CNN reported the first footage of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro after his arrival in the U.S., confirming he and wife Cilia Flores were placed in a Brooklyn detention facility ahead of court proceedings, according to a post shared between 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. UTC on January 4, 2026. Axios detailed that the CIA embedded a team in Venezuela since August 2025 to prepare Maduro's capture, tracking his movements, diet, and routines while training on a replica of his residence with steel-reinforced doors, as shared in the same 29-minute window. President Donald Trump stated Maduro and his wife attempted to flee to a steel-armored safe room but were intercepted, with key involvement from Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “We can secure access to additional wealth and resources, allowing the country to unlock them without spilling American blood,” highlighting the operation's strategic rationale, per a post in the reporting window. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed strong support for Venezuela, stating, “When it comes to Venezuela, we are ready to give even our own blood. Down with imperalism!,” according to another post shared during the period. These developments follow the U.S. military extraction of Maduro and Flores to a New York DEA office earlier on January 4, 2026, as reported prior to 9:15 a.m. UTC.
