What we covered
• Venezuela’s future: The Trump administration is working to establish a pliant interim government in Venezuela following its capture of Nicolás Maduro. Delcy Rodríguez took office as Venezuela’s acting president shortly after she called for “cooperation” with the US — a shift in her previously defiant response to the US attack.
• Trump’s threats: President Donald Trump implied that he could take military action in Colombia, told Mexico to get its “act together” on drugs, and said the US “needs Greenland.”
• Oil companies: US officials have gauged American oil firms’ interest in returning to Venezuela as the president says he’s counting on them to rebuild the industry. But companies are wary of committing to reinvesting, according to sources.
• Strike casualties: Cuba said at least 32 of its nationals died during the US military operation in Venezuela.
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Portraits at Venezuela's seat of power: Rodriguez takes the helm as acting president
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez held her first council meeting in her new role on Sunday after the US military seized President Nicolás Maduro.
Pictures show Rodriguez at the head of the table, surrounded by dozens of senior executives and ministers. She is seated beneath the watchful portraits of Maduro, former President Hugo Chavez and Simon Bolivar, the Venezuelan military officer who secured independence from the Spanish Empire for much of northern South America.
The meeting - the 757th - was called to guarantee peace and national sovereignty after the US took Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores by force.
It follows a Supreme Court ruling on Saturday, which mandated that then Vice President Rodríguez assume the powers and duties of acting president.
Machado is "most trusted leader" in Venezuela, opposition politician says
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is the most trusted leader in the country, her adviser has said, hitting back at US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that she lacks support at home.
The politician living in exile said Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize winner last year, had demonstrated her popularity during previous elections back home. He pointed to her landslide primary victory and her backing of president-elect Edmundo González as proof of her legitimacy.
Machado has won over support from a raft of countries from Latin America, Europe and beyond, according to Smolansky, who alluded to New Zealand, Australia and Korea.
“The support that we’re having, not only from the US, but from many, many governments across the world,” he said.
President Donald Trump has maintained that Machado lacks the support of Venezuelans to lead, telling the New York Post that she would only win an election if she had his support.
Smolansky noted that the US will be a main ally going forward and acknowledged that there may be needs to deal with “people that are completely different from what you think” during the time of transitions. “But the legitimacy is on the side of María Corina Machado,” he said.
He declined to reveal the whereabouts of Machado but said “probably [we] will know soon.”
CNN’s Katrina Samaan contributed reporting.
Delcy Rodríguez now acting president, Venezuela’s presidential office says
Delcy Rodríguez took office late on Sunday as acting president, according to the website of Venezuela’s presidential office, which released pictures of her hosting her first Council of Ministers meeting.
Analysis: Cuba left reeling after citizens killed in Venezuela strikes
For months as the US military prepared to strike Venezuela, many Cubans have asked me a simple, if disconcerting, question: “Are we next?”
Following the devastating attacks on Venezuelan military bases and surgical apprehension of leader Nicolás Maduro by US Special Forces, Cuba seems very much in the Trump administration’s sights.
Maduro’s capture is a seismic reversal of fortune for Cuba’s communist-run government, which for decades has relied on massive aid packages from its oil-rich South American ally for the island’s very survival.
But if anything, the Cubans I have spoken with since the strikes seemed shocked by how easy it seemed for the US military to snatch Maduro without any loss of US personnel.
The Cuban government said 32 of its citizens were killed during the US strikes on Venezuela to capture Maduro.
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Venezuelan Vice President Rodríguez strikes softer tone, calls for "cooperation" with US
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said she has extended an invitation to the United States government to collaborate on an “agenda of cooperation.”
The agenda, she said in a statement on social media, would be aimed at “shared development, within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence.”
Rodríguez said Venezuela will “prioritize” moving toward “balanced and respectful international relations” with the US and the region.
“Venezuela has the right to peace, to development, to sovereignty and to a future,” she added.
Tone shift: The latest comments by Rodríguez are a noticeable shift from earlier statements in which she condemned the “brutal use of force” by the United States to seize Maduro.
Trump says he doesn't think his operation in Venezuela will affect relationship with China's Xi
President Donald Trump said he doesn’t think his operation in Venezuela will affect his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“I have a very good relationship (with Xi),” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday night. “We have the power of tariffs and he has other powers on us.”
Trump said he is planning on traveling to visit Xi in April.
China previously called on the US to “immediately” release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are in custody in the US and also said it was “deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state.”
Venezuela has long been close to China, which is a major purchaser of oil from the heavily sanctioned nation, and the sudden seizure of President Nicolás Maduro by US special forces has sparked widespread discussion inside China.
Some context: Trump last met Xi in South Korea in October during his whirlwind three-day tour to Asia, after which the US President said they came to an agreement on “almost everything.”
According to Trump, overall tariffs on Chinese goods would drop by 10%, due to progress on soybean imports, rare earths and fentanyl issues during the Xi talks.
32 Cubans killed in Venezuela during US operation to seize Maduro, Havana says
The Cuban government said 32 of its citizens were killed during the US strikes on Venezuela to capture the country’s President Nicolás Maduro.
“As a result of the criminal attack perpetrated by the United States government… 32 Cubans lost their lives in combat actions, performing missions on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, at the request of counterparts of the South American country,” the Cuban government said on its official Facebook page Sunday evening, local time.
Havana declared two days of mourning on January 5 and 6 to honor those killed, with funeral arrangements to be announced.
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz Canel condemned the United States’ actions in a post on X Saturday, calling it “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.”
Trump implies military action could come to Colombia as he puts other countries on notice
President Donald Trump implied military action could come to Colombia and said “Mexico has to get their act together,” appearing emboldened after the large-scale strike against Venezuela and capture of its leader.
“We are in the business of having countries around us that are viable and successful and where the oil is allowed to freely come out,” Trump said, adding, “It gets the prices down. That’s good for our country.”
When pressed by a reporter whether those comments meant there could be an “operation” in Colombia in the future, Trump responded, “Sounds good to me.”
He also turned his attention to the US’ southern neighbor, saying, “Mexico has to get their act together, because they’re pouring through Mexico, and we’re going to have to do something,” referring to drugs.
Trump said he repeatedly offered the assistance of US troops to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, but that “she’s a little afraid.”
Meanwhile, he repeated remarks he made yesterday in which he said Cuba would fall on its own.
“I think it’s just going to fall. I don’t think we need any action,” he said Sunday.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Trump insists his base is behind his actions in Venezuela
President Donald Trump insisted Sunday that his supporters are behind his actions in Venezuela.
“The voters that voted for me are thrilled. They said, ‘This is what we voted for,’” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked about concerns about “forever wars.”
Trump again invoked the Monroe Doctrine, or what he calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” as justification for asserting power in the Western Hemisphere.
“This isn’t a country that’s on the other side of the world. This isn’t a country, like we have to travel 24 hours in an airplane. This is Venezuela. It’s in our area, the ‘Donroe Doctrine,’’ Trump said.
Though Republicans have largely praised the mission in Venezuela, outgoing GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — a former Trump ally — has been critical and joked about the president’s comments during his Saturday news conference.
“We are ‘running’ Venezuela now,” the Georgia Republican posted with the facepalm emoji. “America First!!!”
"The case is infallible," Trump says ahead of Maduro's first court appearance
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that “we’re just going to go through a slog of a trial” ahead of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s first court appearance.
Trump’s comments come as Maduro, who will face drug and weapons charges, is slated to appear in court for the first time at noon ET tomorrow in federal court in New York City.
Trump also called US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who is overseeing the case, “highly respected.”
Trump says he needs Rodríguez to provide "total access"
President Donald Trump said in the short term he needs Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela, to provide the United States with “total access.”
“We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One tonight.
Trump reiterated comments he made to The Atlantic earlier today that Rodríguez would face a worse fate than captured President Nicolás Maduro if she doesn’t “do the right thing.” He didn’t elaborate on what that means.
“I don’t have to tell you. I just say that she will face a situation probably worse than Maduro, because, you know, Maduro gave up immediately,” Trump said.
Trump says United States needs Greenland "from the standpoint of national security"
President Donald Trump said Sunday night that the United States needs Greenland “from the standpoint of national security,” comments that come a day after the US’ remarkable ouster of another country’s leader.
Trump added that “The European Union needs us to have it, and they know that.”
Some context: Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to annex Greenland — a huge, resource-rich island in the Atlantic and self-governing territory of Denmark — claiming that this is needed for American security purposes.
Trump told The Atlantic earlier on Sunday he believes acquiring Greenland is necessary for US defense. “We do need Greenland, absolutely,” Trump said. “We need it for defense.”
Both Greenland and Denmark, a NATO ally of the US, are staunchly opposed to the idea.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday firmly rejected talk the United States could take over Greenland.
“The USA has no right to annex one of the three countries in the Kingdom of Denmark,” Frederiksen added.
Frederiksen noted Copenhagen already has a defense agreement with Washington granting the United States extensive access to Greenland.
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.
Trump says injured soldiers are in "good shape"
President Donald Trump said Sunday that calls have been made to service members injured in his administration’s operation in Venezuela and that they remain “in good shape.”
The raid was carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force with the assistance of an FBI unit, and did not lead to any US deaths. However, a handful of troops sustained bullet and shrapnel wounds, a source briefed on the matter told CNN on Saturday.
All injuries sustained by US troops “were minor” and “all those injured are in stable and good condition,” a senior White House official told CNN earlier Sunday.
Trump says the US is "in charge" of Venezuela
President Donald Trump said Sunday night that the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela and “dealing with the people that just got sworn in,” appearing to refer to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is acting president.
“Don’t ask me who’s in charge, because I’ll give you an answer, and it’ll be very controversial,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump said that he has not spoken to Rodríguez personally yet, but others have, adding that he will speak to her “at the right time.”
He also said that the United States did not offer anything to Rodríguez but noted “she’s cooperating.”
Trump rejected the idea that Rodríguez has pushed back against the United States, despite her comments that the operation represents a blatant violation of international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty. She added that the action must be rejected by Venezuelans and condemned by governments across Latin America.
“You hear a different person than I hear,” Trump said.
North Korea “strongly” denounces US military operation
North Korea on Sunday “strongly” denounced the US military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, marking its first official response through the foreign ministry.
North Korea described the operation as “another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the US.”
On Monday morning local time, North Korea claimed it had test-fired hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong Un in attendance, saying the necessity of the test was “exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,” according to a report by state media KCNA.
Pyongyang regularly uses the toppling of Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gaddafi, the former leaders of Iraq and Libya, to justify its nuclear program, both to its own people and the world.
The US military airstrike and capture of Maduro likely sent two strong messages to Kim: confirmation that his regime faces an existential threat and a justification to forge ahead with nuclear weapons.
“The capture of Maduro would have decisively reinforced Kim Jong Un’s belief that giving up nuclear weapons is tantamount to suicide, making denuclearization negotiations on the Korean Peninsula even more difficult,” said Lim Eul-chul, professor of Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
Clothing company’s social media post goes viral showing Maduro in its hoodie: “Welcome to America"
An American clothing company took to social media this weekend, capitalizing on a marketing moment after photos went viral of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wearing a hoodie.
The photo shows Maduro seated and surrounded by Drug Enforcement Administration agents. He gives two thumbs up while handcuffed and wearing the 100% polyester “patriot blue”-colored hoodie.
“Welcome to America,” read the post on X.
Maduro was seen wearing the hoodie while he was escorted by US forces from a plane that landed Saturday night in Newburgh, New York. It is unclear if the hoodie belonged to Maduro or if it was given to him by US forces.
Origin, which is based in Farmington, Maine, sells the RTX Cooling Training Hoodie online for $79.
Peter Roberts, Origin’s CEO, also posted the picture on his Instagram account. It received over 54,000 likes.
Origin USA is a self-proclaimed “American-made” brand, according to its website.
The company has not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment.
Energy companies privately wary of committing to reinvesting in Venezuela
In the weeks leading up to the US military operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro, Trump administration officials engaged US oil companies to gauge interest in returning to Venezuela, but the energy companies were wary to commit to reinvesting in the country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, according to two sources familiar with the engagement.
Trump administration officials have suggested these US oil companies go back into Venezuela if they want to be compensated for their property that was lost when they were pushed out of the country, sources said. Politico first reported on the details of these conversations.
Sources said that the argument has not enticed energy companies to enthusiastically want to return to Venezuela, especially given the major questions about the country’s future stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not personally spoken with US oil executives following Maduro’s ouster, but he said on Sunday that the companies would have a “dramatic interest” in working in Venezuela. Rubio added that administration contact with the companies would likely begin in the near term.
Experts and members of Venezuela’s opposition say the oil industry cannot be revitalized without political stability in the country.
“There needs to be democratic leadership in order for international energy companies to come in,” said a member of the Venezuela opposition.
The country’s political stability is unknown, which will not entice interest from US oil companies that might consider investing in Venezuela.
“Companies will want to express optimism for potential improvement in Venezuelan oil and gas opportunities but will stop short of committing until their investment criteria are met,” Seigle said.
Maduro loyalists rally in Caracas to bolster support for ousted president
One day after Nicolás Maduro was ousted in a US operation, some Venezuelans gathered in Caracas to pledge their unyielding loyalty to the embattled president.
Amid the empty streets and closed businesses, members of the pro-Maduro Venezuelan Bolivarian Militia could be seen carrying firearms and riding motorcycles around the city.
“We are trained and prepared to fight. We have already gone two days without sleep, and we are going to stay in the streets,” militia member Kelvin Maldonado told CNN. “Let (Trump) not be mistaken, he is threatening a second attack on Venezuela, but they will not catch us off guard again.”
The militia was created in 2005 by the late President Hugo Chávez and formally established in 2010. It is part of the country’s conventional military organization, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), and says that it aims to guarantee the “comprehensive defense of the nation.”
Maduro supporters protested in some parts of Caracas after the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) called for a demonstration in the city center to demand the release of the Venezuelan leader and the first lady, Cilia Flores.
The PSUV, as well as the Venezuelan government, has described the capture of Maduro and Flores as “kidnapping.” President Donald Trump’s administration maintains that they were detained to face drug trafficking charges in the US.
Narcizo Torrealba, a Maduro supporter, told CNN he believes that US leaders “want to steal Venezuela’s oil.”
“We are waiting for them here,” Torrealba said. “The slogan is resistance and rebellion.”
Oil futures dip slightly in first trades since US strikes on Venezuela
Oil traders are largely ignoring this weekend’s US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The price of US oil fell very slightly — about a half percentage point – to $57 a barrel when markets opened Sunday. It was investors’ first chance to react to the US strikes, because oil doesn’t trade on weekends.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell 22 cents, or 0.4%, to $60.53 per barrel.
Oil traders yawned, because they don’t believe the action will significantly disrupt crude supplies.
Although Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserve, it produces only about a million barrels per day and exports about 550,000 barrels per day, according to Andy Lipow, president of consulting firm Lipow Oil Associates. That’s less than 1% of the world’s overall production, and it will be easily replaced by other countries’ crude supplies if the US action in Venezuela disrupts oil output.
US stock futures were also steady on Sunday. Dow futures opened flat, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures rose 0.2%.
