Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to say who is running Venezuela after its president, Nicolas Maduro, was captured by U.S. forces in an extraordinary military operation.
President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. would be running the South American country in the meantime at a Saturday press conference, but Rubio deflected questions on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday morning.
When asked who is running the country, Rubio did not give a clear answer.
“People keep fixating on that,” he said. “Here's the bottom line on it... we expect to see changes in Venezuela, changes of all kinds long term, short term.”
More than 150 aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters and bombers, were involved in the attack on Caracas after Trump gave the order Friday night. Democrats have accused the president of launching the sweeping military action because of oil, not drugs.
Maduro and his wife arrived in New York Saturday night after being indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges.
The ousted Venezuelan leader will be held at Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of his first court appearance, which could be as early as Monday.
With reporting from Rosali Hernandez in Caracas
Read MoreThe Venezuelans are very clear about who their president is – and it’s not Trump
Why has Trump attacked Venezuela? What we know so far as Maduro captured
‘Captured’ Maduro walks DEA hallway: Official White House account releases video
Key Points
- Maduro in New York jail ahead of court appearance
- What happens next in Venezuela?
- U.S. lifts Caribbean airspace curbs after attack on Venezuela
- Inside the notorious New York jail where Nicolas Maduro is currently being held
- Americans protest U.S. military action in Venezuela
US military tried to extract Maduro on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: report
16:45 , Isabel KeaneThe United States tried several times last year to extradite Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – including on Christmas and New Year’s Day – before successfully carrying out the strike on Saturday, according to a report.
The two earlier attempts to capture Maduro, who has ruled the country for 13 years, were hampered by weather, Trump administration officials and others familiar with the operation told the Wall Street Journal.
US tried to extract Maduro on Christmas and New Year’s Day, report says
Holidaymakers stranded as three Caribbean-bound planes turned around mid-flight after Venezuela strikes
16:30 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Three Tui aircraft bound for Barbados turned around in mid-Atlantic and returned to their UK starting points after air safety warnings in the wake of the US military action in Venezuela.
Boeing 787 aircraft from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester turned back on Saturday afternoon after spending around four hours in the air. Studying data from Flightradar24, it appears an instruction was given to turn back at 1.45pm GMT. All three aircraft made a 180-degree turn minutes later.
The decision was taken after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency “Notam” (Notice to Air Missions) instructing aircraft to avoid parts of the Caribbean. US transportation secretary Sean Duffy posted on X: “Early this morning in support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public.
The decision left almost 1,000 Tui holidaymakers stranded in Barbados waiting to return after Christmas and New Year holidays.
Watch: Rubio asked on why the US needs to take over Venezuela's oil industry
16:00 , Rhian LubinMarco Rubio was asked by NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, “Why does the U.S. need to take over the Venezuelan oil industry?”
Rubio said that the U.S. does not need to, and that there is “plenty of oil in the United States.”
Critics have said that the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela is about oil, not drugs.
WELKER: If the purpose of the operation was to capture Maduro and bring him to justice, why does the US need to take over the Venezuela oil industry?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 4, 2026
MARCO RUBIO: Well, we don't *need* to. We have plenty of oil in the United States. We want to see the oil proceeds of the country… pic.twitter.com/S2wYycl801
North Korea condemns US as 'rogue and brutal' for strikes on Venezuela
15:40 , ReutersNorth Korea has denounced the U.S. strikes on Venezuela as “the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty,” state news agency KCNA said on Sunday.
“The incident is another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the United States,” KCNA said, citing a spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry.
Pyongyang said the current situation in Venezuela “caused a catastrophic consequence to ensuring the identity of the regional and international relations structure.”
The statement came after North Korea launched ballistic missiles earlier on Sunday, the day the leader of South Korea begins a state visit to China, Pyongyang's chief ally.
Rubio: 'The Cuban government is a huge problem'
15:25 , Rhian LubinMarco Rubio said that the Cuban government is “a huge problem” and is in “a lot of trouble” when asked whether it was the Trump administration’s next target on NBC News’ Meet the Press.
“I'm not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard,” he added. “But I don't think it's any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime.”
'We don't have U.S. forces on the ground' - Rubio
15:15 , Rhian LubinMarco Rubio appeared to try to turn down the temperature after claiming, “We don’t have U.S. forces on the ground.”
President Donald Trump said Saturday that “we’re not afraid of boots on the ground” when reporters asked him at a press conference.
Rubio said on NBC’s Meet the Press that U.S. forces were in Venezuela “for about two hours when they went to capture Maduro.”
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a force of 15,000 troops is on land in nearby countries “at a high state of readiness” if necessary.
Rubio says the U.S. will continue to strike suspected 'narco' vessels
14:56 , Rhian LubinSecretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. would continue to target alleged drug boats and seize oil tankers to keep the pressure on Venezuela.
The Trump administration has been carrying out strikes on the boats since September, and has killed more than 100 people in the action.
“We will continue to target drug boats if they try to run towards the United States,” Rubio said on Meet the Press.
“We will continue to seize the boats that are sanctioned with court orders. We will continue to do that, and potentially other things, until the things we need to see addressed are addressed.”
Rubio asked who is running Venezuela
14:27 , Athena StavrouOn Saturday, Donald Trump said the US would be “running Venezuela” after capturing president Maduro.
However, it seems to not be as clear cut as this.
When asked who is running Venezuela, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not give a clear answer, describing it as “running policy”, and said: "People keep fixating on that. . Here's the bottom line on it... we expect to see changes in Venezuela, changes of all kinds long term, short term.
“We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction, because not only do we think it's good for the people of Venezuela, it's in our national interest.”
The Independent View: Trump’s Maduro gamble must be condemned – and turned to Venezuela’s advantage
14:23 , Athena Stavrou Trump’s Maduro gamble must be condemned – and turned to Venezuela’s advantage
Rubio: 'There is not a war against Venezuela'
14:16 , Athena StavrouUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted the US is not at war against Venezuela after the attack on the South American country.
There’s not a war. We are at war against drug trafficking organisation, not a war against Venezuela,” he told NBC news.
Spain 'strongly condemns' violation of international law in Venezuela
14:02 , Athena StavrouSpain has condemned what it called a violation of international law in Venezuela after a US attack.
In a letter to members of his Socialist Party on Sunday, prime minister Pedro Sanchez went further than his remarks on Saturday in which he said he would not recognise the intervention.
The Socialists' hard-left coalition partner Sumar had urged the government to condemn the US strikes that resulted in the Venezuelan president's capture, with party sources describing it as an act of imperialist piracy against a member state of the United Nations.
Sanchez's letter described the "violation of international law in Venezuela, an act that we strongly condemn".
Foreign couple in Caracas describe being jolted awake by airstrikes – and their attempts to escape
13:45 , Athena StavrouAn Australian lawyer and his wife were asleep in Caracas when airstrikes shattered the city before dawn, upending what had been a quiet family holiday.
Alexander, whose name has been changed for security reasons, woke with his Mexican-Venezuelan wife at 2am on Saturday to the roar of jets overhead.
Moments later came what he described as a “dull, very profound” blast as the nearby airport erupted in flames less than two kilometers away.
“It was very obvious what was happening,” Alexander said, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
As lights flicked on across neighboring buildings and bar patrons spilled into the street, videos of explosions spread on WhatsApp. Other districts reported power and water outages.
US oil companies to 'spend billions' in Venezuela
13:22 , Athena StavrouThere have been vast amounts of speculation that oil was a key factor in Donald Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela.
The South American country has the world's largest estimated oil reserves.
Speaking on Saturday, the US president said: “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
Watch: Handcuffed Venezuela president Maduro lands in New York
13:00 , Athena Stavrou'It feels like an abandoned city': Venezuelans after US attack
12:35 , Athena StavrouIn Venezuela on Sunday, people were anxiously discussing what would come next and some were stocking up on food and medicines, though streets were quieter than usual.
"I've just taken the dog out and it feels like an abandoned city, people are shut inside," said Alejandra Palencia, 35, a psychologist in the city of Maracay.
"There is fear and uncertainty."
Elsewhere, cars were moving, bakeries and coffee shops were open, and some people were out jogging and cycling as if it was a normal weekend.
Pictured: Protests in the US after Venezuela operation
12:06 , Athena Stavrou Reform UK Deputy Leader says ‘a serious enemy of the West has been removed'
11:48 , Athena StavrouReform UK’s deputy leader has welcomed the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
Richard Tice said: “It’s good news that a serious enemy of the West, Maduro, has been removed.
He was illegitimate. The UK, the US, the EU have said that for many, many years.”He said the “people who will be worried” would be Putin and the Chinese communist regime “because Maduro was supplying significant oil supplies and was a threat to US interests”.
He told Times Radio: “Lawyers will argue, of course, about UN Article 51. The reality is that an enemy of the West has been removed. The challenge now, and I think you were touching on it earlier, is to ensure that you don't end up with a vacuum that slides into what happened in Iraq and Libya. That's the key challenge.”
Pope Leo: Venezuela must remain an independent country
11:23 , Athena StavrouPope Leo has said Venezuela must remain an independent country, as he addresses the US invasion of the South Americana country.
Leo, who is the first American pope, said the good of Venezuelan people “must prevail” over all other considerations.
The legal questions raised by Trump’s Venezuela plan
11:13 , Athena StavrouThe Trump administration's recent actions in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and assertions it will "run" the country, are prompting stark new questions regarding the legality of US operations and their future trajectory in the South American nation.
Legal experts have described this as an unprecedented escalation, surpassing even the most aggressive historical American interventions against autocratic governments in places like Panama and Iraq.
This extraordinary development followed a surprise US incursion that reportedly rocked the Venezuelan capital with overnight explosions:
The legal questions raised by Trump’s Venezuela plan
North Korea condemns US strikes on Venezuela as 'serious encroachment of sovereignty'
10:53 , Athena StavrouNorth Korea has denounced the US strikes on Venezuela as "the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty”.
"The incident is another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the United States," the state new agency reported said, citing a spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry.
The statement came after North Korea launched ballistic missiles earlier on Sunday, the day the leader of South Korea begins a state visit to China, Pyongyang's chief ally.
Pyongyang said the current situation in Venezuela "caused a catastrophic consequence to ensuring the identity of the regional and international relations structure."
Watch: Maduro says 'Happy New Year' as he arrives in US
10:39 , Athena StavrouCaptured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wished onlookers a “Happy New Year” as he arrived in the US after being captured.
In a video shared on Saturday night by the White House, Maduro said “Happy New Year” as he was led down a hallway by law enforcement in handcuffs.
UK government 'not clear' on Trumps plans for Venezuela
10:18 , Athena StavrouThe UK Government is “not entirely clear” on what Donald Trump meant when he said the US would run Venezuela, Darren Jones said.
It was put to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that the action sounded like colonialism. Asked whether Britain is in favour of colonialism, he told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “We’re not in favour of colonialism and we’re not entirely clear yet what President Trump meant by those comments.”
He added: “It’s for the Americans now and for Venezuela to set out what happens in the coming days.”
It is not for a “third country” to decide the future of Venezuela’s government, Mr Jones said.
He also declined to say whether US action broke international law, insisting the matter is for “international courts”.
He said: “It’s for the Americans to set out the legal basis for their operations.
“I don’t think the Americans have done that yet. I’m sure they will do in due course.”
'We learned everything about him': Inside the meticulously planned operation to capture Maduro
10:02 , Athena StavrouUS general Dan Caine has detailed how the military spent months learning everything about Maduro to ensure his successful capture.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said US forces rehearsed Operation "Absolute Resolve” for months.
He said they learnt everything about Maduro — where he was and what he ate, as well as details of his pets and his clothes.
Caine said the mission was "meticulously planned" and was "the culmination of months of planning and rehearsals."
"We think we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse again and again, not to get it right, but to ensure that we cannot get it wrong. Our jobs are to integrate combat power so when the order comes, we can deliver overwhelming force at the time and the place of our choosing against any foe anywhere in the world," he said.
How have Venezuelans responded to Maduro's capture
09:40 , Athena StavrouIn the hours after Maduro’s capture, some people took to the streets to protest the US operation, while others celebrated it.
At a protest in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, Mayor Carmen Melïndez joined a crowd demanding Maduro's return.
"Maduro, hold on, the people are rising up!" the crowd chanted. "We are here, Nicolas Maduro. If you can hear us, we are here!"
In other parts of the city, the streets were empty hours after the attack.
"How do I feel? Scared, like everyone," said Caracas resident Noris Prada, who sat on an empty avenue looking at his phone. "Venezuelans woke up scared. Many families couldn't sleep."
In Doral, Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States, people wrapped themselves in Venezuelan flags, ate fried snacks and cheered as music played. At one point, the crowd chanted "Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”
Similar scenes were seen in other countries including Colombia and Argentina.
'Captured' Maduro walks DEA hallway: Official White House account releases video
09:27 , Athena StavrouClose ally of Starmer refuses to say if he thinks Trump's capture of Maduro was legal
08:56 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Darren Jones, the cabinet office minister and a close ally of Starmer, has refused to say if he thinks Trump's capture of Maduro was legal.
He told Sky News it was “for international courts to make judgements on international law” and it was “for the Americans” to set out the legal basis for their action.
He also said it was important that the Venezuelan people decide their next President.
UN to discuss US operation on Monday
08:41 , Athena StavrouIn New York, the UN Security Council, acting on an emergency request from Colombia, is planning to hold a meeting on US operations in Venezuela on Monday morning.
That was according to a council diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the meeting which has not yet been made public.
It comes amid mass criticism of the operation from around the world.
How the capture of Nicolas Maduro will upend the global order
08:26 , Athena StavrouThe flagrant actions of the United States will incentivise power grabs by autocrats the world over – and Cuba may be the next country to be transformed by America’s exploding sphere of influence, says Mary Dejevsky:
How the capture of Nicolas Maduro will upend the global order
US oil companies to 'spend billions' in Venezuela
07:46 , Athena StavrouThere have been vast amounts of speculation that oil was a key factor in Donald Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela.
The South American country has the world's largest estimated oil reserves.
Speaking on Saturday, the US president said: “We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
When will Maduro appear in court?
07:32 , Athena StavrouVenezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has arrived at a New York detention centre to face U.S. criminal charges after being captured by American forces.
He will stay at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until he appears in court.
This could happen as soon as Monday, reports suggest.
Who is Delcy Rodríguez – the interim president of Venezuela
07:19 , Namita SinghDelcy Rodríguez was installed as Venezuela’s acting president on Saturday after the Supreme Court said she would take over following the detention of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
The Constitutional Chamber ordered that the vice president assume “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation”.
It said judges would meet to “determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic”.
Ms Rodríguez, who also oversees finance and oil policy, moved quickly into the role. Hours after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured, she chaired the National Defence Council and called for their “immediate release”, denouncing the US operation as illegal.
“We call on the peoples of the great homeland to remain united, because what was done to Venezuela can be done to anyone. That brutal use of force to bend the will of the people can be carried out against any country,” she said on state television.
Born in Caracas, the 56-year-old lawyer has been a central figure in chavismo for more than two decades. A close ally of Mr Maduro, she has served as communications minister, foreign minister, head of the Constituent Assembly and vice president.
The opposition rejects Mr Maduro’s legitimacy after the disputed 2024 election, backing former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia instead.
China says U.S. should immediately release Venezuela’s Maduro
07:09 , Namita SinghChina’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the United States should immediately release Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and resolve the situation in Venezuela through dialogue and negotiation.
In a statement on its website, the ministry also said the United States should ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, adding that their deportation violated international law and norms.
U.K. will ‘shed no tears' over Maduro
06:57 , Namita SinghThe U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted his Labour administration will "shed no tears" over the end of Maduro's regime and said Britain would discuss the "evolving situation" with American counterparts over the coming days.
The operation followed months of pressure from Washington on the country, which Mr Trump said America would run until a "safe, proper and judicious transition" could take place.
In a statement on Sunday evening, Sir Keir said: "The U.K. has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela.
"We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime."I reiterated my support for international law this morning.
“The U.K. government will discuss the evolving situation with U.S. counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council has been scheduled for Monday.
Sir Keir earlier refused to be drawn on whether the military action broke international law, saying he wanted to talk to Trump, with whom he had not spoken on Saturday morning, and allies to "establish the facts".
Around 500 U.K. nationals are in Venezuela and work is ongoing to "safeguard" them, the Prime Minister said, while the Foreign Office advised against all travel to the country.
The Prime Minister faced calls from Labour backbenchers, as well as opposition politicians, to condemn the military action and take a tougher stance on the U.S. president.
Venezuelan leader in New York to face charges
06:47 , Namita SinghVenezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has arrived at a New York detention center to face U.S. criminal charges after being captured by American forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the country's leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been flown out of Caracas and indicted on "narco-terrorism" charges following strikes early Saturday.
Speaking to reporters hours after Maduro's capture, Trump revealed his plans to exploit the leadership vacuum to "fix" the country's oil infrastructure and sell "large amounts" of the fuel to other countries.
In a post on his Truth Social platform shortly before addressing the media, he posted an image which appeared to show the autocratic leader blindfolded aboard the U.S. warship Iwo Jima and headed to New York.
The attack saw explosions ring out and low-flying aircraft sweep through the Venezuelan capital early on Saturday.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that Maduro had been indicted on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and cocaine importation conspiracy.
Foreign couple in Caracas describe being jolted awake by airstrikes – and their attempts to escape
06:35 , Namita SinghAn Australian lawyer and his wife were asleep in Caracas when airstrikes shattered the city before dawn, upending what had been a quiet family holiday.
Alexander, whose name has been changed for security reasons, woke with his Mexican-Venezuelan wife at 2am on Saturday to the roar of jets overhead.
Moments later came what he described as a “dull, very profound” blast as the nearby airport erupted in flames less than two kilometers away.
“It was very obvious what was happening,” Alexander said, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
As lights flicked on across neighboring buildings and bar patrons spilled into the street, videos of explosions spread on WhatsApp. Other districts reported power and water outages.
With local media state-controlled, Alexander turned to foreign outlets. “There’s a vacuum of information, largely because all the media that is available in the country is state-run,” he said. The New York Times later cited a senior official saying at least 40 soldiers and civilians were killed.T
he attack contrasted sharply with the festive scenes the couple encountered days earlier, when shops were busy and travel routine. Living in New York, they had dismissed Donald Trump’s threats of military action as rhetoric.
By Sunday, Caracas was subdued.
“It’s a loud city, Venezuelans are a loud people, but it’s noticeably quiet,” he said. Long supermarket lines formed as residents stockpiled supplies, while fuel queues stretched dozens of cars. Flights were suspended, derailing the couple’s planned route via Curaçao.
An Instagram post from the airport showed Maduro embracing his wife, captioned: “The empire kidnapped them. We want them back!”
Cilia Flores: Who is Venezuela's powerful first lady?
06:13 , Namita SinghWhen US authorities announced the capture and indictment of Nicolas Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores's name appeared prominently alongside his, surprising some outside Venezuela.
Inside the country, however, her reach has been widely recognized for years.
Although formally known as the first lady, Flores has been far more than a ceremonial spouse. Journalists, analysts, and former officials describe her as a central force in shaping Venezuela’s institutions, particularly the courts, while helping entrench loyalists – many of them relatives – throughout the state.
Over time, members of her family accumulated substantial wealth that observers say cannot be explained by official salaries alone.
Born into a lower middle-class family, Flores trained as a lawyer and began her political ascent in the 1990s. Her rise coincided with the emergence of Hugo Chávez, the leftist firebrand who later became president. She developed a close relationship with Chávez during his imprisonment following a failed coup attempt in 1992, and went on to become a key figure within his political movement, chavismo.
Her influence grew steadily as she climbed through the ranks of Venezuela’s legislature, eventually becoming one of its most powerful figures. By the late 1990s, she and Maduro were both serving as lawmakers and had begun a personal and political partnership that would shape the country’s future.
They married in 2013, the same year Maduro assumed the presidency following Chávez’s death. At the time, many within the ruling movement viewed Flores as indispensable to securing Maduro’s authority, given her deep connections inside state institutions and her ability to mobilize loyal political networks.
Within chavismo, her reputation is formidable. Roberto Deniz, a Venezuelan investigative journalist who has closely examined the Flores family, said she inspires both loyalty and apprehension.
“She is a fundamental figure in corruption in Venezuela – absolutely fundamental – and especially in the structure of power,” Zair Mundaray, a former senior prosecutor who served under both Chávez and Maduro, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
“Many people consider her far more astute and shrewd than Maduro himself.”
Non-U.S. airlines also cancel flights
05:41 , Namita SinghSeveral European and South American airlines also canceled flights.
The curbs would be lifted "when appropriate," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had said in a post on X.
American military activity near Venezuela led to a near mid-air crash in November between a JetBlue airliner and a U.S. aerial refueling tanker, media said.
Several carriers waived change fees and fare differences for customers affected by the closures if they postponed travel.
Saturday's U.S. military operation captured Venezuela's long-serving President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump said, promising to put the country under American control for now, by deploying U.S. forces if necessary.
Air Canada said its Caribbean and South American operations were normal, under guidance from Transport Canada, and it was monitoring the situation, adding, "We will update as required if the situation changes.
"Commercial air traffic over Venezuelan airspace appeared to stop after Saturday's attack, records on tracker FlightRadar24 showed.
U.S. lifts Caribbean airspace curbs after attack on Venezuela
05:38 , Namita SinghThe United States has advised airlines its Caribbean airspace curbs will expire at midnight ET and flights could resume as schedules are quickly updated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday.
The comments on X followed the cancelation of hundreds of flights by major airlines after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.
Key carriers United Airlines and Delta were readying to resume flights to the Caribbean by Sunday.
In a statement, United said a flight to San Juan in Puerto Rico was planned for Saturday night, adding, "We expect to operate most scheduled flights to the region for Sunday".
Delta Air Lines expects to fly its normal Carribean schedule on Sunday, it said in a statement, but adjusted to reposition resources.
Even after the removal of curbs, however, airlines will need several day to restore normal operations, said airline analyst Robert Mann, adding, "They have a day's worth of passengers basically," already stranded in the Caribbean.
American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways began cancelling flights, in line with Federal Aviation Administration airspace closures in the Caribbean.JetBlue canceled 215 flights, an airline spokesperson said.
In a notice to airmen, the FAA said it closed the airspace to U.S. carriers "due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity."In other security notices for non-U.S. air carriers, the agency warned them away from Venezuelan airspace.
It cautioned British operators against "potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry and heightened military activity" if flying within 100 miles (160 km) of Venezuelan airspace.
The FAA declined further comment.
Mamdani says he called Trump to personally object to Venezuela attack and capture of Maduro
05:20 , Mike BediganZohran Mamdani called Donald Trump personally to object to the U.S. military action in Venezuela, saying that the operations in South America would “directly impact New Yorkers.”
“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,” Mamdani said at a press conference Saturday.
Mamdani says he called Trump to personally object to Venezuela attack
Maduro is out but his top allies still hold power in Venezuela
05:17 , Namita SinghThe U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro – praised by President Donald Trump as stunning and powerful – leaves behind uncertainty about who is running the oil-rich country.
Trump said on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, part of the powerful cabal at the top of the country's government, had been sworn in after Maduro's arrest and that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leading to speculation that she would take the reins.
Under Venezuela's constitution, Rodriguez becomes acting president in Maduro's absence and the country's top court ordered her to assume the role late on Saturday night.
But shortly after Trump's remarks, Rodriguez appeared on state television flanked by her brother, the head of the national assembly Jorge Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and said that Maduro remained Venezuela's only president.
The joint appearance indicated the group that shared power with Maduro is staying united – for now.
Trump publicly closed the door Saturday on working with opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, widely seen as Maduro's most credible opponent, saying she doesn't have support inside the country.
After Machado was barred from running in Venezuela's 2024 elections, international observers say her stand-in candidate won the vote in a landslide, despite Maduro's government claiming victory.
White House posts Maduro arrest clip with... interesting choice of music
05:01 , Mike BediganThe White House has posted a video compilation clip following its capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, with a bizarre choice of soundtrack – Hypnotize by the Notorious B.I.G.
Watch it below:
If you don’t know, now you know 🦅 pic.twitter.com/XrIps1OzY4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
Inside the notorious New York jail where Nicolas Maduro is currently being held
04:45 , Mike BediganDeadly stabbings, “barbaric” living conditions and maggots in the food: this is the state of the notorious New York City prison that ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro calls home.
Maduro was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night, just hours after the U.S. military attack on his country, and will stay there until he faces trial on several charges, including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy.
Read more here:
Inside jail where Nicolas Maduro is being held, once home to Ghislaine Maxwell
Tony Dokoupil’s CBS run starts two days early after Venezuela strikes
04:33 , Mike BediganTony Dokoupil has had a busy first day as host of CBS Evening News, after the network brought his start date forward two days in response to the U.S. military action in Venezuela.
"Good evening, great to be with you tonight, two days earlier than expected with that major breaking news – news that could shape the year, maybe even the century,” Dokoupil said at the top of the show.
Read more here:
Tony Dokoupil’s CBS run starts tonight two days early after Venezuela strikes
Democrats condemn Trump's action in Venezuela
04:20 , Mike BediganIt’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 3, 2026
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from Epstein + skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 3, 2026
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this…
The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation. He said that the U.S. will “run the country” until a proper transition can take place and went right…
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) January 3, 2026
President Trump does not have the constitutional authority to attack another country.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 3, 2026
When 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, he should focus on the crises at home, end his illegal military adventurism and stop trying to “run” Venezuela for Big Oil.
Flight restrictions in Caribbean to expire at midnight
04:12 , Mike BediganIn an update Saturday night, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said that restrictions around the Caribbean airspace would be expiring at 12:00am ET, allowing flights to resume.
“Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly. Please continue to work with your airline if your flight was affected by the restrictions,” Duffy wrote on X.
Early this morning in support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 3, 2026
When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted. Please work with your airlines directly if your…