Caracas, Venezuela — (BrooklandNews.com) — Jan. 5, 2026 — U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military strike on key Venezuelan military bases and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro late Tuesday night, according to U.S. officials. The operation began at 9:46 p.m. Central time and was completed by 12:01 a.m., officials said. President Trump said the U.S. will now control the country.
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4:23 p.m.
Analysis: Oil companies stay quiet after U.S. strikes in Venezuela
As markets react to the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, one response has been notably missing: comments from the oil industry.
Despite Venezuela holding the largest proven oil reserves in the world, major oil companies have largely stayed silent. No major producer has announced plans to expand operations or return to the country in the immediate aftermath of the strikes.
Where statements have been made, they have been brief and cautious. Most companies have limited their response to employee safety and compliance with U.S. law. Several declined to comment at all.
Analysts say the silence reflects uncertainty, not indifference. Years of sanctions, mismanagement and crumbling infrastructure have left Venezuelas oil industry a shell of what it once was.
Restarting production on a large scale would take billions of dollars and years of work. Until there is clarity on leadership, sanctions and contracts, oil executives appear content to wait.
For now, markets are reacting on speculation. Oil companies themselves are saying little, choosing caution as Venezuela’s future remains unclear.
Read our entire analysis article here.
11:47 a.m.
Maduro, Flores plead not guilty to all charges
Inside a Manhattan courtroom, both Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Maduro said inside the courtroom he was still the president of Venezuela, and was innocent. Likewise, with Flores, who said she was still the First Lady of Venezuela.
The arrangement has now concluded, and both are on their way back to the Brooklyn prison where they will be held.
11:50 p.m.
Oil prices show modest moves after U.S. strikes in Venezuela
Oil prices showed modest and mixed movements on Sunday afternoon. Brent crude fell as much as 1.2% before recovering to trade around $60 to $61 a barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate hovered near $57 a barrel.
Analysts said the limited price reaction reflects Venezuela’s small share of global oil production and ample worldwide supply, despite heightened worldwide tensions. Gold and other assets saw small gains as traders weighed uncertainty in the region, but oil markets remained largely focused on supply and demand fundamentals rather than the Venezuelan operation alone.
The events only triggered a small spike in oil prices, with early trading showing mostly sideways or slightly lower movements as markets digest the news.
11:41 p.m.
Eight lawmakers to be briefed on Maduro capture
Top U.S. lawmakers are set for a classified briefing Monday on the military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Top Trump administration officials attending include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Maduro and his wife were flown to New York over the weekend to face federal charges.
The briefing will include the bipartisan Gang of Eight — Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR), Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT) — along with senior leaders of House and Senate security committees.
The operation by the U.S. has sparked major bipartisan backlash inside Congress. Multiple republicans have questioned the legality of the attacks and why they weren’t notified before it occurred. There is earlier reporting below that talks about the congressional backlash. Scroll down to view.
7:30 p.m.
Trump warns Venezuela leader Rodríguez of ‘big price’
President Trump is warning Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodriguez that she could face serious consequences if she does not cooperate with the United States following the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Asked what he meant by his comments about Rodriguez potentially paying a big price, Trump told reporters, “She will face a situation probably worse than Maduro. Because Maduro gave up immediately.”
Trump did not outline specific actions the U.S. might take. Rodriguez has called the attack “a barbarity” and said Venezuela “will never again be a colony of another empire,” denouncing what she described as an illegal attack on her country’s sovereignty.
Delcy Rodriguez has been a central figure in Venezuela’s government for years, serving as vice president and previously as foreign minister. After Maduro’s capture, the country’s courts and military moved to place her in charge.
7:15 p.m.
‘Cuba is going down’: Trump
After the U.S. attack on Venezuela, President Trump also turned his attention to Cuba, saying the country’s future looks bleak. When asked about the country, Trump said, “I think it’s just going to fall,” arguing that Cuba is already struggling economically and politically and could face further collapse now that its closest ally, Venezuela, has been destabilized.
Cuba’s government strongly condemned the U.S. action, calling the attack on Venezuela a violation of international law and an act of aggression. Cuban leaders accused Washington of threatening regional stability and pledged continued solidarity with Venezuela, warning that the United States is escalating tensions across Latin America.
7:09 p.m.
Trump says he’s ‘all for’ attack on Colombia
In a gaggle on Air Force One as President Trump heads back to Washington, he said, “Colombia is very sick too. run by a sick man who likes to make cocaine and sell it ot the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long.”
When a reporter followed up on whether action by the U.S. on Colombia is in the future, Trump replied, “Sounds good to me.”
Gustavo Petrom, president of Colombia since 2022, has responded to the attack on Venezuela and capture of Maduro, saying in a post on X, “The Government of Colombia rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.” President Petrom has remained active on X, consistently posting about his disagreement with the strike and capture.
Trump added that “he’s [Petrom] not doing it very long. He has a cocaine mills and cocaine factories, he’s not going to be doing it very long. ”
5:12 p.m.
President Trump warns the new leader of Venezuela
President Donald Trump issued a warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, stating, “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”
Rodríguez, who became acting president after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, initially had a “gracious” conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing willingness to cooperate. However, she later declared, “Maduro is the only president,” and called for his release.
Rubio criticized the legitimacy of the current regime, emphasizing the “need for real elections.” Trump hinted at potential U.S. military action and mentioned “rebuilding Venezuela’s infrastructure.” He also reiterated his interest in Greenland for defense purposes, despite Denmark’s ambassador reminding him of “our alliance and our respect for territorial integrity.”
11:55 a.m.
Venezuelans and Americans react to the capture in opposite ways
Venezuelans at home and in exile celebrated the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, holding small demonstrations and waving national flags in support of the U.S. operation. “It’s like a jolt of relief,” said Alejandra Arrieta, a Venezuelan exile in Florida, adding, “There’s fears. There’s excitement… so many years that we’ve been waiting for this,” she told AOL News.
In contrast, reaction in the United States was more divided. Demonstrators in several cities protested the strikes, questioning their legality and warning against deeper U.S. involvement abroad. At a protest in Los Angeles, John Parker of the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice called the operation “a brutal assault and kidnapping,” saying it had little to do with stopping drug trafficking, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Jan. 4, 2026 | 11:49 a.m.
Marco Rubio clarifies U.S. role in Venezuela
Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved Sunday to clarify the U.S. role in Venezuela, saying the United States does not intend to govern the country on a day-to-day basis.
Speaking on multiple Sunday talk shows, Rubio sought to ease concerns that the American-led removal of President Nicolás Maduro could turn into a prolonged foreign intervention or a nation-building effort. Instead, he said the U.S. role would largely be limited to enforcing an existing “oil quarantine.”
Rubio’s comments come after President Donald Trump said a day earlier that the United States would be “running” Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster, remarks that raised questions about whether Washington would temporarily control the oil-rich nation from Caracas.
Rubio said the oil sanctions, which were already in place before Maduro was removed from power, would remain the primary tool for pressuring policy changes in Venezuela, rather than direct U.S. governance.
9:29 p.m.
Congress reacts to U.S. strikes in Venezuela and capture of Maduro
Lawmakers offered sharply divided reactions to the U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, highlighting partisan and constitutional tensions.
Republican leaders largely praised the mission. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) called it “a successful mission to arrest illegitimate Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and bring him to the United States to face justice,” adding that the military “performed an incredibly complex mission with characteristic precision and professionalism.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) described Maduro as a “narco‑terrorist” and said the operation sent a message that the United States “will not tolerate terrorists.”
Some Republicans, however, expressed caution. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said he wants to understand “what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”
Democrats criticized the operation as an overreach of executive power. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) called it “an unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela” and noted that “we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans—but somehow we have unlimited funds for war.” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) welcomed Maduro’s removal but said, “I’ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort.” Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) called the strike “a horrible and disturbing signal … that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the U.S. government.” Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) described the action as “unconstitutional, un-American, and a direct threat to our democracy.”
Arkansas lawmakers also weighed in. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) praised the operation and defended not notifying Congress in advance, saying, “Congress doesn’t need to be notified every time the executive branch is making an arrest. Now, Maduro is going to come to the United States, and he’s going to face justice.” Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) called the mission historic, comparing it to the 1990 U.S. arrest of Manuel Noriega, and said Venezuela “could never start the road back to the great nation it once was until Maduro was out of the way.” Rep. French Hill (R-AR) said removing Maduro ends “years of repression against the Venezuelan people” and allows an indicted narco‑leader “to face justice in the United States.” Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) said the operation makes America “safer” and highlighted the impact of actions in the hemisphere on Arkansans’ daily lives.
With Congress largely out of session when the strikes began, lawmakers from both parties said they expect briefings and called for hearings to examine the legal and strategic rationale behind the unprecedented action.
9:14 p.m.
A look inside the attack
President Donald Trump posted images on his social media platform Truth Social showing a behind-the-scenes look at the attack. Take a look.
9:03 p.m.
U.S. offers few details on how it would govern Venezuela after strikes
The stunning U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has raised as many questions about the future of Venezuela as it has answered. President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday that the United States would “run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” acknowledging that Washington now faces the complex task of governing a nation deeply fractured by years of political turmoil and economic collapse.
Yet the path ahead is unclear. Trump offered few specifics on what “running” Venezuela would mean in practice, beyond assuring that the U.S. would “see to it that someone who has the interests of the Venezuelan people in mind is in charge.” Critics note there is no precedent for an extended U.S. administration of another sovereign state without international mandates or domestic consent, raising questions about legality and legitimacy.
At the same press conference, Trump signaled economic as well as political aims, saying the United States would engage American energy companies to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, vowing to “fix the badly broken oil infrastructure and start making money for the country,” but stopping short of outlining what and how a new leader taking power would look like.
Several nations have condemned the strikes as violations of international law, and even within Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, whom the U.S. says has been named interim president, rejects American control, calling Maduro the “only president” and insisting Venezuelans themselves must decide their leadership.
Analysts have noted that Washington faces challenges in securing broad international legitimacy, preventing rebellion from Venezuelans, and defining the timeline and mechanisms for any transition to Venezuelan self‑rule. Until those questions are answered, the U.S. position in Caracas remains as politically fraught as the raids that brought it.
8:49 p.m.
Airspace quiet inside Venezuela
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order early Saturday barring U.S. airlines and U.S.-registered civil aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace and parts of the surrounding region, citing safety concerns tied to ongoing military activity. In a statement, the FAA said the restriction was necessary due to “potential hazards to civil aviation resulting from military operations and heightened security risks.”
The order took effect immediately and forced multiple commercial flights to divert or cancel routes across the Caribbean, including travel to and from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and nearby international destinations. The FAA said the ban will remain in place “until conditions no longer present a threat to the safety of civilian aircraft,” while officials continue to monitor developments in the region.
Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, posted on X, saying, “When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted. Please work with your airlines directly if your flight has been impacted.”
8:39 p.m.
Maduro is still being transferred to Brooklyn prison
Live pictures show Nicolás Maduro being transferred in a motorcade to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
He was flown into the United States after being captured in Venezuela. U.S. officials have charged the deposed president and his wife, Cilia Flores, with federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking in the Southern District of New York.
The Brooklyn facility, known for housing high-profile detainees like Ghislaine Maxwell, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Sean “Diddy” Combs while they awaited trial, is where Maduro and Flores are expected to be held before their arraignment, likely scheduled for early next week.
8:33 p.m.
White House releases video of Maduro
A new video was released on X by @RapidResponse47 showing a perp walk of Nicolas Maduro. Toward the end of the twelve-second video, Maduro appears to say to the agents escorting him, “goodnight, happy New Year.”