Trump says U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela, Maduro jailed in New York after U.S. military operationCBS NewsBy Jennifer Jacobs, Joe Walsh, James LaPorta, Tucker RealsJanuary 5, 2026What to know about the U.S. military attack on Venezuela
- Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and brought to the U.S. They will appear in federal court at noon on Monday, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.
- President Trump said in a Saturday press conference that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily during the transition, and "get the oil flowing." He said Sunday the U.S. was "in charge" of Venezuela.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled on Sunday the U.S. doesn't plan to directly govern Venezuela, but will continue to enforce an "oil quarantine" as part of a plan to influence policy.
But you know that there is a difference between saying we are in control and actually being in control!
Across the pond BBC News reported that,
André Rhoden-Paul,Mallory MoenchJan 4, 2026The US has attacked Venezuela and captured its President Nicolás Maduro, with Donald Trump vowing to "run the country" until there is a "proper" transition of power.Venezuela's left-wing leader and his wife were captured at their compound and flown to the US, as part of a dramatic overnight special forces operation that also saw strikes on military bases.[...]What do we know about the operation?The US military stormed Maduro's home at 02:01 local time (06:01 GMT). Trump said US forces were able to cut the power in the capital, Caracas, but it is unclear how they did this.The US president said Maduro tried to enter a steel-fortified safe room and made it past the door, but was unable to close it.Maduro was captured by the US army's Delta Force, the military's top counter-terrorism unit, after a CIA source in Venezuelan government helped the US track his location.More than 150 aircraft were used to get the extraction team into the capital. Trump added that no US forces were killed and there were "few" injuries.
You know that there is a difference between a surprised raid and when they are on alert,
Who's now in charge in Venezuela?Venezuela's Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, who was part of Maduro's inner circle, is now the interim president after being sworn in by the nation's Supreme Court.On Saturday, she demanded Maduro's release, saying he was the "only president".Despite Trump's claims the US would run Venezuela until "a safe and proper and judicious transition" was possible, Maduro's allies remain in charge.It is unclear exactly how the US plans to run Venezuela or who will be involved, but the US president said it would be a "group" effort.He added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been talking to Rodríguez, who had expressed her willingness to do "whatever the US asks".This is at odds with Rodríguez publicly refusing that Venezuela would become "a colony of an empire".
Meanwhile, with all the drumbeating that Trump did, Venezuela was sitting their twiddling their thumbs!
Venezuela has sworn in 5,600 new soldiers, citing growing “imperialist threats” from the US amid expanded American military activity in the region. Officials say rising enlistment reflects public loyalty to President Maduro as tensions continue to escalate.Anadolu Agency WORLDDecember 08,2025Venezuela announced Sunday that 5,600 new soldiers have been sworn into the National Bolivarian Armed Forces amid rising tensions with the US.Recruits were inducted due to "increasing imperialist threats," local media reported, citing a government statement, pointing to US threats and the deployment of a naval fleet in the Caribbean.The US has expanded military operations across Latin America recently, deploying Marines, warships, fighter jets, bombers, submarines and drones.The statement emphasized that the new soldiers took an oath of loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro and described the armed forces as the backbone of Venezuela's "stability, peace, security and future."Major General Javier Jose Marcano Tabata told state television VTV that military applications have increased."Right now, while imperialism threatens our country illegally, arbitrarily, full of lies and insolently, our people, especially young people, are coming by the thousands to join the National Bolivarian Armed Forces," Marcano said.Official data shows that Venezuela has approximately 200,000 soldiers, 200,000 police officers and millions of reserve militia members.
Does that sound like Venezuela is going to roll over and play dead? Back before the invasion Venezuelanalysis wrote,
Trump’s aggressive actions against Venezuela have prompted a large-scale mobilization of the country’s armed forces. In a statement to mark the 47th anniversary of the Venezuelan Integral Airspace Defense Command (CODAI), Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino reiterated the commitment of the Armed Forces to defend the Caribbean nation’s airspace amid an escalating US military buildup and provocations.The rhetoric has extended beyond state institutions, with the Fuerza Patriotica Alexis Vive issuing its own statement that cast Trump’s remarks as an act of “naked expression of an imperialist policy of war, plunder, and punishment.” The statement invoked Venezuela’s revolutionary tradition of popular resistance, and warned that any escalation would trigger consequences the US could not control.“In the face of this imperialist offensive, the Venezuelan people respond with the war of all the people, not as an abstract slogan but as a concrete practice of defending life, territory, and sovereignty,” read the statement issued from the El Panal Commune in Caracas. “The war of all the people is organized communes, conscious neighborhoods, and territory in resistance. It is civic–military–police unity in the service of the working people.”
I don't know but it sure seems like Trump bit off more than he can chew!
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