U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Senator Mike Lee between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. UTC on January 3, 2026, that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were arrested by U.S. personnel in Caracas to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, with no further military action expected, according to Lee's statement on X. Lee stated Rubio explained the kinetic action seen earlier protected those executing the arrest warrant under President Trump's Article II authority. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State celebrated the arrest on X, stating "A new dawn for Venezuela! The tyrant is gone. He will now-finally-face justice." Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated in a call this morning she does not know Maduro's whereabouts and called for the United States to provide "proof of life," per sentdefender on X. Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a full statement condemning U.S. armed aggression against Venezuela, according to TASS. Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated its embassy in Bogotá, responsible for Venezuela, is fully mobilized to ensure citizen safety amid the situation, in coordination with European partners, per an X post. Unofficial reports indicate former Venezuelan Interior Minister Gustavo González López was discharged during the U.S. operation, according to OrlvndoA on X.
