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Trump said the US will "run" Venezuela "until a safe and proper and judicious transition", while Caracas denounces the “military aggression".
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be flown by helicopter to the Westside Heliport in Manhattan for booking at the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s headquarters, according to US media reports. He is then expected to be taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to face drug and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court next week. The MDC jail has handled numerous high-profile cases.
Venezuelans in the US, like Elkin and Rosanna Matteo, express ecstatic relief over Maduro's capture, crediting former President Donald Trump for the intervention. They are unconcerned by the immediate transition of power, with Elkin emphasizing Maduro's inability to return. Matteo, despite years of hoping for Maduro's downfall, stresses that any long-term retention of Maduro-tied officials would be met with fury by Venezuelans.
A new image released shows several dozen law enforcement officers leading a figure dressed in grey across the tarmac at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, where Maduro's plane is believed to have landed. This follows earlier reports of a group disembarking the plane with a person identified as Maduro by US TV networks.
A large group of people, including a figure identified as Nicolás Maduro by US TV networks, disembarked a plane that landed at New York's Stewart Air National Guard Base. The group, consisting of several dozen individuals, was seen leading one figure across the dark tarmac. More information is expected to follow.
Bernd Debusmann Jr of the BBC reports from Doral, Florida, on the overwhelming joy among the Venezuelan expatriate community following Maduro's capture, with celebrations including Venezuelan flags and Trump signs.
The plane transporting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores has landed at New York's Stewart Air National Guard Base, as reported by CBS. Law enforcement agents boarded the aircraft shortly after its touchdown on the tarmac.
News crews are gathered at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, awaiting the arrival of the plane expected to carry Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Updates will be provided upon their landing amid cold temperatures.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer states the UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela and does not mourn the end of Maduro's regime, which he considered illegitimate. He reiterates support for international law and plans to discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts to ensure a peaceful transition. Starmer clarifies that the UK was not involved in the US operation.
In Doral, Florida, known as 'Doralzuela' for its Venezuelan expatriate population, the mood is ecstatic following news of Maduro's ousting. Hundreds have gathered at a local restaurant, El Arepazo, creating a celebratory atmosphere with honking horns, music, and chanting, reflecting widespread disapproval of Maduro's regime.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that US decisions regarding Venezuela will be based on the Venezuelan government's "actions and their deeds" in the coming days. This statement followed Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez's denial of plans to cooperate with the US post-Maduro's capture, despite Rubio suggesting new opportunities for Venezuelan officials.
This section contains video content detailing the unfolding of the US attack on Venezuela.
Tom Bateman, US State Department correspondent, analyzes that Trump's primary motivation in Venezuela appears to be securing US access to the country's oil wealth, rather than solely fostering democracy. Despite initial reports of compliance from Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez, she publicly contradicted this, asserting Venezuela's readiness to defend itself. Trump remained ambiguous on troop deployment and dismissed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's leadership potential, suggesting a focus on resource control over democratic ideals.
The United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on Monday to address the US operation in Venezuela. The meeting, requested by Colombia with support from Russia and China, may include UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres, as key international powers debate the implications of the US intervention.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife are being brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges, which Maduro has consistently denied as a pretext for regime change. Trump's declaration of US control over Venezuela marks a significant foreign policy gamble, following a military buildup in the Caribbean. Trump cites various motives, including ending drug trafficking and asserting US oil rights, but faces domestic backlash over the constitutionality and destabilizing risks of the intervention. While celebrating a dictator's removal, the US has a mixed record in managing post-autocrat transitions, indicating a monumental task for Trump's second term.
Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy RodrĂguez spoke on state television, condemning the "armed aggression" against Venezuela and announcing the activation of the country's defense council. She asserted that Nicolás Maduro remains the country's only president and stated Venezuela is open to respectful dialogue, contradicting earlier remarks by Donald Trump identifying her as the new leader.
Venezuela's Vice-President Delcy RodrĂguez announced that the government is prepared to defend the nation, following President Trump's statement that the US would 'run' Venezuela. She urged the population to remain calm and united amid the unfolding situation.
Venezuela's Vice-President Delcy RodrĂguez asserted on state television that Nicolás Maduro remains the country's sole president. Her comments came minutes after US President Donald Trump announced she was the new leader, following Maduro's capture by US forces overnight.
European leaders have issued varied reactions to the US action in Venezuela. The UK's PM Starmer seeks facts before commenting, France's Macron calls for a democratic transition under opposition candidate Edmundo González, and Germany's Merz acknowledges Maduro's failures while questioning US actions. Italy's Meloni criticizes external military action but supports defending security, while Spain's Sánchez rejects both Maduro's regime and intervention violating international law. The EU's Kallas reiterates Maduro's lack of legitimacy but urges restraint and respect for international law.
A surprising element of Trump's news conference was his dismissal of Venezuelan opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado, stating she lacked the necessary popular support, despite her recent Nobel Peace Prize. This contrasts with Machado's earlier social media declaration of imminent freedom and readiness to take power alongside presidential candidate Edmundo González, who opposition tallies suggested had won the 2024 election. Trump's stance indicates a potential sidelining of the recognized opposition in favor of other objectives.
Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent, highlights the significant shift in Donald Trump's foreign policy regarding Venezuela, contrasting it with his past criticisms of US regime-change efforts. Despite America's mixed record in post-intervention stability, Trump asserts a 'perfect track record of winning' and pledges to rebuild Venezuela's infrastructure, even contemplating US military presence. This monumental task, undertaken less than a year into his second term, stakes his presidency on its success, echoing past assurances about interventions like Iraq that proved complex and costly.