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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear in court again on March 17 after he and his wife pleaded not guilty in a New York City court Monday afternoon
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seen in handcuffs as they were transported via helicopter to appear in court Monday morning.
Maduro could be seen wearing a tan-colored jacket and trousers, surrounded by DEA agents, as the pair were escorted from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn two days after they were captured by the U.S. in a military operation led by an elite Delta Force unit in Caracas.
Maduro made his initial appearance at Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse on Monday. Images showed the pair arriving at the courthouse in an armored vehicle flanked by DEA agents.
What To Know
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty in court Monday to multiple charges.
- President Donald Trump has issued warnings to Colombia and Mexico after the raid and said that Cuba is "ready to fall" after the capture of Maduro
- China has demanded the release of Maduro and called his detention a violation of international law
- 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
- Delcy Rodriguez has been named as Venezuela's Acting President after Maduro's removal from the country.
- Elsewhere, Trump said the U.S. needs Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory and part of Denmark, "from the standpoint of national security."
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Jan 05, 2026 at 06:26 PM EST
Delcy Rodríguez Gives Condolences to Cubans Killed in Venezuela Operation
Newly sworn in acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez shared her condolences in a statement posted Monday.
"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela paid solemn tribute to the 32 Cuban combatants who lost their lives in the line of duty, following the attack perpetrated by the Government of the United States against Venezuelan territory on January 3," the statement read.
"Honor and glory to the 32 Cuban brothers who were killed during the criminal military aggression of the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," Rodríguez said in the statement. "Our condolences to Pdte. Díaz Canel, to the government and the glorious people of Cuba."
"Fly high, combatants! His example is sown in the sacred land of Simón Bolívar as an example of courage and dignity," she continued.
Jan 05, 2026 at 06:00 PM EST
Mike Johnson Says Venezuela Operation Did Not Need Congressional Sign off
In an interview with CNN Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the operation that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro did not require a green light from Congress.
Instead, Johnson said all that was required was a "notification of Congress," noting that it was "well within Article II."
Johnson told CNN's Jake Tapper that he spoke with Donald Trump, as well as cabinet members within hours of the operation.
"This was an appropriate action, and we’ll get a lot more details inside,” Johnson said.
Jan 05, 2026 at 06:00 PM EST
Press Union Says Journalists Detained at National Assembly in Venezuela
At least 14 journalists were detained at the National Assembly in Venezuela Monday, according to post on X from the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP).
Another post on X from the Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos also said that journalists had been detained while covering the installation ceremony for Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez.
"During the coverage of the installation of the legislative session at the AN, journalists were prohibited from broadcasting live and recording or taking photos," SNTP said in the post. "There, at least three were detained by DGCIM officials, transferred to the Guard command within the Legislative Palace and, as part of the procedure, they reviewed their cell phones, demanded access codes and entered the photos, contacts, conversations, voice notes, Instagram accounts, emails and files stored in the cloud.
"This type of actions not only violates privacy and the confidentiality of sources, but also constitutes a pattern of criminalization of journalistic practice," the post from SNTP continued.
Another post from Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos said the journalists were taken from the area of the National Assembly "while carrying out coverage of the installation ceremony."
"Likewise, journalists from international agencies have been harassed, detained, and subjected to mistreatment, including the deletion of audiovisual material, for performing their informational duties in border areas," the post said.
SNTP said four journalists have been released from custody while others remain detained.
Jan 05, 2026 at 05:47 PM EST
Oil Companies Contradict Donald Trump’s Remarks on Venezuela Consultation
Oil giants Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron were not consulted about Venezuela before or after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, industry executives told Reuters.
Their accounts contradict President Donald Trump’s statement on Sunday that he spoke with all three companies “before and after” the operation about investing in the country.
Four sources told Reuters the firms had no prior knowledge of the U.S. plan and have held no talks with the administration since Maduro’s removal. However, a White House official told Newsweek Monday afternoon that the Trump administration has had conversations with multiple oil companies.
Jan 05, 2026 at 05:30 PM EST
Colombian Defense Minister Invites Hegseth to Country
Pedro Sánchez, Defense Minister for Colombia invited U.S. Secretary of the Department of Defense Pete Hegseth to visit the country, according to a report from CNN.
“I invite him here to Colombia so that this soldier can meet that great soldier and witness firsthand the strength and determination of the Colombian government, led by the President of the Republic, to dismantle and eradicate drug trafficking at its roots,” Sánchez told CNN.
Colombia is on high alert, as is most of the region, following the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Since the capture of Maduro, President Donald Trump has made threats to other countries in the region. Most recently, he called Colombian President Gustavo Petro “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States," adding that "he’s not going to be doing it very long.”
Sánchez said he hopes to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Colombia and urged the Trump administration to “take advantage of this golden opportunity to invest even more in strengthening international cooperation between the US government and its main, or one of its main, strategic partners and allies in the fight against drug trafficking, which is the government of Colombia.”
Petro said Monday that he would "take up arms again" if needed following threats from the Trump administration.
"Although I have not been a military man, I know about war and clandestinity," Petro said in the post translated from Spanish. "I swore not to touch a weapon again since the 1989 Peace Pact, but for the Homeland I will take up arms again that I do not want."
Jan 05, 2026 at 05:00 PM EST
GOP Lawmakers Assert Trump’s Firm Stance on Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua
Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez told Newsweek that President Donald Trump remains firm in confronting authoritarian governments in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, rejecting suggestions the administration would work with interim figures tied to Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Doral, Florida, Gimenez said negotiations without meaningful change only allow such governments to delay real reform. “All these regimes do the same thing—they stall for time, waiting for a new and different direction from the United States,” he said. “President Trump’s not going to give them that time.”
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Gimenez added that the administration’s end goal remains a democratic transition. “This regime eventually has to go. There has to be a transition to democracy,” he said, noting that officials wanted by the U.S. government “need to face justice too.” He described any transitional leadership as “a bridge” toward “free and democratic elections.”
Scott echoed that stance, saying Trump would not engage with Maduro only to disengage. “I’m glad that the president didn’t just take Maduro and walk away,” Scott said. “He is committed to freedom and democracy in Venezuela.” While declining to detail the administration’s strategy, Scott added, “I can’t tell you how they’re going to get there, but I believe we’re going there.”
Jan 05, 2026 at 04:41 PM EST
Key Moments from Maduro’s First Day in Court After Venezuela Capture
Nicolás Maduro forcefully denied drug trafficking allegations during an initial court appearance on Monday, insisting he remains president of Venezuela following his high-profile capture by U.S. military forces in Caracas days earlier.
Maduro, who appeared alongside his wife Cilia Flores before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan, repeatedly proclaimed his innocence during the brief hearing.
“I am not guilty,” Maduro told Hellerstein through a certified court interpreter. “I am a decent man.”
The 63-year-old ousted leader, who was apprehended with Flores early Saturday during a U.S. military operation at a military base in the Venezuelan capital, said he had been “captured” in his home while insisting he remains at the helm of the South American country despite charges he faces in New York and intense pressure from the Trump administration to step down.
“I am still president of my country,” Maduro said.
Jan 05, 2026 at 04:00 PM EST
Chilean Leader Says Entire Region at “Serious Risk”
Camila Vallejo Dowling, the Minister Secretary General of the Government of Chile, said in a post on X Monday that the entire region is at serious risk following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
"Unfortunately, Venezuela had already lost its democracy, and now it may lose its oil without recovering its democracy," she said.
"The precedent set by this attack from the United States and the declaration of wanting to take possession and control of a strategic natural resource in Venezuela," she explained, adding "even threatening other countries in Latin America, puts at serious risk the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the entire region."
Many Latin and Southern American countries have weighed in on the recent capture of Maduro, as President Donald Trump has laid out threats to others.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said a U.S. operation against Colombia, for decades one of the U.S.'s most important links in South America, "sounds good to me."
Trump also told Fox News that "something will have to be done about Mexico," and said he had offered up U.S. military help to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to crack down on drug cartels in the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba is "in a lot of trouble," shortly after he publicly commented: "If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned." Trump was somewhat more dismissive, suggesting Cuba "looks like it’s ready to fall."
Jan 05, 2026 at 03:30 PM EST
Tlaib: “Trump is Promising Endless War”
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib posted a photo of herself with protesters in Detroit Monday as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro made a first appearance in New York.
In that post, Tlaib said, "Trump is promising endless war: threatening more illegal strikes on Venezuela and new attacks on too many other countries to count."
"I stand with the American people against this imperialist war to dominate our neighbors and steal their natural resources for billionaires’ profits," she continued.
Tlaib represents Michigan’s 12th District and has been a target for President Donald Trump in the past due to her stance on many of his decisions.
In July, Tlaib wrote in an opinion piece in The Detroit Free Press, "I believe it is unbecoming of any American to not stand up to Trump's hate-filled rhetoric and tactics."
Jan 05, 2026 at 03:15 PM EST
The National Union of Press Workers Demands Release of Journalists
The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) made three demands of the Venezuelan government in a statement posted Monday.
The first demand called for the immediate release 23 journalists and press workers being detained in Venezuela.
SNTP also demanded that the government unblock more than 60 media outlets that are censored on the internet as it is "a form of structural censorship that limits information pluralism and deliberately restricts citizens' access to diverse and truthful information."
The union noted, that "this is a high-risk environment for the practice of journalism, marked by threats, harassment and the absence of institutional guarantees."
Thirdly, SNTP called for the "guarantee of security conditions for the exercise of journalism."
Jan 05, 2026 at 03:00 PM EST
Courtroom Sketch Shows Maduro, Wife at Hearing
A newly released sketch of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores shows the pair wearing prison garb and headphones during their appearance in a New York courtroom Monday.
The headphones they are seen wearing are used for interpretation.
Maduro was seen wearing tan pants and a navy jail shirt with a salmon t-shirt beneath while Flores wore a navy jail shirt and a salmon undershirt.
Flores appears to have bandages on her face. Her attorney told the judge she had suffered injuries in the capture operation, including a possibly broken or bruised ribs.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 02:45 PM EST
Delcy Rodríguez Sworn in as Acting President of Venezuela
Former Venezuela Vice President has been officially sworn in as acting president. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, her brother, administered the oath Monday afternoon.
Rodríguez said that while she is taking the oath, she is taking is as "executive vice president of the Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros."
She also said she was taking the oath "with the pain of the Venezuelan people after an illegitimate military aggression in our homeland, due to the kidnapping of two heroes whom we have as hostages in the United States: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores," according to social media posts translated from Spanish to English.
"I come with pain but I also come with honor, to swear on behalf of all Venezuelans and all Venezuelan women," she continued, according to the translated post.
Jan 05, 2026 at 02:30 PM EST
Attorney for Cilia Flores Says She’s in “Good Spirits”
Cilia Flores is "in good spirits" following her appearance in a New York federal court Monday, her attorney Mark E. Donnelly told Newsweek in an emailed statement.
"We look forward to reviewing and challenging the evidence the government has," Donnelly continued. "While we would love to present our side now, we will wait to do so in court at the appropriate time."
Flores and her husband ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro both pleaded not guilty to a series of charges in court Monday afternoon.
"The first lady is aware that there is a long road ahead and is prepared,” Donnelly said.
Jan 05, 2026 at 02:15 PM EST
Supreme Court Precedents on Charging Foreign Leaders as Maduro in Court
The Supreme Court has previously held that foreigners can be prosecuted in the U.S. however they ended up there, a factor that will likely play a role in the case of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom on Monday to face U.S. drug charges.
In decisions dating back to the 1800s, the Court has ruled that foreigners can be prosecuted regardless of whether they were lawfully brought to the U.S. The Ker-Frisbie doctrine, a Supreme Court precedent related to cases decided in 1886 and 1952, held that forcible abduction does not prevent prosecution.
However, experts told Newsweek that the Supreme Court does not have any major precedents regarding the federal government’s ability to prosecute foreign leaders.
Jan 05, 2026 at 02:00 PM EST
Maduro Says He Was Captured in His Home
During a first appearance in a federal courtroom in New York Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he was taken from his home by U.S. forces.
"I am president of Venezuela," Maduro said, noting, "I was captured in my home in Caracas."
He was also heard saying, “I am a kidnapped president, prisoner of war,” according to a report from Politico.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to a series of charges connected to narco-terrorism.
His next appearance is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on March 17.
Jan 05, 2026 at 01:45 PM EST
Mike Waltz Reiterates “No War Against Venezuela”
In a meeting of the United Nations Security council Monday, United States Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz reiterated previous statements from the Trump administration that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela.
"There is no war against Venezuela or its people," Waltz said.
"We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation," he continued.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made similar remarks in multiple television interviews Monday, telling NBC's Meet the Press there is "not a war against Venezuela."
Jan 05, 2026 at 01:30 PM EST
Cilia Flores Attorney Says She Was Injured in Capture
The attorney for Cilia Flores, the wife of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, said during court that she was injured during the capture of the couple.
During the first court appearance Monday, Mark E. Donnelly, an attorney from Texas representing Flores, said she may have fractured or severely bruised ribs. Donnelly said she sustained those injuries during capture.
When speaking to the judge through a certified interpreter, Flores pleaded not guilty and identified herself as the First Lady of Venezuela.
Jan 05, 2026 at 01:15 PM EST
Department of State Says “This is OUR Hemisphere”
In a post on X Monday, the Department of State read, "This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened."
The post came as ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York City courtroom.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both pleaded not guilty during their appearance, speaking with a certified interpreter.
Jan 05, 2026 at 01:00 PM EST
Donald Trump’s Approval Rating on Maduro Capture, According to Polls
President Donald Trump appeared to have split Americans Monday morning, with a relatively even split of voters asked in two polls approving and disapproving of his actions in Venezuela.
A YouGov poll conducted January 4 showed 39 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of Venezuela, while 46 percent did not approve. Another, conducted by The Washington Post, showed a 40-42 percent split.
The surveys give an initial glimpse on public opinion following the military operation Saturday which saw Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, detained and taken to the U.S. on drug and weapons charges.
Trump has been praised and condemned in seemingly equal measure for the sudden action against the South American nation, with some feeling Congress should have approved the mission, while others saw it as a sign of strength against a leader many saw as illegitimate.
Jan 05, 2026 at 12:45 PM EST
Venezuela Government Orders Capture of People Who Supported U.S. Operations
The Venezuelan government published a decree declaring a State of Emergency Monday and calling for the capture of anyone who supported the U.S. operation that saw the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Reuters reported.
As part of the decree, police in the country have been ordered to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," the report said.
While the emergency was declared Saturday, the details were only published Monday.
Jan 05, 2026 at 12:38 PM EST
Maduro Next Court Appearance Set for March 17
Judge Alvin Hellerstein has ordered ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to appear in court on March 17 at 11 a.m.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to several charges in federal court Monday, saying, "I am a decent man."
He was 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.
His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty.
Maduro and Flores did not enter bail applications and will stay at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Jan 05, 2026 at 12:25 PM EST
Maduro Pleads Not Guilty
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty in a federal court Monday, according to multiple media outlets.
Maduro, told Judge Alvin Hellerstein through an interpreter: “I am not guilty…I am a decent man.”
“I am innocent, I am not guilty of anything mentioned here," he continued.
The appearance began shortly after noon in front of Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who has handled the Maduro case for years.
Maduro's wife Cilia Flores has also pleaded not guilty during the appearance, saying "[I am] not guilty, completely innocent.”
Both spoke through certified court interpreters.
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.
Jan 05, 2026 at 12:16 PM EST
Maduro Court Proceedings Underway
The court appearance for ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is underway, according to the BBC.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, has entered the courtroom, marking the beginning of court proceedings, the outlet reported.
Maduro was seen in the courtroom wearing a short sleeve navy shirt over an orange jail outfit, according to the report.
Jan 05, 2026 at 12:06 PM EST
Rep. Goldman: “Trump must be held accountable”
Representative Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, has called for U.S. President Donald Trump to "be held accountable," in a post on X Monday.
He has previously said the action taken by Trump in Venezuela is “an impeachable offense.”
"In Putin’s Russia, the oligarchs and oil executives make decisions with the dictator, not the legislature. That is exactly what Donald Trump did with Venezuela," Goldman said in his post Monday.
"Congress has the SOLE power to declare war. Trump must be held accountable," he concluded.
The capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores has led to calls for impeachment.
Jan 05, 2026 at 11:55 AM EST
Russian Ambassador Calls for Release of Maduro
Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations called for the release of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Monday.
"There is no and can be no justification for the crimes cynically perpetrated by the United States in Caracas," Nebenzya said.
"We call upon the U.S. leadership to immediately release the legitimately elected president of an independent state," he continued.
His calls were echoed in the messages of protesters outside of a New York court house where Maduro and his wife are scheduled to appear at noon.
Jan 05, 2026 at 11:45 AM EST
Machado Thanks President Trump
María Corina Machado, head of the Vente Venezuela party, thanked U.S. President Donald Trump in a post on X Monday, vowing to be an ally of the U.S.
"The brave people of Venezuela took to the streets in 30 countries and 130 cities around the world to celebrate a huge step that marks the inevitability and imminence of the transition in Venezuela," she said.
"We Venezuelans thank President Donald Trump (@POTUS) and his administration for their firmness and determination in upholding the law," Machado continued.
Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and overwhelmingly won a 2023 presidential primary, but was blocked from running for president by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.
Over the weekend Trump said that Machado didn't have the support or respect to become interim leader of Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Despite those comments, Machado thanked the president and pledged cooperation.
"Venezuela will be the main ally of the United States in matters of security, energy, democracy, and human rights," she said. "The freedom of Venezuela is near, and soon we will celebrate on our land. We will shout, pray, and embrace as a family, because our children will return home."
Jan 05, 2026 at 11:28 AM EST
Protesters Demand Maduro and Wife be Released, Returned to Venezuela
Hundreds of protesters outside of a New York City courthouse demanded that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, be released from custody and returned to Venezuela immediately.
Several posters and signs called for their released, while flyers laid out a list of demands.
The demands included ending all sanctions on Venezuela and ending all military economic cyber and information warfare.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 11:21 AM EST
Hundreds of Protesters Outside Court Ahead of Maduro Appearance
A heavy police presence has responded to several hundred protesters outside a New York City courthouse Monday ahead of the noon appearance of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Protesters carried signs and flags, calling for the release of Maduro and his wife outside of Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse.
Maduro arrived at court by helicopter earlier Monday, seen wearing a tan-colored jacket and trousers, surrounded by DEA agents.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 11:13 AM EST
Attorney for Maduro Defended Julian Assange
Court records show that attorney Barry Pollack will represent ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in court Monday, according to a reporter for Politico.
Pollack has previously represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the U.S. He also "has over 30 years of experience representing individuals, including executives and high-ranking government officials, as well as corporations and other organizations, in sensitive and often high-profile trials and investigations," according to his website.
Records also show that Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, is being represented by Mark E. Donnelly, an attorney from Texas.
Jan 05, 2026 at 10:55 AM EST
Mexican President Rejects Interference in the Internal Affairs of Other Countries
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during a press conference Monday that the country "categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries."
The latest comments come as ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro awaits a court appearance in New York after being captured by U.S. forces over the weekend.
"Mexico's position in the face of any form of intervention is firm, clear, and historic," Sheinbaum said.
"Following the recent events in Venezuela, the government of the United States carried out a direct intervention that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as in the loss of human lives," she continued, adding, "Mexico reaffirms a principle that is not new and admits no ambiguities: we categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries."
Jan 05, 2026 at 10:31 AM EST
Colombian President Says He Will “Take Up Arms” If Needed
Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia said in a post on X Monday that he would "take up arms" if necessary, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro this weekend.
"Although I have not been a military man, I know about war and clandestinity," Petro said in the post translated from Spanish. "I swore not to touch a weapon again since the 1989 Peace Pact, but for the Homeland I will take up arms again that I do not want."
Earlier in the post he said that he would check the statement from U.S. President Donald Trump to make sure they translate the same way the press has been reporting, adding, "Therefore, later I will respond to them once I know what Trump's illegitimate threat really means."
Petro also addressed comments made by Rubio and reiterated that he is targeting narco-terrorists in his country.
He then made a series of threats against anyone who may try to arrest him like Maduro was arrested.
" If you bomb even one of these groups without sufficient intelligence, you will kill many children. If you bomb peasants, thousands of guerrillas will return in the mountains. And if you arrest the president whom a good part of my people want and respect, you will unleash the popular jaguar," he said.
"Every soldier of Colombia has an order from now on: every commander of the public force who prefers the flag of the US to the flag of Colombia must immediately withdraw from the institution by order of the bases and the troops and mine," Petro continued.
Jan 05, 2026 at 10:14 AM EST
Swiss Government Freezes Assets Linked to Maduro
Switzerland is freezing any Swiss-based assets linked to ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following his capture, the Swiss Government announced in a post on X Monday.
"If any assets turn out to be of illicit origin, Switzerland will do its best to ensure that these benefit the Venezuelan population," the post read.
It is unclear how much in assets Maduro has in Swiss accounts.
While having a Swiss bank account is not illegal, there have been several cases of fraud, tax evasion and laundering through such accounts.
"The Federal Council wants to ensure that any illicitly acquired assets cannot be transferred out of Switzerland in the current situation," a statement from the government read.
The statement said that while the freeze does not affect any other members of the Venezuelan government, assets linked to Maduro will be frozen for four years.
Jan 05, 2026 at 09:53 AM EST
Images show Maduro helicopter arrival
Images have shown the dramatic moments of Nicolas Maduro being transferred from a detention center in Brooklyn to a court in Manhattan, where a full list of charges against them will be read against him and his wife Cilia Flores.
The Getty images show Maduro in handcuffs with heavily armed Federal agents after landing at a Manhattan helipad leading him into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan.
Maduro and his wife will stand before 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein and be formally charged on drugs and weapon counts. The pair is expected to enter their pleas during the arraignment, which are typically brief hearings.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 09:39 AM EST
Taiwan says it’s ready if China tries Trump’s Venezuela move
A senior Taiwan defense official said Monday that the island was ready for any attempt by China to copy the U.S. playbook in Venezuela following the swift capture of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas over the weekend.
Hsu Szu-chien, Taiwan's vice defense minister, said Taiwan's armed forces were prepared for all contingencies including threats to the Taiwanese leadership.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims Taiwan as its own despite having never ruled the island since coming to power on the Chinese mainland in 1949. The United States has been Taiwan's strongest international backer since the Cold War, but it has no formal ties with Taipei and no defense treaty exists between the two. Also, Beijing doesn't recognize the legitimacy of Taiwan's democratically elected leaders.
President Donald Trump's ousting of Maduro in mere hours has led to much speculation among Western analysts about the possibility of a similar "decapitation operation" to kill or capture Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. A repeat of the U.S. operation that sees Chinese forces strike directly at Taiwan's senior leadership, ahead of a full-scale invasion, has long been a realistic scenario, according to war games conducted in national security circles.
U.S. forces met little resistance from Venezuela's military and had been for months been placed in the Caribbean Sea, but China's forces might not have the same advantage given the inhospitable Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's military also has had the benefit of decades of U.S. weapons and technology—and would expect American intervention in the next Taiwan Strait crisis.
Hsu, the Taiwanese defense chief, told members of Taiwan's parliament that Venezuela had purchased military equipment from Russia and China, hardware that performed poorly when tasked with countering advanced U.S. capabilities over the weekend.
"The difference between the U.S.'s sophisticated weaponry and that which Venezuela acquired from Russia and China was on full display in the operation," Hsu said. "The enemy is making progress, so we must also make progress."
Jan 05, 2026 at 09:17 AM EST
Crowds gather at courthouse where Maduro will appear
Security is tight around the court room in New York City where Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores are expected to appear at noon on Monday.
Media outlets reported that barricades lined the street, and a long line had formed of people waiting to get inside.
Maduro and his wife had been transported via helicopter from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to the Wall Street heliport and taken by motorcade to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan.
Maduro faces narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine and weapons charges and could face up to life in prison.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 08:55 AM EST
Trump is using “coercive diplomacy” says ex-adviser
As anticipation builds over Nicolas Maduro's court appearance on Monday, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, the retired general H.R. McMaster, said that the Trump administration is using “coercive diplomacy to do something short of an invasion to get the political outcome they want."
McMaster told CBS on Monday that it would take “significant commitment from our nation” to put boots on the ground” and that he wished the Trump administration talked more about the restoration of sovereignty in the Venezuelan people."
Meanwhile, Virginia Democrat Senator Tim Kaine told the same network that Trump administration needs to "explain why this is legal" saying that he believed it "an illegal action because we're not supposed to be at war without a vote of Congress."
"They need to explain to the American public why this is a smart thing to do," Kaine said.
Jan 05, 2026 at 08:12 AM EST
Maduro arrives at NYC court
Nicolas Maduro and his wife have arrived at a Manhattan court building, where the full list of charges against him will be read in a hearing scheduled for midday.
Images on Reuters show the moments that Nicolas Maduro emerged from Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn surrounded by DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agents who brought him to a helicopter.
He was then transferred to the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse, the BBC reported. There he and his wife are scheduled to appear at midday.
Jan 05, 2026 at 07:46 AM EST
Maduro taken from detention center to courthouse
TV footage on Monday has showed vehicles taking Nicolas Maduro from the detention facility in Brooklyn where he had been held for transfer to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
He and his wife, Cilia Flores, are due to make an initial appearance at the Manhattan federal court on Monday.
Maduro could be seen emerging from the detention facility being escorted to a car which brought him to a helicopter, which is set to take him to the court, according to reports. U.S. authorities put in strict conditions to ensure the security of Maduro's transfer.
U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi said Saturday that Maduro faces charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the U.S. A court session is reported to start around midday.
Jan 05, 2026 at 07:18 AM EST
U.S. prepares to reopen embassy in Caracas: Report
The Trump administration is taking early steps to reopen the American embassy in Venezuela after it closed more than half a decade ago, it has been reported.
Bloomberg said that the move would come as Washington tryes to influence policy under new acting president Delcy Rodriguez, who is due to be sworn into office on Monday at 8 a.m. local time (7 a.m. ET).
The U.S. suspended its embassy work in Caracas in 2019 during Trump’s first term when he recognized opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido as the president and alleged that Maduro’s reelection the previous year was illegitimate.
When asked if the embassy would be reopened, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that “we’re thinking about it.”
Bloomberg said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was taking the leading administration role toward Venezuela, according to an unnamed U.S official.
Jan 05, 2026 at 06:58 AM EST
Spain says removal of Maduro violates international law
Spain, a European Union country, has also criticized the U.S. operation to remove Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, saying it violated international law.
Spain is home to a large Venezuelan diaspora of about 600,000 people and its foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, told Cadena Ser radio that the intervention set “a very dangerous precedent for the future.”
“There has been an action that is clearly contrary to international law", he said, adding that "peace and democracy are always based on respect for sovereignty". Spain has asked to participate in the United Nations Security Council discussion of the topic later Monday.
Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has said that Washington’s use of force was “an act that we fully condemn" although Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP)has backed Maduro’s removal, but expressed some concerns about its legality.
Iran and China, which are close allies of the Maduro government, have called for the release of the ousted Venezuelan leader.
Jan 05, 2026 at 06:31 AM EST
Cuba says 32 of its nationals were killed in Maduro capture
Cuba has said that its military and intelligence personnel were among those killed in the U.S. attacks on Venezuela, in a rare public admission of Havana’s links to the government of Nicolas Maduro.
In announcing two days of mourning, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba said that 32 Cubans had been killed and that among the dead were armed forces or interior ministry personnel who were on a mission at the request of Caracas.
“Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat,” Díaz-Canel said.
There is anticipation over what the Trump administration might do regarding Cuba after Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stern warning to the Cuban government with whom Washington has been hostile since the 1959 Cuban revolution.
Meanwhile Trump said of Cuba. “It's going down for the count.”
Jan 05, 2026 at 06:02 AM EST
Iran also calls for Maduro release
Iran has also said that Nicolas Maduro must be released from U.S. custody.
Echoing calls from China, the Islamic republic, an ally of Maduro’s government in Caracas, said Monday that Maduro and his wife had been abducted in an operation that was an “illegal act.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said, “as the Venezuelan people have emphasized, their president must be released,” according to the AFP agency.
President Donald Trump last week warned of American intervention if the ruling regime in Tehran continued a violent crackdown on protests spreading throughout the country over a collapsing currency and high inflation.
Iran's statement follows one from China’s foreign ministry on Monday that Maduro must be released but did not rule out working with the new government.
Jan 05, 2026 at 05:29 AM EST
Venezuela’s oil industry faces “disruption” says energy analyst
Oil prices are under pressure after President Trump signaled his intention to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, Nikos Tzabouras, Senior Market Analyst at Tradu.com has told Newsweek.
He said this heightens the prospect of oversupply concerns, given Venezuela holds around 17 percent of global oil reserves, and “reinforces a bearish bias amid already unfavorable supply–demand dynamics.”
“However, a political transition could trigger near-term disruption, while restoring capacity would likely be a complex and time-consuming process," said Tzabouras.
Also, the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries have reaffirmed its decision to refrain from output increases in the first quarter of this year and retains the ability to stabilize the market and support prices if required, Tzabouras added.
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Jan 05, 2026 at 05:13 AM EST
China opposes external interference in Latin America
Also from Monday’s press conference, China’s foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian responded to the prospect of further U.S. action in Latin America.
Lin said that Beijing firmly supports Latin America and the Caribbean region's status “as a zone of peace, opposes any move that violates the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and violates the sovereignty and security of other countries.”
China also “opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, and opposes any external interference in the internal affairs of Latin American countries,” he added.
His comments follow an apparent warning by President Donald Trump towards Colombia’s leader Gustavo Petro, alleging that he presided over a country where narcotics production and trafficking were rampant.
Petro has rejected this allegation and posted on X how he had cracked down on cocaine production, adding that his forces would defend any move to remove him from power.
Jan 05, 2026 at 04:45 AM EST
China responds to question on recognizing new Venezuela government
More from that press conference in which Chinese foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian was asked if Beijing would accept a new Venezuelan government —and a new president— following the capture of Maduro.
Beijing has condemned the U.S. operation to capture Maduro and called for his release but Lin did not reject the prospect of working with a new government in Caracas.
”China respects Venezuela's sovereignty and independence, and believes that the government of Venezuela will properly handle its internal affairs in accordance with the country's constitution and laws.," he said.
Lin also said that regarding the purchase of oil from the South American country which is one of the world's biggest producers, co-operation between the countries is “protected under international law and the laws of the two countries.”
“No matter how the political situation in Venezuela may evolve, China is deeply committed to deepening the two countries' practical cooperation in various fields, and the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese side in Venezuela will be protected in accordance with the law," he added.
Jan 05, 2026 at 04:30 AM EST
China has urged the US to release Nicolas Maduro immediately
Beijing has expressed “grave concern” over the U.S. capture of Maduro and his wife, saying that it was in violation of international law.
China’s foreign affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said in a press briefing on Monday that Maduro should be released and that the toppling of his government should give way to negotiations.
“The U.S. move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms, international relations, and the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter ,” he said.
Hours before Maduro had been captured, he had met Chinese envoy Qiu Xiaoqi who led a delegation from Beijing. Footage showed them smiling together, oblivious to what was about to unfold. “China and the Venezuelan government have maintained friendly exchanges and cooperation," Lin added.
Jan 05, 2026 at 04:13 AM EST
Ex-Trump official says it is unclear what happens next
Robert Wilkie, who served as undersecretary of defense for readiness, has told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that it is unclear what the Trump administration’s plan is for the coming days for Venezuela after the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Wilkie, who served in the first Trump administration said Monday that he had not seen any plans on how the next few days will be managed and cited wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of "American overreach".
He said that U.S. authorities have discussed plans for a stabilization force in Venezuela with its military and defended the legality of Saturday's operation because Maduro was an “illegitimate leader".
However, he said after such an operation “what happens next? We don't have a very good track record when it comes to those things."
Jan 05, 2026 at 03:48 AM EST
Colombia’s Petro condemns “Trump’s illegitimate threat”
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro has issued a defiant message on social media after President Trump’s warning that Venezuela’s neighbor could also be in the crosshairs of U.S. forces.
Petro is a Trump critic and he condemned the operation to capture Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro.
After Trump told reporters on Sunday that “Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States” Petro hit back in a lengthy X post in which he defended his record in tackling the narcotics trade.
He said he had “stopped the growth of coca leaf crops” cracked down on cocaine production and developed a crop substitution plan for those working the land.
Petro also said that his country’s constitution orders the public forces to defend its sovereignty should he be arrested, adding, “I have enormous trust in my people and that is why I have asked the people to defend the president from any illegitimate violent act.”
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Jan 05, 2026 at 03:27 AM EST
Map Shows U.S. Airstrikes on Venezuela in Operation Absolute Resolve
A map by Newsweek outlines how U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela formed part of the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro had been monitored for months before President Donald Trump ordered Operation Absolute Resolve at 10.46 p.m. on Friday. The two-hour and 20-minute mission by air and land saw U.S. forces arrive at Maduro's location shortly after the U.S. strikes began, with the operation ending swiftly in the early hours of Saturday.
The map, based on a data provided by the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project, contains verified locations of US. strikes on military facilities in northern Caracas, including telecommunications towers, garrisons around La Guiaria port as well as Higuerote Airport in Miranda province. There were also strikes on the La Carlota air base in Caracas.
Trump said after capturing Maduro that the Venezuelan leader had tried to escape to a safe room but was unable to close the door.
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