US attacks Venezuela - LIVE UPDATES

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores after launching a “large-scale strike” on the South American country.

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

Trump said he would give a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

The United States military was behind a series of strikes against the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, US media earlier reported.

US media outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, reported that unnamed Trump administration officials confirmed US forces were involved. CBS said an attack was ordered by President Donald Trump.

Live Updates:

Maduro pleads not guilty to drug charges, saying he was ‘kidnapped’ (9:25 PST)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday 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’s wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The next court date was set for March 17.

Venezuela’s Rodríguez formally sworn in as interim president (12:05 PST)

Venezuela’s vice president and oil minister, Delcy Rodríguez, was formally sworn in as the country’s interim president.

“I come with pain in my heart over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” said Rodríguez during her swearing-in ceremony.

“I swear not to rest for a single minute in order to guarantee peace and spiritual, economic, and social tranquility of our people. Let us swear as one country to move Venezuela forward in these terrible times.”

33% of Americans approve of US strike on Venezuela, poll finds (11:56 PST)

One in three Americans approve of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that toppled Maduro, and 72% worry the U.S. will become too involved in the country.

That’s according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.

The two-day poll showed 65% of Republicans back the military operation ordered by Trump, compared to 11% of Democrats and 23% of independents.

The poll showed significant support among Republicans for a foreign policy that includes exerting influence over nearby countries.

Maduro pleads not guilty (10: 14 PST)

“I am innocent, I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still president of my country,” Maduro said, before being cut off by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

Maduro said he had seen the indictment but not read it. He said he partially discussed it with his attorney.

Venezuela’s UN envoy: US carried out ‘illegitimate armed attack’ (10:01 PST)

Venezuela’s Ambassador to the U.N. Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta called the U.S. attack “illegitimate” with no legal justification.

“Venezuela was the target of an illegitimate armed attack, lacking any legal justification, by the government of the United States of America,” Acosta said through an interpreter.

“The events of January 3 constitute a flagrant violation of the U.N. charter perpetrated by the U.S. government, in particular the principal violation of the principle of sovereign equality of states, of the absolute prohibition of the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”

Acosta told the Security Council that the country’s institutions are “functioning normally.” “Constitutional order has been preserved and that the state exercises effective control over all of its territory.”

Pro and anti-Maduro protesters have gathered outside court (09:32 PST)

Two groups of protesters – supporters and detractors of Maduro – have gathered outside the courthouse in New York. An anti-Maduro activist from Venezuela approached a Maduro supporter and tore off a small Venezuelan flag wrapped around his sleeve, shouting that he had no idea what was happening in the country.

Dozens of Maduro supporters outnumbered a handful of anti-Maduro Venezuelan immigrants. “We are outraged at what the U.S. has done to the head, the duly elected head of Venezuela.

He is not a dictator,” said Sherry Finkelman, 80, a retired teacher and a socialist from The Workers World Party.

“You see the propaganda, that they convince people that this man has been called a dictator by the U.S., so they have an excuse to go in and take over the country’s resources. They’re very blatant about it.”

Maduro was sworn in for a third term a year ago following a 2024 election that was widely condemned as fraudulent by international observers and the domestic opposition.

Alejandro Rojas, 51, a data scientist who moved to the U.S. from Venezuela in 2017, said Maduro’s arrest gave him hope that he would be able to go back and see his family back home.

“It’s so emotional, just being able to reconnect with family, being able to have a country back again. I don’t understand, those people are protesting, and they’re not even Venezuelans. They have no idea what this feeling is,” he said.

‘No war against Venezuela or its people,’ says US envoy to UN (09:21 PST)

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz addressed the Security Council meeting on Venezuela.

“There is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation,” he said of the raid in which Maduro was captured.

“The overwhelming evidence of his crimes will be presented openly in U.S. court proceedings,” Waltz said.

“I want to reiterate President Trump gave diplomacy a chance. He offered Maduro multiple off ramps.

He tried to de-escalate. Maduro refused to take them.” He added that the U.S. will not waver in its actions to “protect Americans from the scourge of narco-terrorism and seeks peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela.”

China calls US action ‘illegal and bullying’ at UN meeting (09:08 PST)

China called on the U.S. to release Maduro and his wife, its deputy U.N. representative Sun Lei told the Security Council.

“China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the unilateral, illegal and bullying acts of the U.S,” said Sun through an interpreter.

“We demand that the United Staes change its course, cease its bullying and coercive practices, and develop relations and cooperation with regional countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality and noninterference in international affairs.”

Russia’s UN envoy: No justification for US ‘crimes’ in Venezuela (08:58 PST)

Russia condemns the U.S. for what it called the “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela, its U.N. envoy Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council. “There is no and can be no justification for the crimes cynically perpetrated by the United States in Caracas.

We firmly condemn the U.S. act of armed aggression against Venezuela, in breach of all international legal norms,” Nebenzia said through an interpreter. Russia also called on the U.S. to release Maduro and his wife.

‘Everything stops’ if US tries to take Greenland, says Danish PM (08:52 PST)

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday that she believes Trump is serious about wanting to take over Greenland, and that both Denmark and Greenland have clearly rejected his ambition.

Returning to a theme he had broached in his first term as president and earlier in his second term, Trump said on Sunday: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”

His comments, coming just after the U.S. military operation to capture Maduro, have rekindled concerns in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, and in Copenhagen.

“Unfortunately, I think the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland,” Frederiksen told public broadcaster DR.

'Everything stops' if US tries to take Greenland, says Danish PM

“I have made it very clear where the Kingdom of Denmark stands, and Greenland has repeatedly said that it does not want to be part of the United States,” she added.

“If the United States attacks another NATO country, everything stops,” Frederiksen said.

Earlier, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Facebook that threats, pressure and talk of annexation had no place among friends.

“Enough is enough. (…) No more fantasies about annexation,” he said.

Sheinbaum says US intervention in Mexico unlikely (08:44 PST)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday a U.S. intervention in Mexico was unlikely even though, she said, Trump has insisted on it during calls with her.

“I don’t believe in an invasion; I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference.

“On several occasions, he has insisted that the U.S. army be allowed to enter Mexico. We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary.”

Sheinbaum says US intervention in Mexico unlikely

Trump has long suggested military action might be necessary to combat drug cartels operating in Mexico, and over the weekend told reporters that the U.S. would “have to do something” in Mexico about drugs.

Sheinbaum said Mexico was cooperating with the U.S. on drug trafficking and security.

“It is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule, and that we are a free and sovereign country—cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no,” she said.

Venezuela seeks to arrest those who supported US attack (08:17 PST)

The state of emergency put in place by the Venezuelan government since Maduro was ousted orders police to “immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States,” according to a text of the decree published on Monday.

The decree has been in force since Saturday, but was published in full on Monday.

Maduro appears in New York Court

Venezuela’s Maduro due in court (04:34 PST)

Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro was due in a New York court on Monday to face drug charges while the U.N. was to scrutinize the legality of U.S. President Donald Trump’s extraordinary operation to capture him.
In the biggest U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, Special Forces swooped into Caracas on helicopters at the weekend to smash through Maduro’s security cordon and nab him at the door of a safe room.

Maduro loyalists remain in charge of Venezuela, first spitting defiance then pivoting to possible cooperation.

Russia urges US to release Venezuela’s Maduro ( 09:30 PST)

Russia on Saturday condemned the US attack on Venezuela urged it to release its leader Nicolas Maduro, who was grabbed during a military operation in and around Caracas.

“We strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian foreign ministry said.

In a series of statements, the ministry called for dialogue between Washington and Venezuela’s leftist government and expressed “solidarity” with Venezuela’s people. It stopped short, however, of offering immediate military or financial assistance to its ally.

“This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable,” the ministry said in a statement.

Maduro now in New York jail as Trump says US to ‘run’ Venezuela ( 10: 05 PST)

United States: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail Saturday, hours after American special forces seized and flew him out of his country — which Donald Trump said would come under effective US control.

The US president’s announcement followed a lightning pre-dawn attack in which commandos grabbed Maduro and his wife while air strikes pounded sites in and around Caracas.

A US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, and he was transported by helicopter to New York City, where the couple were to be arraigned on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The White House posted video on X of Maduro, handcuffed and in sandals, escorted by federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York.

“Good night, happy new year,” the 63-year-old leftist is heard saying in English.

Spain will not recognize US intervention in Venezuela, PM says (23:55 PST)

Spain will not recognize a U.S. intervention in Venezuela that violates international law, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on X.

“Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence”, said Sánchez.

Sanchez also called on all parties to “think of the civilian population, to respect the United Nations Charter, and to articulate a fair and dialogued transition.”

Meanwhile, Trump posted a picture of Maduro (23:14 PST)

“Maduro Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump said in a picture posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, shortly before he held his press conference.

Meanwhile, Trump posted a picture of Maduro

The Reuters Visual Verification Team said the image appeared to be taken from a printed photograph, as white edging can be seen around the image.

What appears to be the letters “DEA” can be seen on a black uniformed person next to Venezuelan president Maduro, and Trump said Drug Enforcement Administration officials were involved in the operation.

Verifying the location was not immediately possible as the photograph is tightly cropped, but the grey hairs in Maduro’s mustache matched recent imagery of him.

Trump says it won’t cost the US anything to run Venezuela (23:03 PST)

Asked if the U.S. could administer Venezuela for a long time, Trump said, “Well, you know, it won’t cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial.”

“We want safety there. We want to be surrounded by countries that aren’t housing all of our enemies all over the world. That’s what was happening. And you don’t want to have that, but we’re going to be rebuilding and we’re not spending money. The oil companies are going to go in, they’re going to spend money there. Then we’re going to take back the oil that, frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago.

A lot of money is coming out of the ground. We’re going to get reimbursed for all of that.” It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela. Despite the U.S. operation, U.S. forces have no control over the country itself, and Maduro’s government appears to still be in charge. Trump did not provide specific answers to repeated questions from reporters about how the U.S. would run Venezuela.

Cuban government should be concerned, Rubio says (22:43 PST)

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on whether tensions might follow with Cuba.

Trump called Cuba an interesting case. “I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about because Cuba is a failing nation right now, very badly failing nation. And we want to help the people. It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba.”

Rubio was more direct.

“Look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, at least a little bit,” Rubio said.

‘We’re in the oil business’ (22:33 PST)

Trump was asked how this operation would affect relationships with China, Russia and Iran in terms of oil.

He answered: “Russia, when we get things straightened out… But in terms of other countries that want oil, we’re in the oil business, we’re going to sell it to ’em.”

Trump accuses Maduro, without evidence, of hosting foreign adversaries (22:02 PST)

Trump, mindful of his MAGA supporters who have pushed for greater focus on domestic issues, hailed U.S. military forces for their role in boosting law enforcement in U.S. cities including Washington and Memphis.

He linked the Venezuelan attacks, claiming without evidence that the Tren de Aragua gang had been active in many U.S. cities. Trump also accused Maduro’s government, without evidence, of hosting foreign adversaries in the region and acquiring “menacing offensive weapons that could threaten us.”

Russia urges US to release Venezuela’s Maduro (20:19 PST)

Russia urged the United States to release Maduro and his wife, in a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry on Saturday. “In light of confirmed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in the United States, we strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the ministry said in the statement.

UN: ‘These developments constitute a dangerous precedent’ (20:00 PST)

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed by U.S. action in Venezuela that sets “a dangerous precedent,” his spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. “The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

Trump says Maduro and wife will be taken to New York (19:50 PST)

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to a ship after their capture by U.S. forces and will be transported to New York, Trump also told Fox News on Saturday. Trump said both Maduro and his wife had been indicted in New York.

Maduro was indicted in a U.S. federal court in 2020 on narco-terrorism and other charges for running what prosecutors called a scheme to send tons of cocaine to the U.S. through an alleged “Cartel de Los Soles”. He has always denied that.

British parliamentarian cautions Kier Starmer (17:00 PST)

Ed Davey, a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, stated that the British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, should condemn Trump. He warned that a failure to do so would “open the gates” for Russia and China to attack other countries with impunity.

Venezuela’s oil production suffered no damage, sources say (16:42 PST)

Venezuelan state-run energy company PDVSA’s oil production and refining were normal on Saturday, and its most important facilities had suffered no damage from U.S. attacks, according to an initial assessment, two sources with knowledge of the company’s operations said.

The port of La Guaira near Caracas, one of the country’s largest but one which is not used for oil operations, was reported to have suffered severe damage, one of the sources said.

Venezuelan Minister of Interior responds to the US capture of Maduro (16:40 PST)

“Venezuela is aware that it has been under attack. We recognize what actions need to be taken, and our people understand their responsibilities. Our President has stated that it has been 28 weeks since the initial threats were made—28 long weeks. During this time, a treacherous and vile attack was carried out against a people who were simply sleeping,” said Diosdado Cabello, the Venezuelan Minister of Interior.

Italy says it is monitoring developments (16:24 PST)

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome and its diplomatic representation in Caracas were monitoring any developments with particular attention to the Italian community in the country.

Tajani said in a post on X that Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was being kept constantly informed and that the foreign ministry’s crisis unit was operational.

Italy’s ambassador in Venezuela said on Saturday on Italy’s State TV Rai that around 160,000 Italians currently live in the country, most of them with dual passports, as well as some who are there for reasons of work and tourism.

EU Representative contacted Marco Rubio (16:14 PST)

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reported that she had discussed the situation in Venezuela with Rubio. She wrote that the EU is closely monitoring what is happening.

Venezuela’s right to defend – UN Article 51 (15:57 PST)

Venezuela’s Representative to the UN stated, “We reserve the inherent right to legitimate defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”

Moreover, Yvan Gil, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, said, “In response to the criminal aggression of the United States against our nation, we have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.”

US senator says Rubio told him Maduro arrested to stand trial in US (15:41 PST)

Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee said that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.

“He (Rubio) anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” Lee wrote on X following a call with Washington’s top diplomat.

Spain calls for de-escalation, respect for international law in Venezuela (15:33 PST)

Spain called for de-escalation, moderation, and respect for international law in Venezuela, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

It also offered itself as a negotiator to help find a peaceful solution in Venezuela.

Russia condemns US ‘armed aggression’ against Venezuela (15:28 PST)

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned what it described as a US act of “armed aggression” against Venezuela, calling for restraint and warning against further escalation.

“The pretexts cited to justify these actions are untenable. Ideologically driven hostility has prevailed over practical pragmatism and a willingness to build relations based on trust and predictability,” the statement said.

US official says Maduro will ‘finally face justice’ (15:26 PST)

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Maduro will “finally face justice for his crimes” after Trump said earlier that Maduro had been taken out of the country following U.S. strikes.

Maduro’s exit was claimed to be negotiated

The Venezuelan opposition claimed that President Nicolas Maduro negotiated his exit from Venezuela, according to British broadcaster Sky News.

The United States Armed Forces suffered no casualties in the military operation, according to The New York Times. The status of Venezuelan casualties, however, remains unknown.

Venezuelan Vice President’s statement

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Maduro and his wife.” The statement was followed by a public demand: “We demand confirmation that our President and First Lady are alive.”