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

[threesevenninefour]

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.

I’m Colombian and Venezuelan. I can tell you right now that you’re completely wrong. You can find a few people happy about their own rights being stripped away in any country—doesn’t mean it’s widely supported. This is a massive step back in every way for South American sovereignty.

 

[otto]

So if I've got this right, in contrast to what Mr Trump said yesterday, the USA will not, in fact, be running Venezuela. Today's plan is to keep the current regime in place minus Maduro and attempt to intimidate them into doing what the USA wants.

Rubio says US won’t govern Venezuela but will press for changes through oil blockade

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is suggesting the United States won't govern Venezuela other than enforcing an existing “oil quarantine” on the country.

apnews.com

Who knows. Trump repeated 6 times yesterday that he will run Venezuela. Today, Rubio is providing a translation of what Trump said, alleging that people misunderstood the Presidential Announcement because they have "Middle East" on the brain.

"Trump’s vow to “run” Venezuela, repeated more than half a dozen times at a news conference in Florida on Saturday, sparked concerns among some Democrats.
...

Rubio dismissed such criticism, saying that Trump’s intent had been misunderstood by a “foreign policy establishment” that was fixated on the Middle East."
...

Rubio’s statements on TV talk shows seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building.

They stood in contrast to Trump’s broad but vague claims that the U.S. would at least temporarily “run” the oil-rich nation — comments that suggested some sort of governing structure under which Caracas would be controlled by Washington."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/maduro-arrives-us-after-capture-9.7033019

 

[otto]

I’m Colombian and Venezuelan. I can tell you right now that you’re completely wrong. You can find a few people happy about their own rights being stripped away in any country—doesn’t mean it’s widely supported. This is a massive step back in every way for South American sovereignty.

Venezuela must be painfully aware that the US is proposing neocolonialism, occupation, and to turn Venezuela into a vassal state. There is nothing to celebrate.

"In a telephone interview this morning, President Donald Trump issued a not-so-veiled threat against the new Venezuelan leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, saying that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” referring to Nicolás Maduro, now residing in a New York City jail cell. Trump made clear that he would not stand for what he described as Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention that resulted in Maduro’s capture.
...

“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said yesterday.

Rodríguez rejected that suggestion moments later, declaring that the country is “ready to defend our natural resources” and that the nation’s defense counsel remained prepared to carry out the policies of Maduro, whose return she demanded. “We shall never be a colony ever again,” she said. The prospect of Maduro’s government continuing to resist the U.S. raised the risk of a protracted fight for control of Venezuela that would require increased U.S.-military involvement and even occupation. Trump yesterday signaled his willingness to order a second wave of military actions in Venezuela, should he deem it necessary.

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s

The president told The Atlantic that Delcy Rodríguez needs to comply with U.S. wishes—or else.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[Hexe]

From comments I've seen elsewhere, it seems China was going to rely on supplies of oil from Venezuela to support a planned invasion of Taiwan. Venezuela's supplying oil to China was effectively debt repayment.

Without Venezuelan oil, China might well look to Iran instead but the latest uprising in Iran is pretty widespread and might just topple the Mullahs.

Which means the US just stomped hard on China's toes. China is not happy and will respond.

 

[SouthAussie]

Mr Trump, meanwhile, told The Atlantic magazine that if the interim Venezuelan president "doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro".

Maduro's allies now ruling Venezuela reject US claims they will 'comply'

The Trump administration insists Venezuela's leaders will now comply with American demands after the extraordinary capture of president Nicolás Maduro — but his allies are resisting US pressure.

www.abc.net.au

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Who knows. Trump repeated 6 times yesterday that he will run Venezuela. Today, Rubio is providing a translation of what Trump said, alleging that people misunderstood the Presidential Announcement because they have "Middle East" on the brain.

"Trump’s vow to “run” Venezuela, repeated more than half a dozen times at a news conference in Florida on Saturday, sparked concerns among some Democrats.
...

Rubio dismissed such criticism, saying that Trump’s intent had been misunderstood by a “foreign policy establishment” that was fixated on the Middle East."
...

Rubio’s statements on TV talk shows seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building.

They stood in contrast to Trump’s broad but vague claims that the U.S. would at least temporarily “run” the oil-rich nation — comments that suggested some sort of governing structure under which Caracas would be controlled by Washington."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/maduro-arrives-us-after-capture-9.7033019

It was obvious to many, what was meant by “run Venezuela”. I was surprised by so many hyperbolic comments all over the internet. I think people will calm down as time passes. imo

Bringing Maduro to justice is a good thing. imo

 

[Hexe]

Mr Trump, meanwhile, told The Atlantic magazine that if the interim Venezuelan president "doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro".

Maduro's allies now ruling Venezuela reject US claims they will 'comply'

The Trump administration insists Venezuela's leaders will now comply with American demands after the extraordinary capture of president Nicolás Maduro — but his allies are resisting US pressure.

www.abc.net.au

If I'm not mistaken that's what we call bullying, just on international level.

 

[Sundog]

Which means the US just stomped hard on China's toes. China is not happy and will respond.

Finally, the U.S. is taking seriously the national security challenge for the U.S. that the PRC poses in South America.

 

[SouthAussie]

"Venezuela’s capital remained unusually quiet on Sunday ..... The presidential palace was guarded by armed civilians and members of the military."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/maduro-arrives-us-after-capture-9.7033019

Presumably those armed "civilians" are from guerilla groups, and the loyal military has been fashioned by Maduro supporters.

imo

 

[Ruminations]

It was obvious to many, what was meant by “run Venezuela”. I was surprised by so many hyperbolic comments all over the internet. I think people will calm down as time passes. imo

Bringing Maduro to justice is a good thing. imo

Is it justice? Or is it the act of a rogue and greedy vigilante?

That is my concern. You can't have law and order without the enforcers behaving within the confines of the law.

The invaders did not consult with congress or the international community-and there was no imminent threat to excuse failure to discuss this with congress and the international community.

Thus, this is not bringing someone to justice. It's a criminal act.

To me, people who see this as good are behaving like people who see the murderer of Brian Thompson as a hero. Yes, United Healthcare killed people to make profits. But that does not make shooting him in the back okay.

Yes, Maduro is a corrupt, autocratic leader. But that does not make war acts and kidnapping okay.

MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

I’m Colombian and Venezuelan. I can tell you right now that you’re completely wrong. You can find a few people happy about their own rights being stripped away in any country—doesn’t mean it’s widely supported. This is a massive step back in every way for South American sovereignty.

I was commenting on what I was watching in the media. In the videos I've seen the folks were very happy, and celebratory. Obviously there will be people that disagree with your opinion, as well as mine. That's okay too. I only hope in the long run, this is truly something all Venezuelans can celebrate.

jmo

 

[Sundog]

I was commenting on what I was watching in the media. In the videos I've seen the folks were very happy, and celebratory. Obviously there will be people that disagree with your opinion, as well as mine. That's okay too. I only hope in the long run, this is truly something all Venezuelans can celebrate.

jmo

Yes, there will always be different opinions. My next door neighbors are from Columbia and they are celebrating the removal of Maduro and that he is being held in the U.S. to face the criminal charges against him.

 

[Stunned]

Lawless countries act this way without authority. I never was taught the United States did. That alone makes it a sad day in our history.

 

[SouthAussie]

Hundreds of people came out to protest in large cities coast to coast, including Chicago, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Seattle.

“Whether it’s Saddam Hussein’s Iraq or the Taliban in Afghanistan, Panama, Libya, you name it. Whenever the United States attacks another country like this, it’s the peoples of those countries who suffer the most,”

“We’re creating wars, we’re creating chaos and then simultaneously abducting our neighbors and sending them back to the very countries that we’re destabilizing,”

Protests erupt in US cities over Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela

Hundreds came out to protest in cities coast to coast, even as many in the diaspora celebrated the removal of Maduro

www.theguardian.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Trump has said the US will ‘run’ Venezuela until a ‘safe, proper and judicious transition’ can take place. But that still leaves many options, writes Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University in this article republished from The Conversation.

1. Trump declares victory and walks away
2. A popular uprising topples ‘Chavismo’
3. US escalation to install a friendly opposition
4. US custodianship and managed transition
5. Hybrid conflict and managed instability

5 scenarios for a post-Maduro Venezuela — and what they could signal to the wider region

The above is also linked within this link ...

How Maduro’s capture went down – a military strategist explains what goes into a successful special op

Months of preparation and intelligence gathering went into the mission to seize Venezuela’s president in Caracas.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Hexe]

Finally, the U.S. is taking seriously the national security challenge for the U.S. that the PRC poses in South America.

Maybe they should start with the security challenges China creates IN the US.

 

[Ruminations]

Does the DOJ indictment make this legal?

IMO, if the DOJ treats this kidnapping as if it were a serious arrest, the USA is sliding deeper into a fascistic, totalitarian & international bully hole, reminiscent of early WWII.

This was not a justified act of war as congress and international allies were not involved. But dozens of people died in Venezuela.

How can a judge just treat this like an arrest?

It would be like a judge taking a case seriously when the police entered a house and dragged out the suspect with no warrant or evidence of imminent danger.

MOO

 

[Sundog]

For some perspective -

Full list of dictators the US has ousted throughout history​

MSN

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

IMO, if the DOJ treats this kidnapping as if it were a serious arrest, the USA is sliding deeper into a fascistic, totalitarian & international bully hole, reminiscent of early WWII.

This was not a justified act of war as congress and international allies were not involved. But dozens of people died in Venezuela.

How can a judge just treat this like an arrest?

It would be like a judge taking a case seriously when the police entered a house and dragged out the suspect with no warrant or evidence of imminent danger.

MOO

This was not an act of war. It was an arrest by the DOJ with assistance from the military for safety. imo

 

[SouthAussie]

For some perspective -

Full list of dictators the US has ousted throughout history​

MSN

I think the difference with this "ousting" of Maduro is that those previous operations were (from what I can see) internal coups that the US backed/instigated, or were joint operations with other nations.

This particular "ousting" was more like a kidnapping. As it was not a US arrest on US soil. It should be up to local law enforcement (or maybe Interpol) to perform an arrest in another country, I would think.

imo