The United States may attempt to seize an oil tanker with ties to Venezuela that is traveling under a Russian flag, following the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, according to media reports.
American forces plan to intercept the vessel, the Marinera, a U.S.-sanctioned ship that slipped past the blockade imposed by Trump last month, unnamed officials told CBS News Tuesday.
The vessel, which is being tracked by NATO forces, is currently located off the coast of the U.K.
The Kremlin told state media Tuesday it is monitoring the situation “with concern.”
Also on Tuesday, the Venezuelan military reported that at least 24 of the country's security personnel died in the January 3 operation in Caracas launched by the Trump administration.
Maduro was captured, along with his wife Cilia Flores, after strikes in the capital Caracas and was indicted on “narco-terrorism" charges in New York Monday. Maduro pleaded not guilty claiming he was “kidnapped” and that he is a “prisoner of war.”
At the House Republican retreat Tuesday, Trump described the Delta Force operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture as tactically “brilliant” but also noted the fatalities.
"Unfortunately, I say that, soldiers, Cubans, mostly Cubans, but many, many killed,” Trump said. Trump characterized Maduro as “a violent guy” who “killed millions of people.”
Key Points
- Trump suggests US could launch second attack on Venezuela if government doesn't cooperate
- 'It was brilliant tactically:' Trump lauds US military's capture of Maduro
- Opposition leader Machado vows to return to Venezuela
- Trump says Venezuela 'can’t have an election' within the next month
- Preschool teacher arrested after TV interview criticizing Trump for recent attacks against Venezuela
Senate Democrats say Marco Rubio has ‘had a full MAGA-lobotomy’ since his confirmation
21:49 , Brendan RasciusSecretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Democratic counterparts in the Senate are furiously criticizing the Trump administration official after the recent attack on Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolas Maduro.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland accused Rubio of having had a “full MAGA-lobotomy” and failing to follow legal obligations to consult with Congress before the administration launched its Venezuela operation.
“He essentially does what Donald Trump wants him to do,” Van Hollen told NOTUS. “He has a little bit of the Dear Leader syndrome.”
“We’re in a constitutional crisis, in my opinion,” Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey added in an interview with the outlet. “And it’s something that Marco, when he was in the Senate, wouldn’t have stood for.”
Josh Marcus reports...
Senate Democrats say Marco Rubio has ‘had a full MAGA-lobotomy’ since confirmation
Schumer says administration has provided 'no real answers' on Venezuela operation
21:33 , Brendan RasciusSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that a Monday briefing on the U.S. military’s January 3 operation in Venezuela provided few answers.
Schumer, a Democrat from New York, described the administration’s briefing to congressional leaders as “troubling.”
“I and other members sat through more than a two and a half hour classified briefing with the administration, and after all that time, we got no real answers,” he said during a press conference. “They don’t know where they’re headed.”
Maduro’s capture sent ‘shockwaves’ through global oil market, report says
21:09 , Brendan RasciusThe U.S. capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro sent “shockwaves” through the global oil market, according to Kpler, a firm that researches international trade.
“With approximately 75 days of Venezuelan supply still in transit in Asia, short-term disruption is limited,” the company wrote in a Tuesday post on X.
“However, a deeper shift may be forming,” Kpler added. “Teapots are pivoting to Iranian and Russian barrels, as well as heavy grades from Brazil and Canada, amid concerns #Venezuela’s troubles could herald wider geopolitical realignments.”
Marco Rubio discusses Venezuela with Pope Leo's top diplomat
20:55 , Brendan RasciusSecretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state of the Holy See, about Venezuela, following the U.S. military’s seizure of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
The two men “discussed pressing challenges, including efforts to improve the humanitarian situation, particularly in Venezuela, as well as the promotion of peace and religious freedom globally,” the State Department announced on Tuesday.
“Secretary Rubio and Cardinal Parolin reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between the United States and the Holy See in addressing shared priorities around the world,” the department added.
Rubio is a practicing Roman Catholic, according to a 2016 Politico profile.
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Florida Republican says he spoke with Venezuelan opposition leader about next steps for the Latin American country
20:40 , Brendan RasciusSenator Rick Scott said that he spoke with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado about the future of the South American country, following the U.S. military’s seizure of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
“I just got off the phone with [Machado],” Scott, a Florida Republican, wrote on X on Tuesday.
“She’s extremely grateful for [President Donald Trump’s] bold action to hold Maduro and his thugs accountable and work to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” he added. “Now we must get the political prisoners, including Americans, home and end the regime’s repression once and for all!”
Over the weekend, Trump said that Machado does not have the “respect” or “support” to lead Venezuela.
Machado fled Venezuela last month for Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.
I just got off the phone with @MariaCorinaYA. She’s extremely grateful for @POTUS’ bold action to hold Maduro and his thugs accountable and work to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 6, 2026
Now we must get the political prisoners, including Americans, home and end the… pic.twitter.com/ebfA0LJoSP
Oil tanker under Russian flag being watched with concern amid reports of looming US seizure, Kremlin says
20:19 , Brendan RasciusAn oil tanker with ties to Venezuela that is traveling under a Russian flag is being watched “with concern,” the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
The tanker, called the Marinera, was last pinpointed in the North Atlantic Ocean on January 3, according to Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking website.
The vessel has been sanctioned by the U.S. government since 2024 and is being “actively pursued,” by U.S. officials, according to NBC News.
A pair of U.S. officials told CBS News that the government may attempt to seize the tanker, which is believed to be located somewhere between Iceland and Scotland.
Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned tankers coming from and going to Venezuela, and the U.S. military has since seized several such vessels.
57 people died in US attack on Venezuela, local media says
20:10 , Brendan RasciusVenezuelan media reported that 57 people died as a result of the U.S. military’s January 3 operation in Caracas, which led to the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Among those killed were 32 Cuban fighters, 23 Venezuelan soldiers and two civilians, according to the BBC, citing local media.
Trump said on Tuesday that “many, many” Cubans were killed in the operation, which was carried out by Delta Force, a special operations team in the U.S. Army.
Venezuelan opposition leader warns of 'alarming' crackdown, citing detention of journalists
20:05 , Brendan RasciusVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado warned of an “alarming” crackdown in her home country, following the U.S. military’s capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
“What we’re seeing right now in the last 24 hours is really alarming," Machado told Fox News on Monday evening.
She claimed that over a dozen journalists had been detained by the government, which is currently run by Delcy Rodriguez, who served as vice president alongside Maduro.
Machado also said she planned to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible.” She fled the country last month to travel to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
PHOTOS: Women rally in support of ousted Venezuelan president in Caracas
19:50 , Brendan RasciusPhotos show a women's rally in Caracas in support of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
The rally, which took place on January 6, was attended by Venezuela's Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello.
House Democrat describes capture of Maduro as 'regime change operation'
19:33 , Brendan RasciusRep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat, described the U.S. military’s recent capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as “a regime change operation.”
“This was about changing the power in Venezuela,” Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, told MS NOW on Tuesday.
He said that President Donald Trump “wants access to the oil in Venezuela, which is basically the United States saying because we are strong and powerful, we will take over a country that has a resource that we want.”
“That is completely wrong on a whole series of levels,” Smith said.
I spoke with @MSNOWNews about the Trump administration's regime change efforts in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/Qjx1D5aq9K
— Rep. Adam Smith (@RepAdamSmith) January 6, 2026
Most Americans have concerns about Venezuela operation, poll finds
19:13 , Brendan RasciusMost Americans are concerned about the U.S. military’s recent operation in Venezuela, which included airstrikes and led to the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to new polling.
In a Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Monday, 72 percent of respondents said they worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Meanwhile, one-third of respondents said they approved of the military operation.
Sixty-five percent of Republicans said they backed the operation, while just 11 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of independents said the same.
The poll sampled 1,248 U.S. adults between January 4 and 5. It has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Florida Republican asks whether Trump should attack Cuba next
18:50 , Brendan RasciusRep. Carlos Gimenez, a Florida Republican, questioned whether President Donald Trump should attack Cuba following the U.S. military’s raid on Venezuela.
“Should President Trump do #Cuba next?” the Cuban-born lawmaker wrote in a post on X on Monday, which included a poll with two options: “Yes, right now!” and “Yes, by end of 2026!”
Should President Trump do #Cuba next?
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 5, 2026
President of Mexico calls for Maduro to be given a fair trial
18:30 , Brendan RasciusMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for a “fair trial” for Nicolas Maduro, the deposed leader of Venezuela.
“Now that President Maduro has been detained, what one asks for is always a fair trial,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference on Tuesday. “That is what must be requested, so that truly in everything, for everyone and in any circumstance – and in this particular case – there must be speed and justice.”
She also said she opposed the U.S. military’s “invasion” of Venezuela.
“The best way to help a country is international cooperation for development. Respect, protection, and promotion of human rights,” she said.
Maduro and his wife were captured from Caracas by U.S. forces on January 3 and transported to New York.
The deposed leader is currently being held at a detention center in New York City, where he will stand trial on drug charges. He has pleaded not guilty and described himself as a “prisoner of war.”
At least 24 Venezuelan personnel were killed in US military operation, Venezuelan military says
18:29 , Brendan RasciusThe Venezuelan military said on Tuesday that at least two dozen Venezuelan security personnel died during the U.S. military’s January 3 operation in Caracas, which led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Donald Trump claimed that “many, many” Cubans were killed during the operation, which he described as tactically brilliant.
Venezuelan official calls on judge overseeing Maduro case to uphold international law
18:10 , Brendan RasciusVenezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab called on the New York City judge overseeing Nicolas Maduro's case to adhere to international law.
"I call on Judge Alvin Gerstein to respect international law and recognize the lack of jurisdiction of the court at his disposal to prosecute the head of a sovereign nation such as Venezuela, who is protected by diplomatic immunity," Saab said on Tuesday, according to NBC News.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug charges in court on Monday, claiming he was “kidnapped” and that he is a “prisoner of war.”
Senate majority leader says he's confident the US government has a plan for the future of Venezuela
17:45 , Brendan RasciusSenate Majority Leader John Thune expressed confidence that the U.S. government has a plan for the future of Venezuela.
Speaking to reporters after a congressional briefing on Monday night, the South Dakota Republican said, “The next few days are going to be key in what happens there in terms of, you know, sort of the government structure and, you know, how willing they are to work with the U.S.”
“I think that's going to be really key here,” he said, according to CBS News.
“If it ends up being, you know, Rodriguez, I'm told that she's a practical person, pragmatic person, and will understand the importance of figuring out a path forward to where America's national security priorities can be prioritized by Venezuela and they can work with us in a constructive way,” he said. “I hope that happens.”
Trump criticizes Democrats for failing to back Venezuela operation
17:20 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers for failing to back his military strike in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Speaking to a gathering of House Republicans on Tuesday, Trump singled out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democrats.
“At some point they should say you know ‘you did a great job,’” the president said. “‘Thank you, congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?”
Trump administration to brief senators this week on Venezuela attack
17:00 , Brendan RasciusSenior members of President Donald Trump’s administration are scheduled to brief senators about the U.S. military’s January 3 raid on Venezuela, which led to the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a new report.
The briefing will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, according to The New York Times.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will participate in the briefing.
Trump says 'nobody can take us' after Venezuela raid
16:50 , Brendan RasciusSpeaking to the House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, President Donald Trump boasted about the U.S. military following the January 3 seizure of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“The United States proved once again that we have the most powerful, most lethal, most sophisticated and most fearsome, it's a fearsome military, on planet Earth, and it's not even close," the Republican president said. "Nobody can take us."
PHOTOS: See Trump address Republican lawmakers
16:50 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump addressed Republican lawmakers on Tuesday, speaking about a wide range of issues, including the U.S. military’s capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, his sweeping tariffs and the upcoming midterm elections.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he's considering bringing case against Maduro
16:30 , Brendan RasciusFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis said his government is considering bringing a state case against deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
"We are looking very seriously at...bringing a state case against Maduro," the Republican governor said at a news conference on Tuesday.
DeSantis accused Maduro of being "very involved" in smuggling drugs into the Sunshine State.
The U.S. military captured Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3 and transported him to New York City to stand trial on narcoterrorism charges.
Trump says Venezuelans 'love' that he captured Maduro
16:15 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump claimed that people in Venezuela “love” that he captured deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
“They’re marching in the streets, they love it,” Trump told Republican lawmakers on Tuesday.
His remarks come one day after the president reposted a video purporting to depict a crowd of Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s ouster. However, the footage is actually from 2024.
'It is a direct threat to global political stability:' Maduro's son speaks out against his father's capture
16:01 , Brendan RasciusNicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, spoke out against the U.S. military’s capture of his father.
On Monday, Maduro Guerra appealed to the international community and demanded that the U.S. return his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, to Venezuela.
"If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe,” he said from Caracas. “Today, it's Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that refuses to submit,"
"This is not a regional problem,” he added. “It is a direct threat to global political stability."
'It was brilliant tactically:' Trump lauds US military's capture of Maduro
15:50 , Brendan RasciusTrump praised the U.S. military’s January 3 operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
“It was brilliant tactically,” the 79-year-old president told Republican lawmakers on Tuesday. “We have the best weapons in the world.”
“The electricity for the entire country was turned off,” Trump added. “The only people with lights were the people that had candles…so we sort of got them a little by surprise.”
Trump claims Maduro 'killed millions of people' in Venezuela
15:34 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump claimed that deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro killed millions of people.
“He’s a violent guy,” Trump said during an address to House Republicans on Tuesday.
“He’s killed millions of people,” he said, adding “They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas.”
His comments come days after the U.S. military swooped into Caracas, captured Maduro and his wife and transported them to New York City to stand trial on narcoterrorism charges.
Mexico's president minimizes threat of US military action
15:30 , Brendan RasciusMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum minimized the threat of U.S. military intervention in Mexico, following the seizure of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
On Tuesday, Sheinbaum said that the U.S. government’s decision to designate fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, as a weapon of mass destruction could give the U.S. “more elements” to justify military action.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen,” she said.
Her comments come days after Trump warned that “something will have to be done about Mexico.” He stated that he repeatedly asked Sheinbaum if she wanted the U.S. military’s “help” in taking on drug cartels.
UK military is monitoring tanker departing Venezuela amid speculation US forces may attempt to board it: report
15:15 , Brendan RasciusA tanker leaving Venezuela is being monitored by the U.K. military amid speculation that U.S. forces may attempt to board it, according to a new report.
“The vessel is part of the so-called shadow fleet carrying oil in breach of sanctions,” The Times reported on Tuesday. “It has hastily changed its official flag to Russia’s and crew have painted a Russian flag on the side of the vessel in an apparent attempt to prevent seizure by the US.”
NATO allies seem to be tracking the vessel, which is due to travel to northern Europe.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has seized several sanctioned oil tankers departing Venezuela.
European allies warn Trump over his threats to annex Greenland
15:05 , Brendan RasciusEuropean allies warned the U.S. on Tuesday against taking military action against Greenland, a Danish territory.
“NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up,” the leaders of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement.
“We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries,” they continued. “The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO.”
“Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively,” they said, adding “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The statement followed renewed efforts by Trump and senior officials to press for the acquisition of Greenland, arguing that the island holds key strategic significance for the U.S.
Mark Carney says he welcomes the 'prospect of greater prosperity in Venezuela'
15:00 , Brendan RasciusCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that he welcomes “the prospect of greater prosperity in Venezuela,” following the U.S. military’s surprise seizure of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro.
He took a different tune when it came to the Trump administration’s recent threats to take over Greenland, a Danish territory.
“We stand with Denmark, we stand with Greenland,” Carney said. “Our closest partnership is with the United States. And we'll work with everybody to make sure that we move forward together.”
Democratic senator accuses Trump of 'trying to distract' from Epstein scandal
14:49 , Brendan RasciusSenator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, accused President Donald Trump of using the attack on Venezuela to distract Americans from the Epstein controversy.
“A big part of the Venezuela story: Trump is trying to distract Americans and the media from health care premiums that are doubling for millions of Americans, costs spiraling, and Trump's role in the Epstein scandal,” Murphy wrote on X on Tuesday morning.
A big part of the Venezuela story: Trump is trying to distract Americans and the media from health care premiums that are doubling for millions of Americans, costs spiraling, and Trump's role in the Epstein scandal. pic.twitter.com/JPyIwc23NP
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 6, 2026
Preschool teacher arrested after TV interview criticizing Trump for recent attacks against Venezuela
14:35 , Brendan RasciusA preschool teacher was arrested on camera after criticizing Trump for recent attacks against Venezuela.
On Jan 5, Jessica Plichta, 22, attended a march in Grand Rapids, Michigan, protesting Trump's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
After an interview with WZZM 13, Plichta was approached by two police officers who stated that she allegedly failed to obey a lawful order of a police officer.
Plichta was then arrested and taken to the Kent County jail, where she was released after three hours and told to expect a notification of a formal charge.
Watch the video here:
Trump set to speak with members of Congress this morning
14:30 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump will address House Republicans this morning amid ongoing questions about the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“TODAY AT 10AM: PresidentTrump will give remarks to the House Republican Conference to kick off 2026, and you won't want to miss it - tune in,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X earlier this morning.
Trump suggests US could launch second attack on Venezuela if government doesn't cooperate
14:20 , Brendan RasciusPresident Trump warned that the U.S. could launch a second attack on Venezuela if newly worn in President Delcy Rodríguez does not cooperate.
In fact, the Republican president told NBC News on Monday that he initially thought American forces would be sent in again by now.
"We’re prepared to do it," he said. "We anticipated doing it, actually."
Trump also stated that the South American nation will not hold elections in the near future.
"We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote," Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next 30 days. "No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health."
Trump further expressed that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela.
"No, we’re not," Trump said. "We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country."
Bernie Sanders outlines reasons U.S. attack on Venezuela was 'very wrong'
14:15 , Brendan RasciusVermont Senator Bernie Sanders outlined why he believes the U.S. attack on Venezuela, which included the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, was “very wrong.”
In a January 5 post on X, Sanders called it “illegal and unconstitutional,” and said, “it will make the world less safe.”
He provided four other reasons, including that the U.S. military operation constitutes “blatant imperialism.”
Six reasons why Trump’s attack on Venezuela was very wrong: pic.twitter.com/DhGQrjEdt6
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 5, 2026
NEWS ANALYSIS | What is the Monroe Doctrine?
14:00 , Brendan RasciusThe Monroe Doctrine has gained new relevance following President Trump’s surprise capture of Venezuela’s president and his assertion that the U.S. will temporarily “run” the South American nation.
“The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal,” Trump said after the January 3 military operation, which saw Delta Force swoop into Caracas, capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and transport them to New York to stand trial on narcoterrorism charges. “But we’ve superseded it by a lot, a real lot.”
What exactly is the Monroe Doctrine?
It originates from an 1823 address to Congress by President James Monroe during which he articulated a new U.S. policy for the Western Hemisphere.
“The three main concepts of the doctrine—separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe, non-colonization, and non-intervention—were designed to signify a clear break between the New World and the autocratic realm of Europe,” according to the U.S. State Department.
At the time, many nations in South America had just attained independence from European empires, and Monroe, America’s fifth president, sought to prevent European meddling and assert U.S. influence on the continent.
“The Monroe Doctrine was about forestalling extraregional seizures of territory,” according to an expert from the U.S. Naval Institute. “It sought to deny great powers such as Great Britain and Imperial Germany a pretext for wresting away real estate they might use to build naval bases in the United States’ environs.”
Over time, the U.S. government’s reading of the doctrine evolved, allowing for a much wider application.
President Theodore Roosevelt added a corollary “which inverted the original meaning of the doctrine and came to justify unilateral U.S. intervention in Latin America,” according to the State Department.
Over the past century, it’s been used to justify repeated U.S. intervention in Latin America, including in Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Panama.
Watch: Venezuela's exiled opposition leader Machado vows to return to country
13:29 , Alex CroftWho could Trump invade next? Fears over president’s plans for Greenland, Cuba and Colombia
13:10 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has escalated his rhetoric regarding US influence in the Western Hemisphere, renewing calls for an American takeover of Greenland and threatening military action against Colombia.
These assertive statements, made on Sunday, follow a US military operation in Venezuela and were accompanied by his top diplomat, Marco Rubio, declaring Cuba's communist government to be "in a lot of trouble".
The remarks from Trump and Secretary of State Rubio, coming after the ousting of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, underscore the administration's intent to adopt a more expansive role across the region.
With thinly veiled threats, Trump is unsettling both allies and adversaries throughout the hemisphere, prompting a pointed question globally: Who will be next?
Read more here:
Who could Trump invade? Fears over president’s plans for Greenland, Cuba and Colombia
Gunfire heard near Venezuelan presidential palace - ICYMI
12:52 , Alex CroftGunfire was earlier heard near the Venezuelan presidential palace.
U.S. officials have denied any responsibility, and Sky News has reported that it was the result of a misunderstanding between government forces.
Venezuelan opposition demands release of all political prisoners
12:34 , Alex CroftThe movement of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has demanded the release of all political prisoners held in the country.
"Those who unjustly hold the civilian and military political prisoners should free them immediately," the Vente Venezuela movement said of political detainees, whom a leading local rights group puts at 863.
NEWS ANALYSIS | Why managing Trump is far more important than defending international law for Starmer
12:16 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox writes:
It’s not often that you have a cabinet minister say the quiet bit out loud. But in his candid interview on the Today programme on Tuesday morning, Wes Streeting summed up the dilemma that the UK and the rest of Europe face in dealing with Donald Trump.
On one hand, they want to defend an international rules-based order and can see perfectly well that the US’s military strike on Venezuela and capture of president Nicolas Maduro was likely to have been illegal.
On the other hand, they do not want to poke the bear and anger Trump into doing something rash, which would harm them.
And as Sir Keir Starmer joins French president Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders on Tuesday, including representatives of the Trump administration in Paris, this dilemma will hang over their conversations like a Damoclean sword waiting to crash down.
Read more here:
Why managing Trump is more important than defending international law for Starmer
Stephen Miller declares Greenland should be part of US and 'nobody will fight' over country's future
11:58 , Alex CroftMaduro loyalists better placed to lead Venezuela than Machado - C.I.A. report
11:44 , Alex CroftA C.I.A. intelligence assessment deemed that Maduro’s senior allies, rather than opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, are better suited to maintain short-term stability in Venezuela, according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal revealed that a C.I.A. intelligence assessment had determined that Maduro’s key allies, including Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in as president on Monday, would be the best positioned to lead a temporary government in Caracas and maintain short-term stability.
The analysis influenced Trump’s decision to back Rodriguez instead of Machado.
Machado and Edmundo González, her stand-in candidate who won more than two-thirds of the vote in the 2024 election, would struggle to gain legitimacy and would face significant resistance from pro-regime security services, drug-trafficking groups and political opponents, the report argued.
According to The New York Times, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had argued Machado taking power would further destabilise the country, a view supported by classified C.I.A. intelligence, a person familiar with the document told the outlet.
Machado would be president if she turned down Nobel Peace Prize for Trump - White House sources
11:07 , Alex CroftVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has spent months trying to gain Donald Trump’s favour - but the U.S. president looks set to leave her in the lurch.
Two White House sources told The Washington Post that the President had lost interest in supporting Machado after her decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.
Machado dedicated the award to Trump after her win, but by accepting it in the first place she was guilty of the “ultimate sin”, one said.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” they added.
Machado wants to 'share' Nobel Peace Prize with Trump
10:49 , Alex CroftSpeaking on Fox News last night, Maria Corina Machado was glowing in her praise of U.S. president Donald Trump.
It is a transparent attempt to gain Trump’s favor after he said explicitly on Saturday that he did not view Machado was a suitable next president for the country, claiming she did not have enough support.
There have been suggestions that Trump is upset by Machado’s 2025 Nobel Peace Prize win, an award he so desperately wanted.
Machado dedicated the award to Trump during her victory speech in December, and is now continuing a campaign of flattery.
“Actually, I spoke with President Trump on October 10th, the same day the prize was announced. Not since then,” she said.
She admitted she had not offered to give him the prize.
“It hasn’t happened yet,” she said, “but I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe, the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people, certainly want to give it to him, and share it with him.”
U.S. action in Venezuela shows powerful can do what they want - U.N.
10:31 , Alex CroftThe UN’s human rights office has fiercely criticised the U.S. for its action in Venezuela, saying it shows that powerful countries can do whatever they like.
The international community must be clear that the US intervention in Venezuela is a breach of international law, the UN’s OHCHR said, adding that it damages the architecture of international security.
The office said that it has previously warned about the human rights situation in Venezuela, and that it fears the latest intervention will now make matters worse.
We’ll bring you more as it comes through.
Mapped: Every country Trump has threatened after capture of Venezuelan president Maduro
09:54 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has issued a series of threats against multiple countries after American troops captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The US president followed Maduro’s shock arrest with threats against Colombia, Mexico, Greenland, Iran and Cuba.
But these are far from the only countries the Nobel Peace Prize hopeful Trump has lashed out at at.
Below, The Independent looks at the nations in the US leader’s firing line, after he boasted that “American dominance in the Western hemisphere will never be questioned again.”
Read more here:
Mapped: Every country Trump has threatened after strikes on Venezuela
More than a dozen media workers detained while covering events in Caracas - report
09:30 , Alex CroftMore than a dozen media workers were detained on Monday while covering events in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, including a march in support of ousted President Nicolas Maduro and the swearing-in of the country's new legislature, the South American nation's press association said.
All 14 of those detained were later released, the press association (SNTP) said on X, though one was a foreign journalist who was deported.
SNTP said that those detained included 11 people working with international media outlets and one with a national outlet.
China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that all Chinese reporters in Venezuela were safe.
Venezuela's information ministry, which handles all contact with the government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the detentions.
Top White House official says it would be 'absurd' to put Machado in charge
09:09 , Alex CroftA top White House official has warned it would be “absurd” for the U.S. to immediately install Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado as the country’s leader.
“It would be absurd and preposterous for us to suddenly fly her into the country and to put her in charge", White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told CNN.
One of the main issues would be that Venezuela’s military would not view her as legitimate, he explained.
Miller said the U.S. military is currently “stationed outside the country” and that the Trump administration has “set the terms and conditions” for what is to come.
He also spoke out on Greenland, a country which Trump has again made clear his desire for the US to control, insisting that it “should be part of the United States” but that there will be no military combat over the future of Greenland.
Blanche says U.S. has 'absolute legal right' to arrest Maduro
08:53 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS deputy attorney general Todd Blanche has claimed that the U.S. "has an absolute legal right" to arrest people like Nicolas Maduro.
Blanche said the seizure of Maduro and his wife from Caracas "was not an invasion of a country", and that capturing the Venezuelan leader over the weekend did not "violate any international law".
He said the mission was about "securing the arrests of two individuals wanted for very, very serious crimes in the United States".
Multiple legal experts have raised concerns over the validity of Maduro's arrest under international law.
Now is 'not the time to destabilise Nato', Streeting warns Trump
08:38 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Now is “not the time to destabilise Nato” and "undermine our collective security", British health secretary Wes Streeting has warned after Donald Trump doubled down on his threat to take over Greenland.
Asked about the continued threats, the Cabinet minister told Sky News that the UK and Nato members are "doubling down on support for Greenland, their right to self-determination, their place as part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the role that they are already playing as part of the Nato alliance".
He added: “The good news for President Trump is that Greenland is already part of the team and is playing its part in defending our national security as the UK and our collective security...
“At a time when we can see the security of Nato members and the Alliance at threat, particularly from Russia, but also from our other adversaries, this is not the time to destabilise Nato and to undermine our collective security.
“We’re really clear about where we stand. We’re really clear with the United States about where we stand on Greenland.”
Machado says she hasn't spoken with Trump since October
08:25 , Alex CroftVenezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado said on Monday she hasn't spoken to Donald Trump since October 2025.
"Actually, I spoke with President Trump on October 10, the same day the (Noble Peace) Prize was announced, (but) not since then," Machado said on Fox News' ‘Hannity’ program.
She was awarded the prize for her fight against what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called a dictatorship.
Machado - widely seen as Nicolas Maduro's most credible opponent - left Venezuela last month to travel to Norway to accept the award, and hasn't returned since.
Trump on Saturday dismissed the idea of working with Machado, saying "she doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country."
Mystery trader earns huge payout after betting on removal of Nicolas Maduro
08:10 , Alex CroftAn anonymous trader has reportedly secured a staggering profit of around $410,000 after successfully betting on the removal of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The individual's Polymarket account had built positions in contracts linked to Maduro's ousting, initially placed at long odds. These wagers, valued at approximately $34,000 before the weekend's events, saw their worth surge dramatically following reports of a US military operation targeting the Venezuelan leader, according to Polymarket data.
The news also prompted a rise in major stock indexes and oil prices on Monday, with energy shares experiencing significant gains after Maduro was captured by the US military.
Read more here:
Mystery trader earns huge payout after betting on removal of Nicolas Maduro
The four questions China is asking about Venezuela that will shape its next move
07:56 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIt is only two days since Nicolas Maduro received Xi Jinping’s special envoy for talks on the hundreds of agreements that have bound Venezuela and China together on energy, finance and political cooperation.
Michael Sheridan examines how the US military’s raid on Caracas may have just made a decapitation strike against Taiwan much easier.
The four questions China is asking about Venezuela that will shape its next move
Maduro capture is 'huge step for humanity', says opposition leader
07:41 , Alex CroftThree days have now passed since Nicolas Maduro was seized by US forces and transported to New York, where he denied alleged drug crimes in a New York court.
He told that he was a "kidnapped president" and a "prisoner of war", declaring that he remained the president of Venezuela - although former vice president Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as the new president on Monday.
Last night, speaking to Fox News, Venezuela’s opposition leader and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, spoke out about the implications of Maduro’s capture.
The 3 January "will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny", she told the broadcaster.
"It's not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it's a huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity," she said.
Machado, who is still in Norway after she collected the Nobel Peace Prize in January, is planning to return to Venezuela "as soon as possible”, she added.
Stay with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest events in Venezuela.
Stephen Miller escalates Trump’s threats for the US to take over Greenland
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarStephen Miller has offered an aggressive defense of the Trump administration’s recent map-scrambling moves in the Western hemisphere, including the capture of the deposed leader of Venezuela and resuming its threats to take over Greenland.
Miller, the deputy White House chief of staff and Homeland Security adviser, argued that under the “Trump doctrine,” the U.S. will use its military “unapologetically” to secure U.S. interests, which he said were synonymous with the “future of the free world.”
“We’re a superpower and under President Trump, we are going to conduct ourselves as a superpower,” he said.
Josh Marcus reports.
Stephen Miller ramps up Trump threats to take over Greenland in fiery CNN interview
UN chief Guterres raises concerns about instability in Venezuela
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has raised concerns about greater instability in Venezuela after the U.S. capture of president Nicolas Maduro.
The 15-member Security Council met at U.N. headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro was due to appear in a Manhattan federal court on drug charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has pleaded not guilty to drug charges.
"I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted," Guterres said in a statement delivered to the council by U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo.
Trump wants to rule Venezuela by force – but he’s getting the US into a mess
06:49 , Sam KileyTwo different groups bustle up to the visiting foreigner, a gringo approaching the bridge from Colombia into Venezuela.
“Don’t go left or right of the road – you’re OK on the bridge, but don’t wander into these streets left or right. They’re controlled by Tren de Aragua gangsters who will rob you or kill you,” says a young woman sweeping drizzle out of her eyes.
The next, a young taxi driver, gets out of his car to explain: “You can cross the bridge to see the Venezuelan side, but it’s not a good idea.
More here.
Trump wants to rule Venezuela by force – but he’s getting the US into a mess
'Shocked' China tells U.S. to stop violating other countries' sovereignty
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarChina has expressed "shock" and condemned the Trump administration's seizure of the sitting Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife.
"Let me reiterate that China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and forcible seizure of its president," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said yesterday.
He added: "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. China firmly opposes it."
"We call on the U.S. to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security."
The U.S. military's removal of the leader of one of China's "all-weather" strategic partners from his capital in the dead of night will be a litmus test of Beijing's assertion that it can play a role in resolving global hotspot issues without following Washington down the military route.
"We have never believed that any country can act as the world's police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world's judge," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday.
"The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law," the top Chinese diplomat added.
Trump rules out holding snap elections in Venezuela
06:39 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarJulian Assange's lawyer to flight Maduro's US narcotics charges
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBarry Pollack, the Washington lawyer who represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, will defend captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a U.S. drug case that could test immunity claims for foreign leaders and the legality of his arrest.
Pollack appeared with Maduro yesterday as he pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court days after he and his wife were seized from Caracas in a U.S. military raid.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment accusing him of leading a conspiracy to funnel cocaine into the United States, including by working with armed guerrilla groups, drug cartels and international gangs.
At Maduro's arraignment, Pollack said he anticipated extensive legal wrangling over what he termed Maduro's "military abduction," signaling the defence will argue Saturday's operation was unlawful.
Pollack may also claim that Maduro is immune from criminal charges as the head of a foreign government.
"The United States has an extraordinary view of what its worldwide jurisdiction is," Pollack told the legal site Lawdragon in an interview last year about the Assange case.
Mapped: Every country Trump has threatened after capture of Venezuelan president Maduro
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump has issued a catalogue of threats against several countries after American troops captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The US president has followed Mr Maduro’s shock arrest with threats against Colombia, Mexico, Greenland, Iran and Cuba.
Alex Croft reports.
Mapped: Every country Trump has threatened after strikes on Venezuela
Over a dozen media workers detained in Venezuela
05:41 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMore than a dozen media workers have been detained while covering events in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, including a march in support of captured president Nicolas Maduro and the swearing-in of the country's new legislature, the South American nation's press association said.
All 14 of those detained were later released, the press association (SNTP) said on X, though one was a foreign journalist who was deported.
SNTP said that those detained included 11 people working with international media outlets and one with a national outlet.
Trump rules out holding snap elections in Venezuela
05:26 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Donald Trump has ruled out holding snap elections in Venezuela in the next 30 days, as captured president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug charges at a New York court on Monday.
"We have to fix the country first. You can't have an election. There is no way the people could even vote," the U.S. president claimed.
"We have to nurse the country back to health."Trump rejected claims that the U.S. is engaged in a war with Venezuela.
"No, we're not," he said. "We're at war with people who sell drugs. We're at war with people who empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country."
Trump officials brief top lawmakers on Venezuela as the UN and key American allies criticize military operation
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarTop officials from the Trump administration briefed Congressional leaders Monday on its covert raid in Venezuela over the weekend, as the United Nations and key American allies criticized the military operation.
In the early morning hours Saturday, U.S. special forces and law enforcement officials captured now-deposed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the capital city of Caracas. Maduro and Flores were taken to New York to face drug and weapons charges, to which they pleaded not guilty Monday.
Later Saturday, Trump said the U.S. would temporarily run Venezuela, and on Monday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the country’s interim leader.
Rachel Dobkin reports.
Trump officials brief Congress on Venezuela as the UN criticizes military operation
Trump says 'nobody can take us' after US military's capture of Maduro
16:25 , Brendan RasciusSpeaking to the House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, President Donald Trump boasted about the U.S. military following the January 3 seizure of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“The United States proved once again that we have the most powerful, most lethal, most sophisticated and most fearsome, it's a fearsome military, on planet Earth, and it's not even close," the Republican president said. "Nobody can take us."
House Democrat says he has 'very serious concerns' after Venezuela briefing
16:51 , Brendan RasciusThe top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said he has “very serious concerns” about the U.S. military’s operation in Venezuela following a congressional briefing yesterday.
“I heard nothing yesterday to dispel my very serious concerns about the Trump administration’s attempted regime-change and nation-building exercise in Venezuela, nor leads me to trust that Trump and his administration are truly operating in the best interests of the American people,” Rep. Gregory Meeks said in a statement on Tuesday.
The closed-door briefing, provided by top administration officials, was given to congressional leaders and key committee members.
The entire Senate is set to be briefed by administration officials on Wednesday.
Supporters of Maduro protest outside court in New York
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Trump says the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies
04:43 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Donald Trump said the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies for expanding operations in Venezuela.
The president told NBC News that he believes US oil operations in Venezuela could be brought “up and running” in under 18 months."I think we can do it in less time than that, but it’ll be a lot of money," Trump said.
"A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue," he added.
The U.S. administration is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production.
The meetings are crucial to the administration's hopes of getting top U.S. oil companies back into the South American nation after its government, nearly two decades ago, took control of U.S.-led energy operations there.
The three biggest U.S. oil companies – Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron – have not yet had any conversations with the administration about president Nicolas Maduro's ouster, four oil industry executives familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.
It contradicted Trump's statements over the weekend that he had already held meetings with "all" the U.S. oil companies, both before and since Maduro was seized.
"Nobody in those three companies has had conversations with the White House about operating in Venezuela, pre-removal or post-removal to this point," one of the sources said on Monday.
Watch: Hakeem Jeffries says Americans 'do not support' Trump and his 'cronies' running Venezuela
04:40 , Rachel DobkinJeffries: The American people certainly do not support the notion that Trump and his cronies like Stephen Miller, who is a joke and a toxic embarrassment, are going to run Venezuela. They're talking about making Venezuela great again. They haven't been able to make America great… pic.twitter.com/9AXBY5SBZ9
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 5, 2026
Rand Paul calls Trump's rhetoric about going after more countries 'escalatory'
04:20 , Rachel DobkinSenator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, has called President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about going after more countries “escalatory.”
After conducting a military operation in Caracas and capturing now-deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has threatened to take action against other countries, including Colombia, which he says is “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. “
“To say that Colombia is next—I think that kind of rhetoric is escalatory,” Paul said, per MeidasTouch Network.
Paul: And then to say that Colombia is next—I think that kind of rhetoric is escalatory. I mean, the whole idea of ridiculing Canada for months and months has led to Canada buying zero bourbon…
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 5, 2026
Reporter: Does that make you think that Trump wants to take Greenland?
Paul: I… pic.twitter.com/HlAkIApABN
Trump says Venezuela 'can’t have an election' within the next month
04:00 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told NBC News Monday Venezuela “can’t have an election” within the next month.
"We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said, adding, “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health."
Watch: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado praises Trump
03:50 , Rachel DobkinVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado praised President Donald Trump on Fox News Monday night for the U.S. raid on Caracas that led to the capture of deposed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Machado: But I do want to say on behalf of the Venezuelan people how grateful we for Trump’s courageous vision pic.twitter.com/x7SHap5jxW
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 6, 2026
Speaker Johnson: 'We don’t expect U.S. troops on the ground'
03:43 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSpeaker Mike Johnson on Monday said U.S. troops would have a limited role in Venezuela after top deputies to president Donald Trump briefed senior congressional leaders on the arrest of sitting president Nicolas Maduro.
“We don’t expect troops on the ground,” Johnson told reporters.
“We don’t expect direct involvement in any other way beyond just coercing the … the interim government to get that going. I expect that there will be an election called in Venezuela. … It should happen in short order.”
The statement appears to contradict the stance of President Trump, who claimed over the weekend that he was open to sending U.S. forces into Venezuela.
"We're not afraid of boots on the ground," Trump told reporters.
Democrats react to Trump saying oil companies will be reimbursed for possible Venezuela investments: 'Mob boss politics'
03:40 , Rachel DobkinDemocratic senators have reacted to President Donald Trump saying oil companies will be reimbursed for investing in Venezuela’s energy sector.
Trump told NBC News Monday, "A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said, per NBC News’ Senior Congressional Reporter Scott Wong, "How does a CEO go to his shareholders and say, 'No dividends this year -- we're investing in Venezuela.'"
.@SenBlumenthal, D-Conn.: "One of the biggest questions in my mind is, do the oil companies want to invest billions of dollars in oil in this absolutely unpredictable situation, relying on Donald Trump?"
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) January 5, 2026
"When the price of oil is going down, the amounts that have to be invested…
Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said Trump is practicing “mob boss politics, and we see it extending from the domestic policies into foreign policy.”
"He is essentially running an extortion foreign policy right now, where everything he is trying to do with regards to Venezuela is about: What can we get out of it?"
.@AndyKimNJ, who has a nat sec/foreign policy BG, says Trump is practicing "mob boss politics, and we see it extending from the domestic policies into foreign policy"
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) January 5, 2026
"He is essentially running an extortion foreign policy right now, where everything he is trying to do with…
Watch: Karoline Leavitt calls Venezuela raid 'one of the greatest foreign policy and military achievements' for U.S.
03:30 , Rachel DobkinLeavitt: This is one of the greatest foreign policy achievements ever… As Joe Biden used to falsely say, we can now truly say, America is back thanks to the courage of Trump. We will make sure this country aligns with the interests of the US. pic.twitter.com/zG2NMxJRYR
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 6, 2026
Maduro says he is a 'decent man' as he pleads not guilty
03:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarToppled Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges after president Donald Trump's stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter, before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.
Maduro, in the court, declared that he had been "kidnapped" and remained president of Venezuela.
He listened to an interpreter through headphones as Hellerstein summarised the charges.
Maduro's wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty. The next court date was set for March 17.
María Corina Machado says Trump's action in Venezuela 'huge step for humanity'
03:21 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado praised Donald Trump and claimed the U.S. president's actions in Venezuela were a "huge step for humanity".
Machado told Fox News that President Nicolás Maduro "absolutely controlled the system and the electoral council", adding that it was impossible to carry out independent elections in Venezuela.
But "we defeated him by a landslide", she said.
The Nobel Peace Laureate said she hasn't spoken to Trump since October 2025.
"Actually, I spoke with President Trump on October 10, the same day the (Noble Peace) Prize was announced, (but) not since then," Machado said.
She was awarded the prize for her fight against what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called a dictatorship. Machado – widely seen as Maduro's most credible opponent – left Venezuela last month to travel to Norway to accept the award, and hasn't returned since.
"I'm planning to go as soon as possible," she told Fox News when asked about her plans to return to Venezuela.
The interview was Machado's first since the U.S. launched strikes on Venezuela on Saturday and captured its president.
Trump says oil companies will be reimbursed for Venezuela investment
03:20 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told NBC News Monday American oil companies will get reimbursed if they invest in Venezuela’s energy infrastructure.
"A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue,” he said.
After the U.S. captured now-deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump told reporters last Saturday, “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure and start making money for the country.”
