President Donald Trump told the New York Post in an interview published during the hour ending at 6:45 p.m. UTC on January 3, 2026, that U.S. troops will not remain in Venezuela if Vice President Delcy Rodríguez meets U.S. demands, stating that many Cubans protecting Nicolás Maduro died last night in Caracas. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated on X during the reporting window that he was briefed this morning on Maduro and his wife's capture and planned imprisonment in federal custody in New York City, calling the U.S. military action an act of war and violation of law while pledging to monitor impacts on local Venezuelans. Department of Justice and FBI aircraft N874TW arrived at Guantanamo Bay approximately 30 minutes before the window and is scheduled to fly to New York Stewart International Airport with Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores for presentation in Manhattan's Southern District court, according to X users Arr3ch0 and Borrowed7Time citing ACARS data. X user sentdefender reported a destroyed Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile system, aircraft, and infrastructure at Higuerote Airport in Miranda state from last night's U.S. airstrikes, with X user abelandia noting possible links to neutralizing air defenses for helicopter approaches to Caracas. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on X that Italy supports defensive U.S. intervention against Venezuelan drug trafficking while opposing broader military action, prioritizing Italian community safety. Argentina announced immigration restrictions prohibiting entry by Maduro regime members, per X user agusantonetti citing the National Directorate of Migration. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith released a statement responding to Trump's announcements on U.S. military activities in Venezuela, according to the committee's Democrats X account. Long lines formed at Caracas supermarkets amid reports of few stores open on Baralt Avenue after U.S. strikes, per eldiario citing DiarioTalCual.
