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]

I can't help but reminisce....."The United Fruit Company". Here we go again.

 

[Gators North]

From what I've watched in the media as Venezuela's people are weeping with joy and celebrating, they seem to have a completely different take on the situation.

But they’ll find out pretty quickly what’s really going to happen. MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

The reward money was offered at the end of the Biden administration in 2020, I believe. So presumably there were criminal charges state then, as well.

I think that the previous indictment was issued under the Trump administration in March 2020.
Pres Biden increased the reward that was issued in March 2020 to a $25M reward in January 2025.


April 1, 2020
On March 26, in a live-streamed press conference, Attorney General William Barr and the Justice Department indicted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and fourteen members of his inner circle with charges that range from money laundering and bribery to a narcoterrorism conspiracy with Colombia’s largest rebel group, FARC.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the State Department also offered a cash reward of $15 million for Maduro and up to $10 million each for the others.

U.S. Offers $15M Reward for Info Leading to the Arrest or Conviction of Maduro

Filed in the Southern District of New York, the Department of Justice has announced an indictment on Nicolás Maduro and four other senior Venezuelan authorities on charges of narcoterrorism last Th…

www.politicsatnyu.org

"..... the Department of State on January 10, 2025, increased the reward offer to up to $25 million."

U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE

 

[Gators North]

In your opinion, that is.

Everything I’ve said in this thread is MOO.

 

[Gators North]

You can't even compare Germany and Japan to this. Not even close.

Not the same thing at all. MOO

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007547654922809388

 

[branmuffin]

Can you elaborate? Thanks.

They were stationed there after the end of WW2. Germany and Japan were the Axis, they were the belligerents that started the war. It wasn't just Americans who occupied Japan and Germany but the UK, Soviet Union and France in Germany. In Japan, the US held the major role of reconstruction with members of the Allies in supporting roles. It was in the Allies best interests to get the countries up and running again to start healing. Rebuilding countries that have been decimated by war is how you avoid long term issues that build resentments.

 

[SouthAussie]

The word “democracy” was not mentioned at today’s press conference, nor were there details about how U.S. leaders would stop drugs coming from Venezuela, Alan McPherson, a professor at Temple University, told NBC News.

“Secretary Rubio talked about taking out a strong man and hurting Cuba. Secretary Hegseth talked about the lethality, the power, the competence of the military. President Trump talked about oil,”

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

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I'll presume the decent folks of Venezuela know what's best for them and their country.

Decent folks of Venezuela have been brutilized by Maduro, but they don't know what they are in for now.

THIS from DT:

Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’​

Exclusive | Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’: ‘We have a second wave’

“We’re prepared,” Trump said. “You know, we have a second wave that’s much bigger than the first wave.”

nypost.com

What is DT going to do if she does not???


But the VP of Venezuela says this:

Venezuelan VP Rodríguez says regime change is about capturing country's natural resources​

Raquel Coronell Uribe
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said on state TV channel TeleSUR that the objective of what she described as regime change in Venezuela was to capture the country’s oil and natural resources. She later added that Venezuela stands ready to defend those resources.

AND

Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodríguez demands immediate release of Maduro and his wife.​

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

 

[nhmemorymaker]

You know what? Maduro did what Trump wanted to do in 2020 - not give up control of the government. But there were guardrails in the US to stop that. In a country that was crippled by poverty and corruption it was easier for Maduro to be successful in his refusal to give up his position.

THIS is such an important TRUTH.
And I hope people realize this. ...

And now with the VP-appointed a "so called President" by DT.... who is speaking out about the truth of this takeover (oil and other resources) What is going to happen to her now.
Serious Question.

 

[SouthAussie]

But Macron was in favor of ...

"We hope that President Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to ensure this transition as quickly as possible," he added.

Macron Says Venezuela's Gonzalez Urrutia Should Lead Post-Maduro Transition

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said that 2024 presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia should lead a peaceful transition in Venezuela, adding its people "could only rejoice" at the removal by the US of President Nicolas Maduro.

www.barrons.com

One opinion says that may not happen.


McPherson [professor at Temple University], who specializes in U.S.-Latin American relations ..... “It seems quite clear that President Trump now wants to decide who the next president of Venezuela is going to be,” McPherson said. He added that Trump may not favor the opposition party, since they would be unwilling to hand over petroleum to American oil companies.

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

 

[Sundog]

I think that the previous indictment was issued under the Trump administration in March 2020.
Pres Biden increased the reward that was issued in March 2020 to a $25M reward in January 2025.


April 1, 2020
On March 26, in a live-streamed press conference, Attorney General William Barr and the Justice Department indicted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and fourteen members of his inner circle with charges that range from money laundering and bribery to a narcoterrorism conspiracy with Colombia’s largest rebel group, FARC.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the State Department also offered a cash reward of $15 million for Maduro and up to $10 million each for the others.

U.S. Offers $15M Reward for Info Leading to the Arrest or Conviction of Maduro

Filed in the Southern District of New York, the Department of Justice has announced an indictment on Nicolás Maduro and four other senior Venezuelan authorities on charges of narcoterrorism last Th…

www.politicsatnyu.org

"..... the Department of State on January 10, 2025, increased the reward offer to up to $25 million."

U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE

Thanks, I meant to say 2025 for Biden and have corrected my post. So we have the following:

March 2020 - Trump's Department of State issues reward for arrest of Maduro

January 2025- Biden's Department of State increases reward amount for arrest of Maduro

I assume that the Biden administration increased the reward money for the arrest of Maduro based on similar criminal charges.

 

[Sundog]

dbm

 

[DS2021]

Asked by The Post if “US troops [will] be on the ground helping run the country,” Trump said: “No, if Maduro’s vice president — if the vice president does what we want, we won’t have to do that.”

We’re prepared,” Trump added. “You know, we have a second wave that’s much bigger than the first wave.”

The president said that “we’ve spoken to her [Rodriguez] numerous times, and she understands, she understands

Decent folks of Venezuela have been brutilized by Maduro, but they don't know what they are in for now.

THIS from DT:

Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’​

Exclusive | Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’: ‘We have a second wave’

“We’re prepared,” Trump said. “You know, we have a second wave that’s much bigger than the first wave.”

nypost.com

What is DT going to do if she does not???


But the VP of Venezuela says this:

Venezuelan VP Rodríguez says regime change is about capturing country's natural resources​

Raquel Coronell Uribe
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said on state TV channel TeleSUR that the objective of what she described as regime change in Venezuela was to capture the country’s oil and natural resources. She later added that Venezuela stands ready to defend those resources.

AND

Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodríguez demands immediate release of Maduro and his wife.​

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

.”

 

[SouthAussie]

I think she's a health reporter for NBC news, so I think her comments are just her political opinions, it's not her field of expertise by any means.

The reporter was quoting Temple University professor Alan McPherson.
He specialises in US-Latin American relations (as per the article).

 

[SouthAussie]

"Nicolás Maduro and his wife have arrived in New York."

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

 

[Sundog]

The reporter was quoting Temple University professor Alan McPherson.
He specialises in US-Latin American relations (as per the article).

Got it. He appears to have a lot of political biases. More like an editorial comment than an expert's analysis, IMO.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007485346913607836

I’ve served on the Homeland Security Committee for the past three years. I’m 100% for strong safe secure borders and stopping narco terrorists and cartels from trafficking deadly drugs and human trafficking into America.

Fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of U.S. drug overdose deaths and fentanyl comes from Mexican cartels made with chemical precursors from China and trafficked across the U.S. Mexico border.

Mexican cartels are primarily and overwhelmingly responsible for killing Americans with deadly drugs.

If U.S. military action and regime change in Venezuela was really about saving American lives from deadly drugs then why hasn’t the Trump admin taken action against Mexican cartels?

And if prosecuting narco terrorists is a high priority then why did President Trump pardon the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez who was convicted and sentenced for 45 years for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into America? Ironically cocaine is the same drug that Venezuela primarily traffics into the U.S.

The next obvious observation is that by removing Maduro this is a clear move for control over Venezuelan oil supplies that will ensure stability for the next obvious regime change war in Iran.

And of course why is it ok for America to militarily invade, bomb, and arrest a foreign leader but Russia is evil for invading Ukraine and China is bad for aggression against Taiwan? Is it only ok if we do it? (I’m not endorsing Russia or China)

Regime change, funding foreign wars, and American’s tax dollars being consistently funneled to foreign causes, foreigners both home and abroad, and foreign governments while Americans are consistently facing increasing cost of living, housing, healthcare, and learn about scams and fraud of their tax dollars is what has most Americans enraged. Especially the younger generations. Boomers and half of Gen X will cheer on neocon wars and talking points, but the other half of Gen X and majority on down see through it and hate it.

Americans disgust with our own government’s never ending military aggression and support of foreign wars is justified because we are forced to pay for it and both parties, Republicans and Democrats, always keep the Washington military machine funded and going.

This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.

Boy were we wrong.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Decent folks of Venezuela have been brutilized by Maduro, but they don't know what they are in for now.

THIS from DT:

Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’​

Exclusive | Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’: ‘We have a second wave’

“We’re prepared,” Trump said. “You know, we have a second wave that’s much bigger than the first wave.”

nypost.com

What is DT going to do if she does not???


But the VP of Venezuela says this:

Venezuelan VP Rodríguez says regime change is about capturing country's natural resources​

Raquel Coronell Uribe
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said on state TV channel TeleSUR that the objective of what she described as regime change in Venezuela was to capture the country’s oil and natural resources. She later added that Venezuela stands ready to defend those resources.

AND

Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodríguez demands immediate release of Maduro and his wife.​

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

I'm genuinely curious.
What is it exactly, that you don't think the Venezuelan people know that they're "in for" as you put it?
I'm also curious why you think they don't know.
I don't really follow politics much at all, but when I see a nation dancing in the streets and celebrating and folks (who don't live there) saying essentially "no, this is bad!" it's confusing.

jmo

 

[Sundog]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007485346913607836

I’ve served on the Homeland Security Committee for the past three years. I’m 100% for strong safe secure borders and stopping narco terrorists and cartels from trafficking deadly drugs and human trafficking into America.

Fentanyl is responsible for over 70% of U.S. drug overdose deaths and fentanyl comes from Mexican cartels made with chemical precursors from China and trafficked across the U.S. Mexico border.

Mexican cartels are primarily and overwhelmingly responsible for killing Americans with deadly drugs.

If U.S. military action and regime change in Venezuela was really about saving American lives from deadly drugs then why hasn’t the Trump admin taken action against Mexican cartels?

And if prosecuting narco terrorists is a high priority then why did President Trump pardon the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez who was convicted and sentenced for 45 years for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into America? Ironically cocaine is the same drug that Venezuela primarily traffics into the U.S.

The next obvious observation is that by removing Maduro this is a clear move for control over Venezuelan oil supplies that will ensure stability for the next obvious regime change war in Iran.

And of course why is it ok for America to militarily invade, bomb, and arrest a foreign leader but Russia is evil for invading Ukraine and China is bad for aggression against Taiwan? Is it only ok if we do it? (I’m not endorsing Russia or China)

Regime change, funding foreign wars, and American’s tax dollars being consistently funneled to foreign causes, foreigners both home and abroad, and foreign governments while Americans are consistently facing increasing cost of living, housing, healthcare, and learn about scams and fraud of their tax dollars is what has most Americans enraged. Especially the younger generations. Boomers and half of Gen X will cheer on neocon wars and talking points, but the other half of Gen X and majority on down see through it and hate it.

Americans disgust with our own government’s never ending military aggression and support of foreign wars is justified because we are forced to pay for it and both parties, Republicans and Democrats, always keep the Washington military machine funded and going.

This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.

Boy were we wrong.

And so the public vendetta continues . . .