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

[Ontario Mom]

well.... to me this tells me how miserable these poor people have been living:
Venezuelans have experienced severe misery under Nicolás Maduro, marked by a catastrophic economic collapse, hyperinflation, widespread shortages of food, medicine, and basic services, rampant crime, and a massive humanitarian crisis forcing millions to flee their homes due to failed socialist policies, government mismanagement, and corruption.
If I put myself in those shoes.... removing Maduro is "profound happiness and joy".
But, if you read the document that @otto provided earlier...
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf
it is quite clear what this US Administration wants from the "western hemisphere".

Does any truly observant person see this agenda as a solution to address what the Venezuelans have been suffering?
I do not think so. And of course, this is moo all the way.

Thank you for taking the time to explain your thoughts.

 

[Leilei]

These people are disgusting. This is all so grim.

And so obvious.
IMO.

 

[NuttMegg]

So if she is indeed out of the country, is she there for her own safety? Did she leave prior to the Maduro incident? Was she warned of the US attack beforehand?

The sources told Reuters she traveled to Russia hours after Trump announced Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces in an attack on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with Rodríguez on Saturday, in which he expressed solidarity with Venezuela in the "face of armed aggression," Russia-state outlet Tass reported. Several outlets, however, have reported that Tass called Rodriguez's presence in Russia "fake," citing foreign ministry officials.

Venezuelan Vice President may be in Russia: Report

Rodriguez has demanded the Trump administration provide "proof of life" for Maduro.

www.newsweek.com

 

[SouthAussie]

"What I can tell you is that the judge who will be presiding over this case – Alvin Hellerstein – was appointed back in 1998 by Bill Clinton, and has extensive experience of 30 years of overseeing the prosecution of federal charges."

US captures Venezuela’s Maduro; Trump says US will ‘run’ the country

The United States has bombed Venezuela and toppled Nicolas Maduro, who was seized and taken to New York.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Ruminations]

It's worthwhile reading international news and comparing it to US news.

People are not celebrating in the streets. They are lined up at grocery stores to get supplies in anticipation of severe shortages. If there are photos of people celebrating, research whether they are in Venezuela, or in some other country.

People are afraid because the US is trying to police the world.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-venezuela-maduro-reactions-9.7032630

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/venezuela-maduro-delcy-rodriguez-9.7032783

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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

I remember in 2014 and in 2022 when there were media outlets claiming Ukraine welcomed the Russian invasion. It was propaganda, of course. We are getting more of the same. (Although I don't doubt that there ARE people delighted that Maduró was hauled away - not trying to deny that. An authoritarian on either political side causes pain.

MOO

 

[martinko]

As an American (living in Canada) I respectfully disagree.

jmo

Let me try to rephrase my comment:
Are you disagreeing with the post as a whole, or just the "They are not even running America for the good of Americans" part specifically? I have concern that very little will be done to improve the lives of Venezuelan citizens, and that this entire situation is solely about gaining access to Venezuela's resources. As a Canadian I am also very concerned about what the future holds. Trump has repeatedly called Canada the 51st state, and if the US faces no repercussions for seizing control of Venezuela, he may grow bolder. Maduro being taken out of power may be a good thing, but we have no guarantee that his replacement will be better, or even any idea of when the occupation will end. The last thing I want is more wars, and to me this absolutely feels like it could go that way. MOO

 

[NuttMegg]

After capturing Maduro, Trump hints at military action in Cuba, Mexico and Colombia​

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/trump-maduro-venezuela-mexico-sheinbaum

 

[nhmemorymaker]

It has something to do with venue and the indictment being granted by the Southern District of New York.
That airport provides the appropriate "venue" - with the venue being the first place they landed in the US.

I read in a different article that Maduro and his wife were first taken to Guantanamo Bay (from Venezuela).

imo (till I find the links again)



ETA: According to CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig, Maduro’s landing location — at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York — has “vast political, international, diplomatic significance” due to a legal term called venue, which requires a case to be charged in the correct federal district ..... Link

And ... Maduro and Flores were placed aboard the USS Iwo Jima, which stopped at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, two sources familiar with the plans told CNN. There, Maduro and his wife were transferred to a plane, which landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York on Saturday evening. Link

thanks @SouthAussie for some additoinal facts here. I forgot the Southern District of Ny connection.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The sources told Reuters she traveled to Russia hours after Trump announced Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces in an attack on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with Rodríguez on Saturday, in which he expressed solidarity with Venezuela in the "face of armed aggression," Russia-state outlet Tass reported. Several outlets, however, have reported that Tass called Rodriguez's presence in Russia "fake," citing foreign ministry officials.

Venezuelan Vice President may be in Russia: Report

Rodriguez has demanded the Trump administration provide "proof of life" for Maduro.

www.newsweek.com

how confusing is this......

 

[SouthAussie]

"Maduro arrives in US, but whereabouts of wife unclear

We’ve seen the disembarking of Maduro at the Stewart International Airport in upstate New York.

What was surprising was that he was not accompanied by his wife, Cilia Flores, despite the fact that the White House said that they had also arrested her.

We are requesting clarification on that because it was our understanding that both Maduro, as well as Cilia Flores, would be arraigned in the Southern District of New York"

US captures Venezuela’s Maduro; Trump says US will ‘run’ the country

The United States has bombed Venezuela and toppled Nicolas Maduro, who was seized and taken to New York.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[SouthAussie]

"We do understand that Trump has an agenda, on who the next president will be or how the country will shape in the next few days. But his comments definitely came as bit of a shock. It felt a little bit like being stabbed in the back – wait, Trump, you said you were going to help us, and now you’re just saying you’re going to control the country?

Are we going to be a colony? Will there be a military intervention?"

Sissi de Flaviis
Reporting from Caracas, Venezuela

US captures Venezuela’s Maduro; Trump says US will ‘run’ the country

The United States has bombed Venezuela and toppled Nicolas Maduro, who was seized and taken to New York.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Stunned]

how confusing is this......

How did she get out?

 

[Betty P]

Going to go down like a bucket of cold sick with all of them if this ruins their tourism industries.

I’ve been telling this to many friends and family booking cruises and vacations down that way. This military scheme of the U.S. and others is going to disrupt civilian travel down there. Americans are not accustomed to waging wars off our own coasts. I’d rather head to Europe or Hawaii.

 

[Betty P]

This whole situation feels like a powder keg, one match away from blowing up. Im not knowledgeable on international relations, so im not going to speak on that piece. My big concern is that it'll take one act of violence to occur, leading to the injury or death of a us solider, for a full on invasion leading to countless lives (both American and Venezuelan) being lost.

This feels extremely delicate.

Venezuelan doesn’t have much of a military. They’re not a violent, war-like society. They’re not looking to go to war with anyone, they’re just looking to be left alone to run their own country and economy, controlling their own resources without invasions or economic blockades or other punitive actions from the U.S.

 

[Betty P]

The sources told Reuters she traveled to Russia hours after Trump announced Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces in an attack on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with Rodríguez on Saturday, in which he expressed solidarity with Venezuela in the "face of armed aggression," Russia-state outlet Tass reported. Several outlets, however, have reported that Tass called Rodriguez's presence in Russia "fake," citing foreign ministry officials.

Venezuelan Vice President may be in Russia: Report

Rodriguez has demanded the Trump administration provide "proof of life" for Maduro.

www.newsweek.com

This all seems shady. I don’t trust Russia or Putin. They’re objecting the are not an ally of the U.S.

I’m not at all comfortable with them becoming involved in overthrowing a government and military action in the western hemisphere, let alone near our borders. It’s very concerning that Putin appears to be controlling our president and military leaders. They’re not the sharpest people and are easily manipulated.

NEWS: Statement of Sen. Bernie Sanders on Venezuela » Senator Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday condemned President Donald Trump’s unilateral military action against Venezuela as illegal and unconstitutional, warning that it violates international law, endangers global security and usurps Congress’ exclusive authority to declare...

www.sanders.senate.gov

 

[MelmothTheLost]

So if she is indeed out of the country, is she there for her own safety? Did she leave prior to the Maduro incident? Was she warned of the US attack beforehand?

I would guess she was on an official or government visit from one socialist country to what they probably perceive as another. She could just as easily have been in Vietnam or Bolivia. Alternatively she could have done a runner to a perceived safe haven.

 

[Betty P]

Trump Hints at Next Targets After Shocking Invasion

The president warned the Colombian president that he needs to “watch his a--.”

www.thedailybeast.com

Hes’s hinting at invading Mexico. That’s not only illegal, it’s an insanely bad idea.

 

[DS2021]

Venezuelan doesn’t have much of a military. They’re not a violent, war-like society. They’re not looking to go to war with anyone, they’re just looking to be left alone to run their own country and economy, controlling their own resources without invasions or economic blockades or other punitive actions from the U.U.S

It only takes one person to get violent for the domino effect to start.

I hope for everyone's sake this goes peacefully

 

[pukasonqo2]

And now I have Pink Floyd’s “Not now John” in my head
I am not looking forward to the upcoming invasions of other Southamerican countries, we know how well that went in Irak, Libya and other countries

 

[HmmMysterious]

The name calling of anyone is uncalled for imo. Really? And we wonder why people are angry

Tell that to Trump