Venezuela - President Nicolas Maduro & his wife "captured and flown out of country" by U.S. Army Delta Force during "large scale attack" - Jan 3, 2026

[NuttMegg]

omg. just three days ago... many of us here on WS were sharing and discussing --->"were we eager to shut the door on miserable 2025, or afraid to open the door to a scary 2026"
I have answered my own question.

Where in h**l is this going to take us???
The Moscow Foreign Ministry called the US actions "an act of armed aggression"

For one thing it worsens the fears of American expats throughout Latin America. Fears for their lives.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

What if a foreign country indicted Trump and his wife.

I can certainly see this as the plot of some new dystopia movie in the near future!

 

[SouthAussie]

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn is as president of the country, Trump said today.

“She’s, I guess, the president," Trump said. "She had a long conversation with Marco and said we’ll do what you need. She had no choice."

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[otto]

Push back? Is ANY nation going to stand up for Maduro? He was not the lawful president. He had hijacked the country. Now the lawful president can take office

Look at the big picture. The US is attempting to seize control of a sovereign nation based on claims of freeing the people, stopping the drugs, regaining control of "stolen" oil, land and assets. None of that is true. The US has stated the intent to seize control of the Western Hemisphere, and this is one step towards that outcome.

The US will be confronted by China's established development and infrastructure in the region, and Russia's alliance with Venezuela.

"China's strong influence and presence in Latin America don't fit into that [US] plan.

De las Casas [Peru] welcomes the arrival of the mega-port and is looking forward to China's other ambitious plans for this region, as they are already in place. China wants to invest in a railway network that will also provide Brazil with a direct rail connection to the port of Chancay. ... "It has always been my dream to have a railway network in South America, because that will enable us to do even better business with Asia," says director De las Casas.

This is a thorn in the side of US President Trump. His administration's recently published foreign policy clearly outlines Trump's plans for Latin America. [The US] sees [South America] as America's "backyard," harking back to the "Monroe Doctrine" of 1823. In that doctrine, then-US President James Monroe stated that the entire Western Hemisphere falls within the US sphere of influence."

Nauwe banden China en Latijns-Amerika zijn Trump een doorn in het oog

China investeerde de afgelopen jaren flink in infrastructuur in Latijns-Amerika. De toegenomen invloed van China in de regio wordt nauwlettend gevolgd door de VS, die het gebied als zijn achtertuin beschouwt.

nos.nl

 

[otto]

<modsnip> Read the National Security Strategy to understand the long game.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf

 

[DS2021]

Starts around 1:10:00 and ends around 2:30:00

Hes still talking. Its been about an hour. Just wanted to provide a source for those who wanted the full uncut speech. Im pretty sure once the live ends you should still be able to replay it.

Starts around 1:10:00 and ends around 2:30:00

 

[SouthAussie]

The fact the U.S. did not inform Russia about its actions “felt like a slap in the face” to President Vladimir Putin, the country’s former deputy foreign minister told NBC News

“This situation puts Russia in a very difficult position,” he said. Moscow, he said, “will lose its oil contracts there and its influence.”

“Trump will maintain control over Venezuela, and by extension over the world’s largest proven oil reserves,” he said.

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Maduro is recognized as a Venezuelan citizen and former President by the United States and many other countries - nothing more. imo

 

[otto]

Im just fearful this is going to be a extended, potentially bloody occupation. I have concerns about our governments ability to manage conflict peacefully and prevent avoidable violence

The Venezuelan people are never going to agree that the US can occupy their country, seize control of their oil, land and assets, and force locals to work hard so the US can get richer.

 

[NuttMegg]

"You know they stole our oil...they took it all away" - President Trump on Venezuela, Press Conference

Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro Arrives in N.Y.; Trump Says U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela

Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected the U.S. intervention and demanded President Nicolás Maduro’s return. Maduro and his wife were being brought to New York City to stand trial on drug and weapons charges.

www.nytimes.com

So Bolivia is next? The US oil companies will have Trump go after those nationalizations? What about Chile? They provide 50% of the USA importations of copper. Specialized copper. Wouldn't it be to the advantage of the usa to simply take the copper mines?

 

[SouthAussie]

Venezuela’s vast oil reserves are the largest in the world, likely the equivalent of about 300 billion barrels, according to the Energy Institute, a research firm. Those reserves top even the No. 1 OPEC oil-producing country, Saudi Arabia.

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Twick]

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn is as president of the country, Trump said today.

“She’s, I guess, the president," Trump said. "She had a long conversation with Marco and said we’ll do what you need. She had no choice."

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

In my humble opinion only, let’s make this clear…

The U.S. as we’ve known it all our lives has ended. The rest of the world will consider it a rogue state.

So, it appears a democracy can last about 250 years before collapsing into a state of thuggery and corruption.

 

[DS2021]

Has there been any death estimates from the bombings?

 

[Gators North]

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn is as president of the country, Trump said today.

“She’s, I guess, the president," Trump said. "She had a long conversation with Marco and said we’ll do what you need. She had no choice."

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

She “had no choice?”

 

[SouthAussie]

Has there been any death estimates from the bombings?

I haven't seen any death estimates yet. Just an article saying that innocent civilians were killed.

imo

 

[Twick]

She “had no choice?”

It is pretty clear what he means by this.

I am afraid we in Canada are going to have to consider what the implications are for us.

 

[Gators North]

It is pretty clear what he means by this.

I am afraid we in Canada are going to have to consider what the implications are for us.

Darn it! And I was seriously considering moving to Canada. It never ends….

 

[NuttMegg]

Push back? Is ANY nation going to stand up for Maduro? He was not the lawful president. He had hijacked the country. Now the lawful president can take office

If he was not the lawful president, how could she be the lawful vice president?

 

[SouthAussie]

Text from Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007473689583829046

Venezuelans,

The TIME FOR FREEDOM has arrived!

Nicolás Maduro, as of today, faces international justice for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations. In the face of his refusal to accept a negotiated exit, the government of the United States has fulfilled its promise to enforce the law.

The time has come for Popular Sovereignty and National Sovereignty to prevail in our country.

Let us bring order, free political prisoners, build an exceptional country, and bring our children back home.

We have fought for years, we have given everything, and it has been worth the effort. What had to happen is happening.

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

Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power. We will remain vigilant, active, and organized until the Democratic Transition is achieved. A transition that we need from ALL of us.

To the Venezuelans who are inside our country, be ready to set in motion what we will very soon communicate to you through our official channels.

To the Venezuelans who are abroad, we need you mobilized, reaching out to governments and citizens of the world, and committed from now on to the great operation of rebuilding the new Venezuela.

In these decisive hours, receive all my strength, my confidence, and my affection. Let us stay alert and in contact.

VENEZUELA WILL BE FREE!
Let us go hand in hand with God, until the end.

[Signature] María Corina Machado
03 de enero del 2026
(January 3, 2026)


BBM

Trump said today ...
(I haven't seen yet how Trump/Stephen Miller feel about Edmundo González Urrutia as president).


It would be “very tough” for Venezuela’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado to become president, Trump told the news conference.

“She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” he said.

Live updates: Trump says the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela until a transition can take place

Follow live updates as a series of explosions are heard around Venezuela's capital after a military buildup in the Caribbean, tanker seizures, and Trump pressing President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[otto]

Has there been any death estimates from the bombings?

"Trump confirmed what he previously said on Fox News: there were no American deaths. He said nothing about Venezuelan deaths. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said earlier today in a phone call on state television that military personnel and civilians were killed, but this has not yet been confirmed."

Vicepresident Rodriguez verschijnt in openbaar • Trump deelt foto van gevangen Maduro

De Amerikaanse president Trump claimde in de loop van de ochtend dat zijn land de Venezolaanse president Maduro heeft opgepakt.

nos.nl