Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a federal court in New York City on Monday, following their capture by U.S. forces over the weekend in a military operation in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
Following the operation, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for an unspecified "period of time."
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim leader to lead the country after what the Venezuelan Supreme Court described as Maduro's "kidnapping."
The aircraft believed to be carrying Nicolas Maduro has touched down at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, Saturday afternoon, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Maduro is now expected to take a helicopter to New York City, accompanied by the DEA. He will then head by motorcade to a location in New York City for processing before he's held in jail, sources said.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Luke Barr and Aaron Katersky
Jan 03, 2026, 4:10 PM EST
Venezuelan vice president demands Maduro's return, vows to 'defend great homeland'
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez addressed the nation on state television for the first time since President Nicolas Maduro's removal and demanded his release.
Rodriguez said Maduro was the only president of Venezuela and slammed the U.S. for its early morning strike.
In this Aug. 11, 2025, file photo, Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks during a press conference in Caracas.
Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
"We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses, under false pretexts, and that the masks had fallen and it had only one objective: regime change in Venezuela — and the capture of our energy, mineral, and natural resources," she said in Spanish.
Rodriguez also warned that "the people have mobilized"
"If something were to happen to him, the people must go to the streets, the armed forces must deploy across the country, and all institutions must activate — to defend what we are, as sons and daughters of Simon Bolivar," she said.
Supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gather in the streets of Caracas on Jan. 3, 2026, after US forces captured him.
Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
"We ride to defend the great homeland," she added.
-ABC News' Dada Jovanovic and Victoria Beaule
Jan 03, 2026, 3:38 PM EST
Schumer, Jeffries call for a Gang of 8 briefing
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an immediate "Gang of Eight" briefing on actions in Venezuela, referring to the group of top congressional leaders briefed on national security issues.
They also called for a briefing next week for all members of Congress.
"President Trump’s announced plan to run Venezuela is unacceptable," they said in a joint statement. "It is critical that the Trump administration provide an immediate Gang of Eight briefing, followed by briefings for all Members of the House and Senate early next week."
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Jan 03, 2026, 2:28 PM EST
Top Democrat on Senate Armed Services Committee slams action in Venezuela
Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, sharply rebuked the administration's actions in Venezuela and President Trump's assertion that the United States would run the country in a statement this afternoon.
"Last night, President Trump waged war on a foreign nation without authorization, without notification, and without any explanation to the American people. Whatever comes next, President Trump will own the consequences," Reed said in a statement.
Reed called Trump's assertion that the United States would run Venezuela "ludicrous."
"No serious plan has been presented for how such an extraordinary undertaking would work or what it will cost the American people. History offers no shortage of warnings about the costs – human, strategic, and moral – of assuming we can govern another nation by force," he said.
