As it happened: Nicolas Maduro arrives in New York as Trump flags plans for US to 'run' Venezuela

There have been rallies around the world reacting in support and opposition to the US campaign.

Some Venezuelans have gathered in various cities to celebrate the capture of Maduro.

Meanwhile, in the US and Europe, anti-war protesters rallies against the US airstrikes on Venezuela and condemning the Trump administration.

Take a look at the rallies in pictures:

In Bogota, Colombia, Venezuelans celebrate the capture of their president Nicolas Maduro. Source: AAP / Carlos Ortega/EPA

In Manaus, Brazil, Venezuelan gathered for celebration. Source: AAP / Suamy Beydoun/Suamy Beydoun/AGIF/Sipa USA

An emergency anti-war protest in New York City. Source: AAP / Laura Brett/Sipa USA

In Italy, supporters for Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro protest outside the US Consulate. Source: AAP / Robyn Stevens Brody/Robyn Stevens Brody/Sipa USA

- Wing Kuang

A spokesperson at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were making "urgent enquiries" with consular partners in Caracas to determine whether any Australians were impacted.

Australia doesn’t have an embassy or consulate in Venezuela, but remains in contact with other consular partners in Caracas.

Australia’s embassy in Bogota in Colombia is responsible for Venezuela.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it's reaching out with its consular partners with diplomatic representation in Venezuela to determine Australians impacted by US military action. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

The spokesperson said the department was ready to provide consular assistance, and the travel advice for Venezuela remains "Do Not Travel" due to the dangerous security situation.

"Smartraveller advises Australians, if they’re in Venezuela, to leave as soon as it’s safe to do so," said the spokesperson.

"If Australians are in Venezuela despite our advice, be prepared to shelter in place. Monitor media and subscribe to Smartraveller for updates."

- Wing Kuang

Footage and photos on social media have shown Nicolas Maduro arriving at the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) offices in New York.

A Reuters photo shows Maduro in a dark beanie and a jacket being held by two officers.

Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, according to a Justice Department official.

A motorcade carrying captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores departs the West 30th Street Heliport on Sunday, Sydney time. Source: AAP / Stefan Jeremiah

- Wing Kuang

US authorities said the Justice Department sought military assistance to apprehend Maduro, who had been indicted by a New York grand jury along with his wife, son, two political leaders and an alleged leader of an international gang.

They were charged with crimes related to terrorism, drugs and weapons.

Meanwhile, Trump had blamed Venezuela for stealing US oil interests, and said Washington would take them back and planned to run Venezuela for a period of time, without offering specifics.

READ MORE

Trump says US will 'run' Venezuela and sell its oil after seizing Nicolas Maduro

Experts in international law said the Trump administration had muddled the legal issues by claiming the operation was both a targeted law enforcement mission and the potential prelude to long-term control of Venezuela by the US.

"You cannot say this was a law enforcement operation and then turn around and say now we need to run the country," said Jeremy Paul, a professor at Northeastern University specialising in constitutional law.

"It just doesn't make any sense."

Another question was whether the US political system allowed Trump to order the strikes without going through the Congress.

The US Congress has the power to declare war, but the president is the commander-in-chief.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Congress was not notified before Saturday's operation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sent a warning to Cuba following US airstrikes on Venezuela. Source: AAP / AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL/EPA

International law prohibits the use of force in international relations except for narrow exceptions, such as authorisation by the UN Security Council or in self-defence.

Drug trafficking and gang violence are considered criminal activity. They do not rise to the accepted international standard of an armed conflict that would justify a military response, according to legal experts.

— Reuters

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court has instructed vice president Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president during Nicolas Maduro's absence.

The ‍court ruling on Saturday said Rodríguez would assume "the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative ‌continuity and the comprehensive defence of the Nation".

Maduro has called Rodriguez a "tiger" for her diehard defence of his socialist government. Source: AAP / Ariana Cubillos/ AP

The ruling added that the court ‍will debate the matter in order to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defence of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic".

— AAP

NSW Police says a protest in support of Venezuela wouldn't be authorised, citing the latest protest law in the state following the Bondi terror attack.

In a statement, police said they were aware via social media of a proposed rally at 6pm on Sunday at Sydney Town Hall, but the protest organisers hadn't lodged an application form.

READ MORE

NSW Police invoke new powers to restrict Sydney protests for two weeks

Citing the December decision, NSW Police said any assembly planned in support of Venezuela during this period was not authorised, and without this authorisation, the event "is not legally protected as an authorised assembly".

"The NSW Police Force will have a large presence throughout the Sydney metropolitan area on 4 January 2026 and will be present at Town Hall during the afternoon and evening to monitor and police this potential assembly," NSW Police said in a statement.

- Wing Kuang

• Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has arrived at the Westside Heliport in New York City, after he and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US troops in an operation last night.
• US President Donald Trump has flagged the US will "run the country" during a transition period and tap into Venezuela's vast oil reserves to fund the operation.
• In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia supported international law and a "peaceful, democratic transition" in Venezuela, while the Opposition welcomed the capture of Maduro and the Greens denounced the US actions as a breach of international law.
• Venezuelans in Australia hold "complex emotions" about the developments. 
• World leaders have mixed reactions — European leaders called for a peaceful transition to a new government in Venezuela, while China and Russia strongly condemned the attacks.
• The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, with the UN stating the action by the US could have "potentially worrying implications for the region". 

- Wing Kuang

The Trump administration had been mounting pressure on Venezuela in recent months over drug cartels, oil, immigration and its latest foreign affairs strategies.

In October, the Trump administration had informed Congress that the US was in "armed conflict" with drug cartels.

It accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of playing a major role in supplying illegal drugs to the US, which Maduro denied.

Maduro also accused Washington of wanting Venezuela's oil, which it currently sells mostly to China.

Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves and Trump is known for his advocacy for fossil fuel.

The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has also escalated tensions between the two countries, as the US pursued a mass deportation policy and has tried to terminate the legal status of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants.

According to a Pew Research Centre analysis, the Venezuelan population in the US had grown from 95,000 in 2000 to 640,000 in 2021, a growth of nearly 600 per cent.

The Trump administration has also been seeking to increase its influence in the Americas. In December, it released the National Security Strategy that suggested the US should revive the 19th Century Monroe Doctrine.

The doctrine declared the Western Hemisphere should be Washington’s zone of influence.

Venezuela's opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado said she "absolutely" supported Trump’s strategy.

Trump’s senior officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had also been calling for tougher measures on Cuba, which was a close ally to the Maduro government.

- Wing Kuang with additional reporting from Reuters

A plane carrying Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, landed in upstate New York on Saturday evening, multiple news outlets reported.

Maduro and his wife were captured by US special forces in an extraordinary military operation in the Venezuelan capital Caracas last night.

Video showed a plane arriving at Stewart International Airport, about 97 km northwest of New York City, with several US personnel in FBI and other apparel boarding the aircraft after it landed.

Federal law enforcement personnel stand watch outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York as they await the arrival of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, 4 January 2026. Source: AP / Yuki Iwamura/AP

US news networks, including CNN, Fox News and MS Now, identified a person who disembarked from the plane as Maduro.

Maduro, who was indicted on various US charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, according to a Justice Department official.

His wife also faces charges, including cocaine importation conspiracy.

Maduro is expected to be held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn before his court appearance, the official told Reuters.

- Reuters

The Venezuelan Association of Australia (VAA) said the US strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro carry "profound and complex emotions".

"Our community has lived through more than two decades of corruption, economic collapse, political persecution, and erosion of democratic institutions," the organisation said in a statement.

READ MORE

'Mystified': Concern for thousands in Australia after Venezuela's surprise move

"Many of us have experienced forced separation from loved ones, exile, and the long-term impacts of authoritarian rule."

The VAA said it stood in solidarity with Venezuelans both in their homeland and overseas.

"The crisis in Venezuela cannot be understood through simple political binaries. It is a complex humanitarian and democratic crisis that warrants thoughtful and informed discussion," it said.

According to the 2021 census, there are 6,627 people in Australia who were born in Venezuela, with 60.8 per cent obtaining Australian citizenship.

- Wing Kuang

Greens foreign affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge has described the US action as "a gross breach of international law" that puts the world on a "dangerous path of lawless aggression".

"This US war is not about self-defence, like so many before it, this is a war about resources, oil and dominance," Shoebridge said in a statement.

"Trump's assault on Venezuela provides comfort to Vladimir Putin for his aggression in Ukraine, cover for a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan and sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

The Greens have condemned the US' overnight operation in Venezuela. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Shoebridge said Australia must "urgently reassess its relationship with the US", saying Australia should remove US troops and bases from Australia.

"This illegal and illegitimate attack on Venezuela demonstrates how dangerous it is to have a large US military presence in Australia with thousands of troops under the direct control of any foreign government, let alone Donald Trump."

- Wing Kuang

US President Donald Trump has posted a 40-second triumphant video on Truth Social that included a clip of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro yelling the words "come for me" and "coward".

The video consists of two parts, suggesting an interaction between Maduro and Trump.

It begins with footage of a speech given by Maduro saying "Come for me. I'm waiting for you here in Milaflores. Don't take too long to arrive, coward."

However, the footage is from 2024 and depicts Maduro addressing opposition candidate Edmundo González following protests that claimed the election that reinstated Maduro for a third term was undemocratic.

The second half of the video, which was implied as Trump's reaction to Maduro's call, began with a clip of a bald eagle and ended with a clip that showed missile strikes and explosions.

Donald Trump has posted a video celebrating the US capture of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. Source: AAP / Miguel Gutirres/EPA

- Wing Kuang

At his press conference, where he was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump did not provide specific answers to repeated questions about how the United States would take over and run Venezuela.

"The people that are standing right behind me" — such as Rubio and Hegseth — would oversee the country, Trump said.

He said he was open to sending US forces into Venezuela. "We're not afraid of boots on the ground," he said.

The removal of Maduro, whom critics called a dictator as he led Venezuela with a heavy hand for more than 12 years, could open a power vacuum in the country, which is bordered by Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, and the Caribbean.

Who the US planned to cooperate with in Venezuela was not made clear.

Trump publicly closed the door on working with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, widely seen as Maduro's most credible opponent.

Trump said the United States has not been in contact with Machado. "She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country," he said.

Trump's comment outraged some supporters of Machado, who has voiced support for US actions to fight alleged drug trafficking and who dedicated her Nobel Prize win to Trump and the Venezuelan people.

- Reuters

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash have welcomed the news of Nicolas Maduro being taken into custody in the US.

Maduro was "an illegitimate president", Ley and Cash said in a joint statement.

"Venezuela has endured years of repression, systemic human rights abuses, corruption and the crushing of basic democratic freedoms — driving immense suffering and forcing millions to flee.

"We should live in a world where dictators and despots face justice for their crimes."

Shadow Foreign Minister Michaella Cash has described Nicolas Maduro as an illegitimate president. Source: AAP

- Rayane Tamer

The capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is now closely monitored by Maduro’s longtime allies Iran, Russia and China — but the developments will affect each nation differently.

Read the latest analysis from SBS News Chief International Correspondent Ben Lewis:

READ MORE

From Russia to Iran, Venezuela's allies react to the capture of Nicolas Maduro

- Wing Kuang

Venezuelans abroad opposed to the Maduro administration are celebrating his capture by the US.

In Latin America and in Spain, crowds of Venezuelans have gathered to share their joy.

Since 2014 — after Maduro was declared president — 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country, equal to 20 per cent of the country's population.

In Madrid, a Venezuelan wipes tears on her face as she joins celebration of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Source: AAP / Bernat Armangue

The lack of food security and employment opportunities are some of the main reasons why Venezuelans headed overseas, according to the UN International Organisation for Migration.

Milagros Ortega, whose parents are still in Venezuela, said she hoped to go back.

"Knowing that my dad was alive to see the fall of Nicolas Maduro is very emotional. I would like to see his face," she told Reuters.

A crowd of Venezuelans celebrate in Madrid over the news of Nicolas Maduro being captured by the US troops. Source: AAP / Bernat Armangue

- Wing Kuang with additional reporting from Reuters

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has arrived in New York after he was captured by US troops overnight, according to reports.

A video showed a plane arriving at Stewart International Airport, northwest of New York City, with several FBI personnel boarding the aircraft.

Several US media outlets, including CNN, Fox News and MS Now, identified a person who disembarked the plane as Maduro.

- Wing Kuang with additional reporting from Reuters

Venezuela's vice president Delcy Rodriguez has appeared on state television demanding the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

She described the US strike on Caracas as an unprecedented military aggression which constituted a terrible strain on bilateral relations.

"We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses and false pretexts, that the masks had fallen, and that it had only one objective: regime change in Venezuela," said Rodriguez.

"That regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy resources, our mineral resources and our natural resources."

Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez has demanded the release of Nicolas Maduro. Source: AAP / Ariana Cubillos

- Edwina Guinan

Pro-government supporters have demonstrated on the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas denouncing what some called American imperialism and vowing to defend their country.

Protester Maria Ayde said Venezuelans will not be defeated.

"Mr Trump is thinking that if he takes Maduro away the revolution ends, no! The revolution continues, because we are not going to allow the people who tried to kill us to come and take power in Venezuela, we cannot allow it."

Apart from the protests, streets of the capital remained largely empty with some Venezuelans queuing outside pharmacies.

Resident Luis Arteaga said reactions to the US military strikes and capture of President Nicolas Maduro are mixed.

"Many Venezuelans right now are very happy about what just happened, others are not, depending on each opinion, every head is a world, but honestly right now we have a little more hope."

- Edwina Guinan

A spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the developments in Venezuela "constitute a dangerous precedent".

"The Secretary-General continues to emphasise the importance of full respect - by all - of international law, including the UN Charter," said the spokesperson, adding that Guterres was "deeply concerned" that the rules of international laws hadn't been respected.

European leaders — including France, Germany and Spain — have stated they didn't recognise the Maduro government, but they also called for a "peaceful" and "democratic" transition to a new government in Venezuela.

China said it was "deeply shocked" and "strongly condemns" the US airstrikes, while Russia described the US committed an act of "armed aggression against Venezuela".

Latin America has mixed reactions toward the event. Argentine president Javier Milei said the US strike on Venezuela is "excellent news for the free world", while the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "strongly condemns and rejects" US military actions.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand called on all parties to respect international law.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated his country had no role in the developments.

"I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved…and I always say and believe we should all uphold international law," said Starmer.

- With additional reporting from Reuters