesn't have support inside the country.

After Machado was barred from running in Venezuela's 2024 elections, international observers say her stand-in candidate won the vote in a landslide, despite Maduro's government claiming victory.

White House posts Maduro arrest clip with... interesting choice of music

The White House has posted a video compilation clip following its capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, with a bizarre choice of soundtrack – Hypnotize by the Notorious B.I.G.

Watch it below:

If you don’t know, now you know 🦅 pic.twitter.com/XrIps1OzY4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

Inside the notorious New York jail where Nicolas Maduro is currently being held

Deadly stabbings, “barbaric” living conditions and maggots in the food: this is the state of the notorious New York City prison that ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro calls home.

Maduro was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night, just hours after the U.S. military attack on his country, and will stay there until he faces trial on several charges, including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy.

Read more here:

Inside jail where Nicolas Maduro is being held, once home to Ghislaine Maxwell

Tony Dokoupil’s CBS run starts two days early after Venezuela strikes

Tony Dokoupil has had a busy first day as host of CBS Evening News, after the network brought his start date forward two days in response to the U.S. military action in Venezuela.

"Good evening, great to be with you tonight, two days earlier than expected with that major breaking news – news that could shape the year, maybe even the century,” Dokoupil said at the top of the show.

Read more here:

Tony Dokoupil’s CBS run starts tonight two days early after Venezuela strikes

Democrats condemn Trump's action in Venezuela

It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.

It’s about oil and regime change.

And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 3, 2026

It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.

The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this…

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 3, 2026

The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation. He said that the U.S. will “run the country” until a proper transition can take place and went right…

— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) January 3, 2026

President Trump does not have the constitutional authority to attack another country.

When 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, he should focus on the crises at home, end his illegal military adventurism and stop trying to “run” Venezuela for Big Oil.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 3, 2026

Flight restrictions in Caribbean to expire at midnight

In an update Saturday night, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said that restrictions around the Caribbean airspace would be expiring at 12:00am ET, allowing flights to resume.

“Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly. Please continue to work with your airline if your flight was affected by the restrictions,” Duffy wrote on X.

Early this morning in support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public.

When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted. Please work with your airlines directly if your…

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 3, 2026

Cory Booker blasts Congress over 'stunning absence of accountability'

Democrat Cory Booker has blasted Congress over its “stunning absence of accountability” for repeatedly failing to “check” Donald Trump and the actions of his administration.

“Again and again, the president has exceeded his authority, defied congressional intent, trampled the separation of powers, and broken the law - while Congress looked away in cowardice and submission,” Booker wrote in a lengthy post on X Saturday.

Today, many leaders will rightly condemn President Donald Trump’s unlawful and unjust actions in Venezuela, and I join them.

But just as glaring, and far more damning, is Congress’ ongoing abdication of its constitutional duty. For almost a year now, the legislative branch has…

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 3, 2026

Hegseth vows Congress 'will be involved' going forward

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintained that the Trump administration did not need permission from Congress to carry out attacks in Venezuela, but said that it would “be involved” in future decisions/

“This was a law enforcement exercise that was the Department of War in support of the Department of Justice pulling out an indicted person who ultimately will face justice,” Hegseth told CBS Evening News Saturday.

“And Marco [Rubio] was clear there that this is not something you notify Congress about beforehand. but were there to be more or extensions to this? Of course, we'll keep Congress involved.”

Delcy Rodriguez to become acting Venezuelan president following Maduro capture

Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez will assume the powers and duties of acting president, following the capture of Nicolas Maduro

The order from Venezuela’s Supreme Court was announced on Saturday night local time, and stated that Maduro is in a “material and temporary impossibility to exercise his functions.”

Rodriguez will “assume and exercise, as acting president, all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation,” according to the order, given by Justice Tania D’Amelio.

Harris: 'Trump's actions 'do not make America safer'

In a post Saturday evening, former vice president Kamala Harris slammed Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela, saying they “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.”

“That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise,” she said. “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.

“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to.

“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman. If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies.”

Harris added: “The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home.

“America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first.”

In photos: Anti-war protests take place in Los Angeles

What happens next in Venezuela?

President Donald Trump says the United States will “run” Venezuela after a military operation captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife, shocking the world with an overnight attack that marked the culmination of a months-long pressure campaign against the nation’s leader.

The U.S. president said an interim “group” with top administration officials will “run” the country for “a period of time” until the United States determines a “peaceful and just transition” can take place.

Alex Woodward looks at what comes next:

Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela. What happens now?

In pictures: Maduro's perp walk

Video shows Maduro's perp walk in New York

Video shared by the White House appeared to show Nicolas Maduro being perp walked in Brooklyn.

The ousted Venezuelan president is seen in a black hoodie, walking down a hallway with a blue carpet labeled “DEA NYD.”

“Good night, Happy New Year,” Maduro says to an onlooker.

Perp walked.pic.twitter.com/34iIsFUDdG

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 4, 2026

Americans protest U.S. military action in Venezuela

U.S. citizens have taken to the streets in major cities across the country in protest of the government’s operations in Venezuela, and the capture of president Nicolas Maduro.

People gathered in Los Angeles, some holding signs that read “No Blood for Oil,” “No U.S. War on Venezuela” and “Hands Off Latin America.”

“I’m 37 and grew up with the Iraq wars,” Katrina Denny, who was among protesters in Chicago, told The New York Times.

“This morning, I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re doing it again.’”

Maduro met by protesters in Brooklyn

Around 100 demonstrators were gathered to greet Nicolas Maduro as he arrived with federal agents to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn Saturday night.

Jaky Coronado, who was among the crowd, told The New York Times she had arrived in the United States more than a year ago and had waited for hours to see the ousted Venezuelan president.

“He must pay for all the crimes against humanity that he has committed against the Venezuelan people,” she said, per The Times.

Maduro arrives at Brooklyn detention center, report

Nicolas Maduro has been transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he will be held.

A law enforcement source with knowledge of the ousted Venzuelan president’s movements confirmed to The New York Times that he had arrived Saturday evening.

Major US airlines cancel hundreds of flights amid military operation

Major U.S. airlines on Saturday canceled hundreds of flights following a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

American Airlines, Delta, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways began cancelling flights early on Saturday morning in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration airspace closures in the Caribbean.

Travel to and from Puerto Rico was impacted as flights at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), the busiest hub in the Caribbean, were canceled.

The FAA closed the airspace to U.S. carriers "due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity," the agency said in a notice to airmen.

The closure does not apply to non-U.S. airlines and operators, according to the notice.

The FAA declined to comment further.

Schumer says Democrats won't threaten government shutdown over Venezuela

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press call Saturday criticizing the Trump administration's strike and takeover of Venezuela.

The Democratic leader said that the Senate will hold a vote to invoke the War Powers Act, which would require the president to notify Congress 48 hours of deploying troops and limit deployments to 60 days.

But Schumer said he would not threaten a government shutdown in response to a question from The Independent.

The government runs out of money at the end of the month, which could trigger a shutdown if Congress does not pass a stopgap bill.

“January 30 is days away,” he told The Independent. “Let's first get all the facts out. That's what we're endeavoring to do right now, and our first ability to do that will be the War Powers Act of this week.”

In addition, Schumer said that he wanted to hold Republicans accountable.

“And again, we are we are saying to the Republicans, this is your responsibility. President Trump is a member of your party. You've gone along with him over and over again. This is one time you got to resist him. It's too serious.”

Schumer said he had not heard any Republicans publicly criticizing Trump. “As I said, we have heard from some Republicans in private conversations, chairs talking to their ranking members, that they have some they they are troubled by this, but not much more than that.”

Democrats, including AOC, say military action is 'about oil'

Democrats, including New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, have accused President Donald Trump of launching sweeping military action in Venezuela because of oil, not drugs.

“It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month,” Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to Trump pardoning former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez.

“It’s about oil and regime change. And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t,” the Democrat said in a post on X. “Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs.”

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland made a similar argument.

“Trump and his cronies can try to dress this up, but it is an illegal act of war to replace Maduro and grab Venezuela's oil for his billionaire buddies,” he said in a post on X.

More pictures from Maduro's arrival in New York

Zohran Mamdani says Maduro's arrest directly impacts New Yorkers

Zohran Mamdani has blasted the U.S. military’s operations in Venezuela, saying that the capture of president Nicolas Maduro “directly impacts New Yorkers.”

“I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City,” Mamdani said in a post on X.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.

“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance.”

Maduro to be taken to DEA headquarters before transfer to Brooklyn prison

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transferred from Newburgh, in New York, to the helipad in Manhattan by federal agents.

Maduro will reportedly be taken to the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration on 10th Avenue, then on to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until a court appearance, sources told The Washington Post.

It is likely he will first appear in court in Manhattan on Monday.

In pictures: Maduro leaves New York airport for transfer to city

Hegseth asked if operations were 'about freedom or oil'

Pete Hegseth was quizzed about whether the U.S. operations in Venezuela were about freedom, or about oil.

“Of course, there are what was done by Venezuela against American oil interests, oil companies is well understood and never should have happened, and President Trump is willing to recapture that,” Hegseth told CBS Evening News.

“But it's also the security of our hemisphere, if people understood what Venezuela was trafficking in with other adversaries – weapons they were trafficking. And then, of course, the drugs and the cartels, the poisoning of the American people...”

Asked about the future of the South American nation, Hegseth said that “nothing was off the table.”

”What happens next will be in the hands of Venezuelans to decide, but ultimately, America will benefit, security, wise and with prosperity, we believe the Venezuelan people can as well,” he said.

Hegseth calls Venezuela operations 'most successful of all time'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the U.S. military operations in Venezuela as “the most sophisticated, most complicated, most successful... of all time.”

Recalling the scenes from Saturday morning, Hegseth told CBS Evening News: “I saw the best of America. I saw men and women dedicating their lives to defending our country and to accomplishing that mission

“I gad a chance to meet a lot of them firsthand who were involved [in]... what can only be described as the most sophisticated, most complicated, most successful Joint Special Operations rate of all time.

“Nothing of this size scope when you actually unpack what was done kinetically and non-kinetically, that many people, that many moving parts... and they got the job done, and despite any obstacles in front of them, it is incredible to be able to serve such courageous, brave and skilled Americans.”

Maduro to be held at same prison as Luigi Mangione

Ousted Venzuelan president Nicolas Maduro could make his first court appearance in New York as soon as Monday.

In the meantime will be held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, which currently holds Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare boss Brian Thompson.

The same facility that held music mogul Sean Diddy Combs during his high-profile trial earlier this year.

Maduro and wife transferred to U.S. via Guantanamo Bay

Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transferred to the U.S. Saturday via the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay, according to sources familiar with the operation.

The sources told The New York Times, F.B.I. had a government aircraft waiting to fly to Stewart Air National Guard Base north of New York City.

At least 40 killed in attacks on Venezuela, report

The New York Times reports that at least 40 people were killed in Saturday’s attack on Venezuela, citing an anonymous Venezuelan official.

The victims included both military personnel and civilians, according to the outlet.

'This is insane, what the hell are we doing?'

Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said invading Venezuela “does not solve” the problems Americans are facing today.

Watch his reaction to Donald Trump’s press conference in this CNN clip:

Rep. Seth Moulton: "This is insane. What the hell are we doing? ... this is illegal." pic.twitter.com/RWJd25RI3i

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2026

In pictures: Law enforcement await arrival of Maduro at New York City heliport

Nicolas Maduro has been pictured disembarking the plane at New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base and is expected to arrive in New York City shortly.

He is likely to appear in Manhattan federal court as soon as Monday.

Law enforcement officers have been pictured awaiting the arrival of Madura and his wife at a heliport in the city.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Trump for 'historic leadership'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated Trump in a post on X.

Netanyahu praised Trump for his “bold and historic leadership.”

The Israeli leader attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, where he said, “May our alliance grow even stronger.”

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 3, 2026

When could Maduro appear in court?

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro could appear in court as soon as Monday.

A 25-page document from federal prosecutors in New York City claims Maduro, his wife and Venezuelan officials have “abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States.”

The four-count indictment, unsealed hours after Donald Trump announced the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, claims the Venezuelan president and his family enriched themselves with a “cycle of narcotics-based corruption.”

Maduro and Flores are expected to make an initial appearance on the charges in Manhattan federal court as soon as Monday.

Pictured: Defense Department aircraft reportedly carrying Maduro lands in New York

A Defense Department aircraft believed to be carrying captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife has landed at New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base.

President Donald Trump earlier said that Maduro was being transported via a U.S. Navy vessel USS Iwo Jima.

Trump shared a photograph of Maduro aboard the ship in handcuffs.

Maduro and wife Cilia Flores were dragged from their bedroom during the operation that took place late Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, according to CNN.

NEW: Maduro and his wife arrive in New York

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have reportedly arrived in New York after U.S. forces seized them from their home in an extraordinary military operation.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have arrived at New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base, a federal official told CNN.

In pictures: Maduro supporters in Caracas burn the American flag in protest

Supporters of captured president Nicolas Maduro in Caracas have been pictured burning the American flag in protest against the U.S. military action in the country.

Venezuelan VP denies Trump's claims she plans to help US run the country

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez denied the Trump administration’s claims that she plans to help the U.S. government run the country, despite President Donald Trump saying earlier she is “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”

“There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolas Maduro Moros,” Rodriguez said in remarks Saturday.

She said Venezuela’s government is open to resuming a relationship with the Trump administration, but only within the framework of international and Venezuelan law.

“That is the only type of relationship I will accept, after they have attacked and militarily assaulted our beloved nation,” she said.

What happens next in Venezuela?

President Donald Trump said an interim “group” with top administration officials will “run” the country for “a period of time” until the United States determines a “peaceful and just transition” can take place.

That group appears to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

What happens next after a series of escalating attacks and threats of regime change hinges on the responses from Venezuelan officials, regional governments and armed forces in an increasingly volatile situation amid the possibility of further American intervention.

Alex Woodward breaks it down...

Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela. What happens now?

Venezuelans deeply concerned over Trump plan for US to run the country

Venezuelans expressed deep concern over Donald Trump’s shock statement that the US was planning to “run the country” and his apparent endorsement of Maduro’s second-in-command Delcy Rodriguez as an interim leader of that transition.

“They have not clarified the legal, political or the temporal framework of this leadership - who’s going to lead?” asked Maria Corina Roldan Robles, a Venezuelan political analyst currently based in Chile.

She said they were concerned that instead of US cooperating with opposition figures like Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado or Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who was recognised as winning the 2024 elections, it appeared they were going for “Chavismo under a different leadership”.

In the press gathering Mr Trump dismissed Machado as lacking “support or respect” to take over. He did not even mention Gonzalez in the extraordinary statement, despite the fact that the Venezuelan opposition leader was recognised by the Biden administration as the “president-elect” in the wake of the 2024 vote.

Instead Trump confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had had a lengthy conversation with Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s vice president who Robles said was “one of the most central pillars of the regime that governed alongside Maduro”.

Trump said she had already been sworn in as interim leader and was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”

The concern in Venezuela is that the US had been positioning Rodriguez as a “person that could be considered for a transition” months go, Robles added.

Ana Maria Diez, the head of the Coalition of Venezuela a union of civil society organisations and an advisor on UN mechanism said that while people were celebrating the capture of Maduro, there were growing fears about Trump’s intentions towards Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

“President Trump has repeatedly referred to ‘our oil’ when speaking of Venezuelan resources. It is important to remind him that these resources belong to the Venezuelan people, who need humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of the country now more than ever, not the rule of outsiders,” she told The Independent.

She added that there was no “power vacuum” in the country now that Maduro was gone, as in 2024 they “overwhelmingly voted and elected Edmundo González Urrutia as president, who should be sworn in as soon as possible to govern the country.”

“We appreciate and welcome American investment, but not the rule of our country.”

Sen. Jack Reed condemns Trump's military action as a 'profound constitutional failure'

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has shredded the Trump administration for launching military action on Venezuela in what he described as a “profound constitutional failure.”

“Last night, President Trump waged war on a foreign nation without authorization, without notification, and without any explanation to the American people,” Reed said in a lengthy statement. “Whatever comes next, President Trump will own the consequences.”

“Initially, the White House claimed the purpose of the raid was to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas. Now, the President has claimed the United States will “run” Venezuela, and that the objective of this operation is to seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves. This is ludicrous,” Reed continued. “No serious plan has been presented for how such an extraordinary undertaking would work or what it will cost the American people.”

“This has been a profound constitutional failure. Congress – not the President – has the sole power to authorize war,” said Reed. “Pursuing regime change without the consent of the American people is a reckless overreach and an abuse of power.”

Keir Starmer: 'We shed no tears about the end of Maduro's regime'

Keir Starmer has said the UK regards Nicolas Maduro as an “illegitimate President” and “shed no tears about the end of his regime.”

The UK prime minister shared a statement Saturday in response to the Trump administration’s military action in Venezuela and said the UK government supports a transition of power in the South American country.

“I reiterated my support for international law this morning,” Starmer said. “The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls U.S. action on Venezuela 'an act of war'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called the U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife “an act of war.”

Mamdani, who was sworn into office just three days ago, shared a damning statement ahead of Maduro going into federal custody in his city.

I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City.

Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and…

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026

Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end'

Former Trump supporter-turned-critic Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed the military action against Venezuela was “what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.”

MAGA firebrand Greene, who dramatically fell out with the president at the end of 2025 over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, launched a scathing attack on the military mission in a post on X.

“If U.S. military action and regime change in Venezuela was really about saving American lives from deadly drugs then why hasn’t the Trump admin taken action against Mexican cartels?” Greene asked.

“If prosecuting narco terrorists is a high priority then why did President Trump pardon the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez who was convicted and sentenced for 45 years for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into America?”

Read the full post below.

I’ve served on the Homeland Security Committee for the past three years. I’m 100% for strong safe secure borders and stopping narco terrorists and cartels from trafficking deadly drugs and human trafficking into America.

Fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of U.S. drug…

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 3, 2026

Where was JD Vance?

Vice President JD Vance didn’t watch the operation unfold with President Donald Trump and other administration officials at Mar-a-Lago, his office announced.

The vice president’s office said Vance was in Florida on Friday, where he quietly met during the day with the president at his golf club in West Palm Beach to discuss the impending strikes.

But he did not join Trump and other top administration officials at Mar-a-Lago to watch the operation because the national security team was concerned about the vice president’s motorcade potentially tipping off the Venezuelans to the impending action.

Vance instead watched the operation via secure video conference and then flew to his home in Cincinnati after the operation concluded. His office said he was “deeply integrated in the process and planning.”

Vance’s office said that due “to increased security concerns, the Administration has aimed to limit the frequency and duration of the Vice President and President being co-located away from the White House.”

White House shares photos of Trump, Hegseth and CIA director

The White House has shared a series of “behind the scenes” style photographs of President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Captioned “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the White House account shared the images on its official X account.

Operation Absolute Resolve. pic.twitter.com/KOtW0C0V1O

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/smJU0ZAFxe

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

Who is Delcy Rodriguez, the Venezuela vice president that Trump claims replaced Maduro?

Donald Trump said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in touch with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez — Maduro’s presumptive successor.

“‘We'll do whatever you need,’” Trump quoted Rodriguez as saying. “She really doesn't have a choice.”

Trump said Rodriquez was sworn in during a press conference Saturday, but the Venezuelan government has not confirmed it.

Who is Delcy Rodriguez, the Venezuela vice president that Trump says replaced Maduro?

Venezuelan opposition leader hails 'hour of freedom'

The Venezuelan opposition leader, Mario Corina Machado, said “the hour of freedom has arrived” following the ousting of Nicolas Maduro.

Machado called on Venezuelans to “be ready to mobilize” and for the military to recognize opposition-backed candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as president in a statement released Saturday.

“Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived,” she said. “This is the hour of the citizens. Those of us who risked everything for democracy on July 28th. Those of us who elected Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who must immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces by all the officers and soldiers who comprise it.”

“Today we are ready to take over power. We remain vigilant, active, and organized until a democratic transition is concrete. A transition that needs ALL of us,” she added.

Machado and Gonzalez have argued that Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election was stolen.

Trump said at Saturday’s press conference that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was “just sworn in” after Maduro was captured by U.S. forces, but the Venezuelan government has not announced that Rodriguez was sworn in as president.

Trump says revenue from oil sales will help fund the running of Venezuela

Trump suggested that the U.S. would rely on revenue from oil sales to pay for running Venezuela if America’s involvement in the South American country ends up lasting for years.

“The money coming out of the ground is very substantial,” he said. “We’re going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend.”

The president vowed to fix Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and said the U.S. plans to sell it to other countries.

“We’re in the oil business. We’re going to sell it to them,” Trump said. “The oil companies will pay for the rebuilding of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.”

Civilians in Venezuela describe worry and panic in the air

Civilians on the ground in the neighbourhoods of Caracas and Barquismimeto, a city 300km west of the capital, told The Independent rather than soldiers they can see members of the Collectivos - paramilitary forces affiliated with the regime - deployed in the largely empty streets to maintain control as a state of emergency has been declared.

People are worried about violence and are attempting to stock up even though being on the streets is dangerous, one man in the Catia neighbourhood said, asking to remain anonymous.

“There are a lot of stores trying to secretly open to allow people to buy supplies through one small door. There are also long queues of people trying to buy [petrol] in the [petrol] station.”

Another man whose two children are stuck in the capital, and who also asked to be anonymous, said most “feared the worst is to come”.

“Everyone is trying to get hold of food. [They fear] the confrontations will begin.”

How ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ unfolded

President Donald Trump described the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia as “an assault like people have not seen since World War II.”

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called “Operation Absolute Resolve” a months-in-the-making “powerful demonstration of America’s joint force.”

Trump ordered the strike at 10:46 p.m., telling officials “good luck and Godspeed,” according to Caine.

More than 150 aircraft including several fighter jets, helicopters and bombers launched from 20 different points with service members from across the military branches, with the youngest being 20 and oldest being 49, Caine said.

Covering fire paved the way for helicopters to arrive in Caracas. Law enforcement accompanied by military personnel arrived at the Maduro compound after 1:01 a.m.

There were “multiple” engagements after the extraction, and one U.S. aircraft was hit “but remained flyable,” according to Caine.

Maduro and his wife were “over the water” out of Venezuela at 3:29 a.m. ET and held on the USS Iwo Jima.

They are expected to face criminal charges under a newly unsealed grand jury indictment in New York.

Rubio says Venezuela operation 'no the kind of mission' you can notify Congress of ahead of time

Donald Trump deferred to Secretary of State Marco Rubio when reporters asked whether Congress was notified about the operation ahead of time.

“This was not the kind of mission that you can do congressional notification on,” Rubio said. “It was a trigger-based mission in which conditions had to be met night after night.

“We watched and monitored that for a number of days. So it's just simply not the kind of mission you can call people and say, ‘Hey, we may do this at some point in the next 15 days.’”

Reporters quiz Trump about how the US would run Venezuela

Trump is now taking questions from reporters and is being quizzed about how the U.S. is going to be running Venezuela.

“We're not afraid of boots on the ground,” Trump said. “We had boots on the ground last night. At a very high level. Actually, we're not afraid of it. We're we don't mind saying it, but we're going to make sure that that country is run properly. We're not doing this in vain.”

The president was unable to offer specifics about how the U.S. would be running Venezuela when reporters pressed him further.

“We're designating people. We're talking to people. We're designating various people, and we're going to let you know who those people are,” he said.

Trump gave the order Friday night as US forces launched from 20 different bases on land and sea

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is now sharing more details from the U.S. military operation.

“At 10:46 p.m. Eastern time last night, the President ordered the United States military to move forward with this mission,” said Caine.

“He said to us, and we appreciate it, Mr. President, ‘good luck and Godspeed.’ And those words were transmitted to the entire joint force.”

“Over the course of the night, aircraft began launching from 20 different bases on land and sea across the western hemisphere.”

General Dan Caine: 'We watched, we waited, we prepared'

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is now speaking and revealed that the operation in Venezuela involved more than 150 aircraft.

It took “months of work” and the mission was “meticulously planned” to track Maduro’s movements.

“We watched, we waited, we prepared, we remained patient and professional,” said Caine.

“Let me talk a little bit about the preparation after months of work by our intelligence teammates to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore...” Caine said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praises 'historic operation'

Trump has handed over briefly to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who praised Saturday’s military action on Venezuela as a “historic operation” and repeated his rhetoric about the “American warrior.”

“Words can barely capture the bravery and the power and the precision of this historic operation, a massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed by the greatest Americans our country has to offer,” Hegseth said.

“American warriors are second to none, the best in the world and the best of our country. What I, what all of us witnessed last night, was sheer guts and grit, gallantry and glory of the American warrior.”

Trump said he was prepared for 'second and much larger attack' but it wasn't needed

Trump said he was “prepared to do a second wave” after the first attack, but it was not necessary.

He added that the U.S. was ready to launch a second attack in the future if it was needed.

“So we were prepared to do a second wave if we needed to do so,” he said. “We actually assumed that a second wave would be necessary. But now it's probably not the first wave, if you'd like to call it that, the first attack was so successful we probably don't have to do a second but we're prepared to do a second wave, a much bigger wave, actually.”

Trump says the U.S. will run Venezuela

Trump says the U.S. is going to run Venezuela “until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”

“We are going to run the country,” he vowed.

NEW: Trump shares photo purporting to be Maduro

Donald Trump has shared a new photo purporting to be Nicolas Maduro en route to New York aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

The president posted the picture on Truth Social.

Maduro appeared to be wearing a flotation device around his neck.

Next to him was someone wearing a jacket that had a DEA logo.

Maduro also had protective headphones on his ears and appeared to be lifting a water bottle with both arms to drink.

Happening imminently: Trump to address the nation from Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump is about to address the nation from Mar-a-Lago.

We’ll bring you all the latest from his press conference.

Watch the feed below.

Here are the charges against Maduro, his family and Venezuelan officials

The Department of Justice has unsealed a sweeping grand jury indictment accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a massive cocaine trafficking operation.

A 25-page document from federal prosecutors in New York City claims Maduro and Venezuelan officials have “abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States.”

The four-count indictment, unsealed hours after Donald Trump announced the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, claims the Venezuelan president and his family enriched themselves with a “cycle of narcotics-based corruption.”

Alex Woodward has the details.

Maduro faces ‘narco-terrorism’ grand jury indictment. Here are the charges

U.S. Justice Department releases new indictment of Maduro and his wife

A superseding indictment just unsealed in New York federal court claims Nicolas Maduro has been 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.”

The Department of Justice alleges that Maduro and his wife enriched themselves with a “cycle of narcotics-based corruption” that “lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil and who help produce, protect, and transport tons of cocaine to the United States,” according to the document.

Watch: Trump says capture of Maduro was due to happen 4 days ago

President Donald Trump has revealed that the capture of Nicolas Maduro was originally due to take place four days ago, but it was delayed due to poor weather conditions.

Watch the clip from Fox News below.

Trump says he planned to do the raid to capture Maduro "four days ago" (so New Year's Eve) "but the weather was not perfect" pic.twitter.com/KYCSEIoyq9

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2026

Trump refuses to say if he consulted with Congress before Venezuela strikes

President Donald Trump refused to say whether he consulted Congress before carrying out airstrikes on the South American country during a phone call with The New York Times Saturday morning.

When asked by the Times whether he sought congressional approval before carrying out the “large scale” attack on Venezuela, he said, “We’ll discuss that, we’re going to have a news conference,” before hanging up the phone. The entire call lasted 50 seconds, theTimes reports.

Trump has repeatedly said he would not necessarily seek permission from Congress to launch a land war in Venezuela, saying instead that military assets are “just going to kill people” there instead.

“I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them,” Trump said during a White House roundtable with administration officials in October.

Also in October, the president said he “authorized” CIA operations inside Venezuela, granting intelligence operatives to take “covert action” against Maduro and his government, including as part of a wider military operation.

In remarks to reporters, Trump said he “authorized” CIA operations because Venezuela “emptied their prisons into the United States of America” and flooded the country with drugs.

Read more below.

Trump refuses to say if he consulted with Congress before Venezuela strikes

Donald Trump reveals new details on US operation

Donald Trump has released some new information on the US military operation in Venezuela overnight.

Speaking to Fox News, the US president said he watched the operation in real time, and said he’d “never seen anything like it”.

He said: “They just broke in and they broke into places that were not really able to be broken into.

“Steel doors that were put there for just this reason and they got taken out in a matter of seconds, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Trump said the US forces who captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro suffered a few injuries and no deaths.

He said the US is now deciding what's next for Venezuela after Maduro’s capture, telling Fox News “we'll be involved in it very much”.

Maduro and wife were captured at home, Venezuelan official says

Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández has said Maduro and his wife were at their home within the Fort Tiuna military installation when they were captured.

“That's where they bombed,” he said. “And, there, they carried out what we could call a kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country.”

Vance: Maduro was offered multiple off ramps

US vice president JD Vance has spoken out after the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

“The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States,” he wrote on X.

“Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”

The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.

Kudos to our brave… pic.twitter.com/b1fqkdbB4x

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 3, 2026

Venezuelan president indicted in New York

The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in New York.

US attorney general Pamela Bondi said Mr Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” she wrote on X.

“On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026

Trump says Venezuela president 'captured' after strikes

Donald Trump has claimed the Venezuelan president has been “captured and flown out of the country” as he confirmed the US launched an attack.

In a Truth Social post, the US president said: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.

“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”

He said t here will be a press conference at 11am at Mar-a-Lago.