State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

A new head of security for Venezuela’s executive branch has been appointed by Delcy Rodriguez, the new interim president of Venezuela, through a decree published Tuesday, according to state-run media.

Gustavo Enrique Gonzalez Lopez is the new commander of the Presidential Honor Guard charged with protecting the national executive, according to multiple reports.

Gonzalez Lopez was previously the director general of Venezuela’s Intelligence Service and is under sanction in several countries including the U.S., according to the Treasure Department's sanctions list.

He replaces Major General Javier José Marcano Tábata, who took office in October 2024, according to state-run media.

-ABC News' Ismario Rodriguez Perez

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said in an interview on Fox News on Monday night that she is planning on returning to Venezuela "as soon as possible" following the removal of Nicolas Maduro.

Machado, 58, has been living in hiding since the last disputed election in Venezuela against Maduro.

She praised President Donald Trump, saying he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, after she was awarded it last year.

It comes after Trump on Saturday said Machado didn't have the "respect" to govern the country.

"I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect," Trump said.

President Donald Trump spoke with NBC News on Monday, proclaiming that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela despite the United States’ escalatory attacks and capture of Nicolás Maduro

"No, we’re not," Trump told NBC about the state of conflict with Venezuela. "We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country."

"We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote," Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next month. "No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health."

Trump once again threatened more military attacks if Rodríguez stops cooperating with U.S. officials

"We’re prepared to do it," he said. "We anticipated doing it, actually."

He reiterated his belief that he is ultimately in charge, but his White House officials will help oversee America’s involvement in Venezuela.

"It's a group of all. They have all expertise, different expertise," he said, but adding that he is ultimately in charge.

The president also pushed back on reporting that he opposed having Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado run the country due to her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize.

"She should not have won it," he said. "But no, that has nothing to do with my decision."

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

In a statement posted on X early Monday morning, following Trump's comments about him Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned he was willing to take up arms if he needed to.

“Although I have not been a soldier, I know about war and clandestine operations. I swore not to touch another weapon since the 1989 peace agreement, but for the sake of the Homeland, I will take up arms again, even though I don't want to,” Petro said.

Four months ago, Petro made comments directed at Trump on Blu Radio, a station that covers Colombian and world news.

“I’ll be waiting here if you want. I do not accept invasions. I do not accept missiles. I do not accept killings. I accept intelligence,” Petro said at the time.

Editor's note: A prior version of this post incorrectly indicated that Petro's remarks on Blu Radio were from Monday.