President Donald Trump stated on Fox News during the 29-minute reporting window ending at 3:15 p.m. UTC on January 3, 2026, that the United States is determining whether opposition leader María Corina Machado can lead Venezuela following the U.S. special operations capture of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier today, according to X user OrlvndoA. Trump also said China will receive Venezuelan oil due to his relationship with President Xi Jinping, as reported by X user BRICSinfo multiple times in the same period. Separately, a CIA source inside the Venezuelan government aided U.S. tracking of Maduro's location, with drones and intelligence used over months of White House, CIA, and Pentagon planning, per CBS News reporter Olivia Gazis confirming The New York Times, as shared by X user JenniferJJacobs. Four Venezuelan F-16s took off in low flights from Base Aérea El Libertador without reaching altitude at approximately 2:41 p.m. UTC, followed five minutes later by two Sukhoi-30s at half altitude, all heading south, according to X user InquisidorVZLA citing AeroNoticiasVE, Arr3ch0, and SA_Defensa. Bolivarian Military Aviation became active from Maracay and Barcelona bases in the reporting window, per X user Arr3ch0. These developments follow U.S. officials' confirmation of Maduro's capture at 5 a.m. UTC and ongoing Venezuelan regime reactions, including Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez's earlier call for armed mobilization against the operation.
