What we covered here
• On the ground: As Venezuelans attempt to regain a semblance of normalcy after the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro, authorities are cracking down on any show of support for the leader’s removal. Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.
• Venezuela to send oil to US: President Donald Trump said that Venezuela’s interim government will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US.
• Focus on Greenland: Meanwhile, the White House said it is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, noting that using the US military is not off the table. Trump had said the US needs the Danish territory, which spurred a statement of support for Denmark from European leaders.
Our live coverage has ended for the day. Get the latest here.
Why Trump’s Greenland play makes no national security sense
CNN’s Jim Sciutto breaks down two treaties that protect Greenland as President Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire the Danish territory.
CNN's Jim Sciutto breaks down two treaties that protect Greenland as President Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire the island, according to the White House, and making clear that using the US military is not off the table.
In a 1916 declaration, the US said it would not object to Denmark's rule over Greenland
A historic document from more than 100 years ago may come under the spotlight as US President Donald Trump renews his interest in acquiring Greenland over the furious objections of the Danish government and its European allies.
It’s called the Lansing Declaration.
On August 4, 1916, US Secretary of State Robert Lansing under President Woodrow Wilson issued the declaration notifying Denmark that the US would not object to the Danish government establishing control over the entire territory of Greenland.
This declaration was part of a larger agreement formalizing Denmark selling Danish West Indies to the United States. Today, that territory is called US Virgin Islands.
You can also see the original document in the Danish National Archives.
In an interview yesterday with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Danish lawmaker and European Parliament member Anders Vistisen blasted the US president over his remarks about Greenland, describing them as “very frankly stupid” while noting that the United States had affirmed Danish ownership.
He said that if the Trump administration had any doubts, it could look back over its own records to see that United States said that “the territory of Greenland belongs to the kingdom of Denmark. “
House Democrats race to put Republicans on record on Venezuela — but face key obstacle
House Democrats are working behind scenes to get a privileged war powers resolution on Venezuela on the floor this week but are grappling with a problem that could limit GOP support, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.
Democrats have a war powers resolution that is ready for the floor — meaning it has ripened under procedural rules. But the author is Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a liberal member who has alienated Republicans and even some in her own party.
Democrats privately worry that she would prevent those members from signing onto the measure, those sources said. There are also some potential issues with the underlying bill, one of the sources said.
Top Democrats are meeting this evening to figure out a path forward.
Democrats have drafted a flurry of war powers measures, including on Mexico and Cuba. One is also in the works on Greenland, the source said. But the measures must comply with strict rules to make it to the floor.
Johnson and Scalise sidestep questions about White House threats to take over Greenland
House Speaker Mike Johnson sidestepped questions about whether the US should use the military to attempt acquiring Greenland but said the country is viewed as “strategic positioning.”
“I’m going to go by what the president says, and it didn’t come up in his meeting with us today, and he and I haven’t had a discussion about it, so I don’t know. I think Greenland is viewed by a lot of people as something that would be a strategic positioning for the US. I don’t know how it develops from there,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday night.
When asked about reports that Secretary Marco Rubio told lawmakers President Donald Trump was using rhetoric and wants to buy Greenland, Johnson said Rubio “may have said it in jest.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also dodged multiple questions about the president’s ambitions for Greenland, telling CNN, “I haven’t talked to the president about Greenland. We talked briefly this morning before he talked to the full membership about Venezuela.”
When asked another time, Scalise said “the president didn’t bring that up today. I know he’s appointed Governor Landry as an emissary, but ultimately, what we talked about today is what we’re going to keep doing to deliver wins for the American people, lowering costs.”
Scalise said Trump’s interest in Greenland is related to the importance of critical minerals.
“I mean, the one thing that the president has talked about a lot, not just related to Greenland, but it includes Greenland, is the importance of critical minerals,” he said.
Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to US
President Donald Trump said in a social media post today that the interim government of Venezuela, with acting President Delcy Rodriguez now at the helm, will be turning over 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States.
Trump said he has directed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to “execute this plan, immediately” and said the barrels “will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States.”
Trump’s post did not add details or concrete plans about a transfer. CNN has reached out to the White House for more information.
A senior administration official speaking under condition of anonymity told CNN that the oil has already been produced and put in barrels. The majority of it is currently on boats and will now go to US facilities in the Gulf to be refined.
Trump’s announcement was the result of work by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the source said.
Venezuela's acting president declares 7 days of mourning for those killed in US attack
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez has declared seven days of mourning for those killed in the US attack in Caracas.
She also called for the return of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who are currently in US custody in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. They pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges on Monday.
“There is no war here because we are not at war. We are a people, a country of peace, that was aggressed and attacked,” Rodriguez added.
Some background: The Venezuelan government has not specified the number of people killed or injured in the US attack but the country’s attorney general said three officials have been appointed to investigate the “dozens” of deaths. On Sunday, the Cuban government said 32 of its citizens were killed during the US operation.
Who is Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of Venezuela’s ousted president?
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of Venezuela’s ousted President Nicolás Maduro, had built a notorious reputation long before gaining global attention Monday, when he delivered a speech calling for his father’s release from US custody.
The 35-year-old began his political career shortly after his father took office in 2013. He was appointed to lead the Corps of Inspectors of the Presidency, an organization his father created for him to observe the effects of the president’s policies, according to the US government.
In 2017, Maduro Guerra was elected to the National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution, a move that was widely condemned as an attempted power grab by his father’s administration.
The US sanctioned Maduro Guerra just two years later, claiming he was serving in what it considered an “illegitimate” government.
Maduro Guerra in 2021 became a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, a position he still holds today.
In a recent indictment, the US accused him of being involved in the trafficking of drugs and weapons, along with his father and others. Maduro Guerra has rejected the charges, saying Monday: “My family and I are being persecuted.”
How Rubio shaped the Maduro operation
The son of Cuban immigrants, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s political career began in South Florida which thousands of Venezuelan immigrants call home after fleeing the regime in Caracas.
CNN’s Kylie Atwood explains how the ousting of Nicolás Maduro was a moment years in the making for the top US diplomat:
The ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was a moment years in the making for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio's political career began in South Florida where thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who fled Maduro’s regime call home. CNN’s Kylie Atwood reports.
The woman running Venezuela: Here's what we know about acting President Delcy Rodriguez
Delcy Rodriguez’s crafted persona is serving her well. Sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president yesterday, she is seen by many as a steady hand who could help avoid a transitional crisis, CNN’s Paula Newton reports.
Venezuela enters period of uncertainty following Maduro’s capture. Here’s what you should know today
Venezuelans are entering a period of uncertainty following the US military operation last weekend that ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.
The seizure of Maduro and subsequent remarks by US President Donald Trump and other US officials have also spurred concern in other parts of the hemisphere, including Colombia and Greenland.
Get caught up with the latest:
Running Venezuela: Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez said today that “no external agent” is running the country. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will speak with Rodriguez and opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez to help facilitate a move toward elections.
Deaths following Saturday’s attack: Cuba’s government released the identities of the 32 Cuban agents who worked in the security apparatus of the Venezuelan government and died during the US attack in Caracas. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the appointment of three officials to investigate the “dozens” of deaths resulting from the attack.
On Maduro: US President Donald Trump celebrated the capture of the Venezuelan president, boasting that the high-risk operation proved the US has the “most fearsome” military in the world. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were injured after hitting their heads as they were fleeing US forces trying to arrest them, sources told CNN.
On Greenland: The White House said it is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, noting that using the US military is not off the table. Greenland said it has asked for a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following recent statements about the territory. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego said that he is introducing a resolution to prevent the US from invading.
On Colombia: Colombian Foreign Minister Yolanda Villavicencio said she will submit a note of protest to the United States over threats made by Trump against Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
Briefing reactions: Some US senators who attended last night’s classified briefing on Venezuela said it raised more questions, while others now feel more assured. Read more of their reaction here. Today, Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin, who is also a senior member of Senate Democratic leadership, said he has “mixed feelings” about Rubio after he was briefed on the Venezuela operation.
CNN’s Jack Guy, Gonzalo Zegarra, Adam Cancryn, Gonzalo Zegarra, Catherine Nicholls, Uriel Blanco, Patrick Oppmann, Nic Robertson, Alejandra Jaramillo, Kosta Gak, Morgan Rimmer, Anabella González, Mauricio Torres, Pau Mosquera and Hira Humayun, Aileen Graef and Manu Raju, Ivonne Valdes Garay contributed reporting.
Greenland says it has asked for a meeting with Rubio as White House turns up pressure
Greenland said it has asked for a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following recent statements by the US government about the Danish territory.
The development comes after White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said yesterday that the Trump administration’s formal position is that “Greenland should be part of the United States” and that “nobody is going to fight the United States” over its future.
The island’s foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt said today in a Facebook post that Greenland had made the request along with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen.
Earlier today, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told CNN that President Donald Trump “believes Greenland is a strategically important location that is critical from the standpoint of national security, and he is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region.”
The White House also said it was “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, noting that using the US military was not off the table.
While the US administration has repeatedly stated its desire to control the vast, resource-rich territory, Denmark has repeatedly rejected his advances, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterating yesterday that “Greenland has repeatedly said that it does not want to be part of the United States.”
Leaders from major European powers expressed support for Denmark’s position.
Kaine says "roughly a dozen" Republicans weighing whether to back key Venezuela resolution ahead of Thursday vote
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, told CNN that he is still trying to secure the votes needed to pass his resolution requiring President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization to engage in hostilities against Venezuela, but that there are “roughly a dozen” Republicans who are weighing whether to support it.
Kaine’s war power powers resolution is cosponsored by GOP Sen. Rand Paul, but he would need a total of four GOP senators to pass the plan in their chamber. While the measure is unlikely to pass the House, or win enough support for a veto-proof majority, a successful vote in the Senate would amount to a symbolic rebuke of Trump’s handling of the growing conflict in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife on Saturday.
The Senate is expected to vote on the measure Thursday morning, meaning a Wednesday all-senators classified briefing on Venezuela could help convince senators whether to vote for the plan or to block it.
Kaine said it’s too early to tell whether he will win enough support for the plan.
Two US troops still recovering from injuries sustained in Venezuela operation
Two US service members who were injured in the operation in Venezuela to capture then President Nicolás Maduro are still recovering, while five others have since returned to duty, an official said Tuesday.
“Two U.S. service members are still recovering from injuries sustained during Operation Absolute Resolve. They are receiving excellent medical care and are well on their way to recovery,” said the statement attributed to a War Department official, the secondary name for the Department of Defense. “Five additional service members suffered injuries but have already returned to duty.”
The soldiers are being treated at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, also commonly known as Brooke Army Medical Center, on Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston.
CNN previously reported that a handful of troops had sustained shrapnel and bullet wounds during the operation in the early hours of Saturday morning. The operation was carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, along with an FBI unit.
“The fact that this extremely complex and grueling mission was successfully executed with so few injuries is a testament to the expertise of our joint warriors,” the official said Tuesday.
The US has taken a "prisoner of war," Venezuela's interior minister says
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has called ousted president Nicolás Maduro a “prisoner of war.”
He said the United States “is violating all international laws” with its attack in Venezuela and arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said three officials have been appointed to investigate the “dozens” of deaths resulting from the US attack on the country, but the Venezuelan government has not specified the number of people killed or injured.
On Sunday, the Cuban government, in a post on Facebook, said 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation “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.”
What some Democratic lawmakers are saying today about Venezuela and Greenland
Lawmakers are trying to learn more about the United States’ action in Venezuela over the weekend and President Donald Trump’s view of Greenland.
Here’s what some of the Democrats have been saying:
Sen. Mark Warner: The top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee rejected the capture of Nicolás Maduro as legal action, and said it was military action, adding that it could set a dangerous precedent. The Virginia lawmaker also told reporters that while Trump’s long interest in Greenland was initially viewed as a joke, his rhetoric about the semiautonomous Danish territory is “very dangerous.”
Sen. Ed Markey: After Trump said he had talked to oil companies “before and after” the US military removed Maduro, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts has asked executives at Chevron, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil if they communicated with Trump or his administration before the strike and whether they had “advance notice of ‘regime change’ operations in Venezuela.” Markey also asked them whether they made proposals to invest in oil production in Venezuela, and how the recent military actions have impacted their businesses. CNN has reached out to the three oil companies for comment.
What is the "Donroe Doctrine?"
CNN’s Jake Tapper explains the “Donroe Doctrine,” a term coined to describe President Donald Trump’s application of the Monroe Doctrine for the enforcement of US interests in the Western Hemisphere.
We've entered the era of the "Donroe Doctrine," a term coined to describe President Donald Trump's application of the Monroe Doctrine for the enforcement of US interests in the Western Hemisphere. CNN's Jake Tapper explains.
"No external agent" is running Venezuela, acting president says
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez said today that “no external agent” is running the country.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously said the administration views Rodriguez as more pragmatic than ousted president Nicolás Maduro, and as someone the US can work with.
Rodriguez has condemned the US operation that led to the seizure of Maduro and his wife but has also struck a softer tone when she called for “cooperation” with the United States on Sunday.
In her address today, she said Venezuela is on a “painful path” because of “the aggression it suffered, unprecedented in our history.” She said women are marching on the streets in the country, calling for peace and for the release of Maduro and his wife.
White House “discussing a range of options” for acquiring Greenland, military not off the table
The White House said Tuesday that it is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, noting that using the US military is not off the table.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to CNN.
On Monday, senior White House aide Stephen Miller told CNN’s Jake Tapper that nobody would fight the US militarily “over the future of Greenland.”
Stephen Miller asserts Trump administration's position is Greenland should be part of the US.
Dow closes above 49,000 points for first time ever as Wall Street looks past geopolitical tension
Despite geopolitical uncertainty, US stocks closed at record highs Tuesday.
The Dow gained 485 points, or 0.99%, to close at a record high of 49,462.08. It’s the first time the blue-chip index has closed above 49,000 points.
The broader S&P 500 rose 0.62% and also hit a record high, its first since December 24. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.65%.
Wall Street has shrugged off uncertainty about the US capture of Nicholás Maduro, instead focusing on fundamentals for markets, such as expectations for strong corporate earnings and optimism about Federal Reserve interest rate cuts later this year.
The Dow just posted back-to-back days of record highs. The Dow needs a gain of roughly 1.09% to close above 50,000 points — a milestone that highlights the strength of the recent stock market rally.
“The new all-time high for the Dow reflects a constructive broadening in US equity performance,” said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director at US Bank Asset Management.
Market sentiment on Tuesday was “neutral,” according to CNN’s Fear and Greed Index.
“Despite the solid performance of the last three years, we think this bull market has more to go,” David Lefkowitz, head of US equities at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a note.
Markets across the globe are kicking off 2026 on a strong note: Benchmark stock indexes in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the United Kingdom all closed at record highs on Tuesday.
