Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have arrived in New York after U.S. forces seized them from their home in an extraordinary military operation.
Video shared Saturday night by the White House showed Maduro being perp walked in at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he will be held before his first court appearance – which could be as early as Monday.
In the video, Maduro is seen in a black hoodie, walking down a hallway with a blue carpet labeled “DEA NYD” and wishes one onlooker a “Happy New Year.”
The president was pressed by reporters about who would be running Venezuela during the transition period and offered few details on who exactly would be in charge.
More than 150 aircraft, including several fighter jets, helicopters and bombers, launched from 20 different points after Trump gave the order Friday night, with service members from across the military branches.
Meanwhile, Democrats have accused the president of launching the sweeping military action because of oil, not drugs.
Harris: ‘Trump’s actions ‘do not make America safer’In a post Saturday evening, former vice president Kamala Harris slammed Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela, saying they “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.”
“That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise,” she said. “We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price.
“The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to.
“This is not about drugs or democracy. It is about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman. If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies.”
Harris added: “The President is putting troops at risk, spending billions, destabilizing a region, and offering no legal authority, no exit plan, and no benefit at home.
“America needs leadership whose priorities are lowering costs for working families, enforcing the rule of law, strengthening alliances, and — most importantly — putting the American people first.”
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 03:35
In photos: Anti-war protests take place in Los Angeles
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(REUTERS)Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 03:14
What happens next in Venezuela?President Donald Trump says the United States will “run” Venezuela after a military operation captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife, shocking the world with an overnight attack that marked the culmination of a months-long pressure campaign against the nation’s leader.
The U.S. president said an interim “group” with top administration officials will “run” the country for “a period of time” until the United States determines a “peaceful and just transition” can take place.
Alex Woodward looks at what comes next:
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 03:00
In pictures: Maduro’s perp walk
A still image from video posted by the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account on X.com, which originated from the @PaulDMauro account, shows Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro being walked in custody down a hallway at the offices of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in New York City, U.S., January 3, 2026. (via REUTERS)
A still image from video posted by the White House’s Rapid Response 47 account on X.com, which originated from the @PaulDMauro account, shows Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro being walked in custody down a hallway at the offices of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in New York City, U.S., January 3, 2026. (via REUTERS)Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 02:52
Video shows Maduro’s perp walk in New YorkVideo shared by the White House appeared to show Nicolas Maduro being perp walked in Brooklyn.
The ousted Venezuelan president is seen in a black hoodie, walking down a hallway with a blue carpet labeled “DEA NYD.”
“Good night, Happy New Year,” Maduro says to an onlooker.
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 02:45
Americans protest U.S. military action in VenezuelaU.S. citizens have taken to the streets in major cities across the country in protest of the government’s operations in Venezuela, and the capture of president Nicolas Maduro.
People gathered in Los Angeles, some holding signs that read “No Blood for Oil,” “No U.S. War on Venezuela” and “Hands Off Latin America.”
(REUTERS)“I’m 37 and grew up with the Iraq wars,” Katrina Denny, who was among protesters in Chicago, told The New York Times.
“This morning, I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re doing it again.’”
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 02:30
Maduro met by protesters in BrooklynAround 100 demonstrators were gathered to greet Nicolas Maduro as he arrived with federal agents to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn Saturday night.
Jaky Coronado, who was among the crowd, told The New York Times she had arrived in the United States more than a year ago and had waited for hours to see the ousted Venezuelan president.
“He must pay for all the crimes against humanity that he has committed against the Venezuelan people,” she said, per The Times.
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 02:11
Maduro arrives at Brooklyn detention center, reportNicolas Maduro has been transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he will be held.
A law enforcement source with knowledge of the ousted Venzuelan president’s movements confirmed to The New York Times that he had arrived Saturday evening.
Mike Bedigan4 January 2026 02:02
Major US airlines cancel hundreds of flights amid military operationMajor U.S. airlines on Saturday canceled hundreds of flights following a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
American Airlines, Delta, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways began cancelling flights early on Saturday morning in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration airspace closures in the Caribbean.
Travel to and from Puerto Rico was impacted as flights at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), the busiest hub in the Caribbean, were canceled.
The FAA closed the airspace to U.S. carriers “due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity,” the agency said in a notice to airmen.
The closure does not apply to non-U.S. airlines and operators, according to the notice.
The FAA declined to comment further.
Passengers wait at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport as all flights are cancelled following US military action in Venezuela (AFP via Getty Images)Reuters4 January 2026 01:40
Schumer says Democrats won’t threaten government shutdown over VenezuelaSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press call Saturday criticizing the Trump administration’s strike and takeover of Venezuela.
The Democratic leader said that the Senate will hold a vote to invoke the War Powers Act, which would require the president to notify Congress 48 hours of deploying troops and limit deployments to 60 days.
But Schumer said he would not threaten a government shutdown in response to a question from The Independent.
The government runs out of money at the end of the month, which could trigger a shutdown if Congress does not pass a stopgap bill.
“January 30 is days away,” he told The Independent. “Let’s first get all the facts out. That’s what we’re endeavoring to do right now, and our first ability to do that will be the War Powers Act of this week.”
In addition, Schumer said that he wanted to hold Republicans accountable.
“And again, we are we are saying to the Republicans, this is your responsibility. President Trump is a member of your party. You’ve gone along with him over and over again. This is one time you got to resist him. It’s too serious.”
Schumer said he had not heard any Republicans publicly criticizing Trump. “As I said, we have heard from some Republicans in private conversations, chairs talking to their ranking members, that they have some they they are troubled by this, but not much more than that.”
Eric Garcia4 January 2026 01:20
