Gunfire erupted in Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday night, hours after President Donald Trump declared he was personally in charge of running the South American nation following the dramatic capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Videos verified by news outlets showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft fire and drones near the Venezuelan presidential palace. Venezuela’s Ministry of Communication and Information said police fired at unauthorized drones flying over the capital.
The ministry stated the entire country remained calm, according to reports. The White House said it was not involved in the incident.
The chaotic scene unfolded as Trump told reporters that he was the top official overseeing Venezuela’s transition. When asked who would be in charge of the nation, Trump said he would be in charge of Venezuela.
Trump said the United States would run Venezuela temporarily. He added that major American oil companies would invest in the country’s deteriorating oil infrastructure and generate revenue for Venezuelan citizens.
The 63-year-old Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, were captured in a U.S. military operation that began at 2 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The operation involved 150 aircraft and lasted under 2.5 hours. U.S. Army Delta Force, an elite special forces unit, carried out the mission with support from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
At least 40 Venezuelans were killed during the operation, along with 32 Cubans who were serving in military or intelligence roles in Venezuela. Cuba declared two days of national mourning following the deaths and condemned the U.S. action.
Maduro and Flores arrived at Stewart Air National Guard base in Newburgh, New York, on Saturday afternoon. They were later transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they are being held pending trial.
On Monday, the deposed leader appeared in Manhattan federal court and pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Maduro told the court through a Spanish interpreter that he is innocent and kidnapped. His wife also pleaded not guilty to the charges. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17.
Maduro faces federal charges related to drug trafficking and collaboration with organizations designated as terrorist groups. The indictment accuses him of leading a corrupt government that facilitated the trafficking of massive quantities of illegal drugs into the United States. Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra is also named in the charges.
Following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s National Assembly swore in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. Rodríguez condemned what she called the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores.
Trump revealed that he had alerted oil company executives about the impending military operation before it commenced, but did not inform members of Congress. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Trump promised the oil companies total safety in Venezuela as he urged them to invest in rebuilding the country’s energy sector.
At a Wednesday meeting with oil executives, Trump emphasized his commitment to securing their investments. The president has made Venezuela’s vast oil reserves a central focus of his administration’s policy toward the country, describing the infrastructure as deteriorated and largely unusable after years of neglect.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the United States was occupying Venezuela, though Trump’s statements suggested direct American control during the transition period. The administration has not specified what form the transition will take or who will ultimately govern Venezuela.
Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia have called for democratic elections and the release of political prisoners. Trump confirmed he would meet with Machado to discuss Venezuela’s future.
The international community has responded with sharp criticism. China objected to Maduro’s arrest, calling it a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Iran called for Maduro’s release, with a foreign ministry spokesman describing the capture as illegal.
The military operation marks an unprecedented assertion of American military power in Latin America. Trump has described his approach as aggressive intervention in the region.
The military strike targeted multiple locations around Caracas. Maduro and Flores were seized near a high-security military compound.
The operation had been in planning stages for months, with intelligence gathering focused on Maduro’s movements, security arrangements and daily routines. The military buildup included positioning the USS Gerald R. Ford and numerous warships in the region.
Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but production has declined dramatically in recent years due to economic mismanagement, international sanctions and lack of investment in infrastructure. The country’s oil industry, once a model for Latin America, has suffered from chronic underinvestment and brain drain as engineers and technicians fled economic collapse.
Trump has emphasized that American oil companies will play a central role in revitalizing Venezuela’s energy sector. He described the companies as major players that would benefit the people of Venezuela.
The president’s approach has drawn comparisons to historical American interventions in Latin America, though the scale and directness of the military action appear unprecedented in recent decades. Questions remain about the legal basis for the action under international law and what governance structure will emerge in Venezuela.
Cuban officials reported that their citizens killed in the operation were serving at the request of Venezuelan counterparts. The deaths have strained relations between Washington and Havana, already tense due to longstanding disputes over Cuba’s support for the Maduro government.
As Maduro awaits trial in Brooklyn, the situation in Caracas remains fluid. Rodríguez has called for dialogue and cooperation, while emphasizing that Venezuela seeks peace and development. The interim president faces the challenge of maintaining stability while navigating pressure from both the Trump administration and Venezuelan opposition groups seeking democratic reforms.
Sources:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gunfire-erupts-as-trump-says-hes-in-charge-of-venezuela/
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/
https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/international/news/venezuelas-president-a-prisoner-of-war-maduro-appears-in-us-court-calls-himself-civilised-136871586.html
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/world-news/at-least-7-explosions-and-low-flying-aircraft-are-heard-in-venezuelas-caracas/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jan/09/trump-venezuela-oil-attacks-minnesota-portland-ice-supreme-court-tariffs-latest-news-updates
