Rubio suggests US won’t run Venezuela day-to-day

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Sunday that the U.S. would not take a day-to-day role in governing Venezuela, following its ouster of leader Nicolás Maduro. 

Rubio’s statements seemed designed to temper concerns about whether the assertive American action to achieve regime change might again produce a prolonged foreign intervention or failed attempt at nation-building. They stood in contrast to Trump’s broad but vague claims that the U.S. would at least temporarily “run” the oil-rich nation. 

Venezuela’s defense minister demanded Maduro’s release, maintaining that he is still the rightful leader of the South American country. The military, which has long acted as the arbiter of political disputes in Venezuela, has thrown its support behind Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Maduro. 

Meanwhile, a tense calm hangs over Venezuela after the U.S. military operation that deposed Maduro, who was brought to New York to face criminal charges. 

Maduro and his wife landed late Saturday afternoon at a small airport in New York. The couple face U.S. charges of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Their first court appearance is set for Monday. 

Here’s the latest: 

Venezuelans in Philadelphia gather at Mass to reflect amid hope 

Members of the city’s Venezuelan community gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to pray for their home country and share thoughts about the weekend’s events. 

About 100 people attended the Spanish-language service, with some holding Venezuelan flags. 

Andrea Abati, a Venezuelan college student, said some of her fellow citizens are pleased to see Maduro’s removal, but at the same time they are uncertain about what comes next. 

“It’s a mix of feelings between happiness, because finally it was happening what we wanted to happen in a way, and at the same time just thinking what’s next,” she said. “I think for everyone it was very shocking at the beginning and it’s still shocking. I think we are still all processing what’s going on.” 

Anxiety and trepidation in a quiet Caracas 

People were slow to resume routines in Caracas after Maduro’s capture. Dozens of stores, restaurants and churches remained closed. Those on the streets looked shell-shocked, staring at their phones or into the distance. 

“People are still shaken,” said 77-year-old David Leal, who arrived to work as a parking attendant but realized he likely would not have customers. He pointed to the deserted street, a few blocks from Venezuela’s presidential palace, which was guarded by armed civilians and military personnel. 

US indictment alleges Maduro ran ‘corrupt, illegitimate government’ fueled by cocaine 

A newly unsealed U.S. Justice Department indictment contends Maduro’s government was fueled by an extensive drug-trafficking operation that flooded the U.S. with thousands of tons of cocaine. 

Maduro is charged alongside his wife, Cilia Flores,who was also arrested on Saturday. Also indicted are his son and three others. 

U.S. authorities allege that Maduro and his family “provided law enforcement cover and logistical support” to cartels moving drugs throughout the region, resulting in as much as 250 tons of cocaine trafficked through Venezuela annually by 2020, according to the indictment. 

Maduro is indicted on four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. 

Maduro faces the same charges as in an earlier indictment brought against him in Manhattan federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency. The new indictment unsealed Saturday, which adds charges against Flores, was filed under seal in the Southern District of New York just before Christmas. 

In court, Maduro will likely follow the path taken by Panama’s Manuel Noriega 

Maduro was captured 36 years to the day after Noriega was removed by American forces. And as was the case with the Panamanian leader, lawyers for Maduro are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of a foreign state, which is a bedrock principle of international and U.S. law. 

It’s an argument that is unlikely to succeed and was largely settled as a matter of law in Noriega’s trial, legal experts say. 

Although Trump’s ordering of the operation in Venezuela raises constitutional concerns because it wasn’t authorized by Congress, now that Maduro is in the U.S., courts will likely bless his prosecution because, like Noriega, the U.S. doesn’t recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. 

No change in U.S. warships in the region 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the Trump administration planned to keep targeting boats accused of trafficking drugs as well as sanctioned oil tankers. 

“We seized those boats with oil, and that will continue,” Rubio said, before adding, “We will continue to reserve the right to take strikes against drug boats that are bringing drugs toward the United States.” 

Rubio said no U.S. forces were on the ground in Venezuela but didn’t rule out further strikes on the country. 

Rubio said Trump is “not going to go around saying, ‘I won’t do this. I won’t do that. Yes, I care about this issue, but I’ll only go so far.’” 

“He retains all this optionality,” Rubio added. 

PHOTO- A soldier stands atop an armored vehicle driving toward Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)