The aircraft believed to be carrying Nicolas Maduro, the former President of Venezuela, has touched down at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, on Saturday afternoon. Sources familiar with the situation informed ABC News that Maduro is expected to take a helicopter to New York City, accompanied by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). Following this, he will travel by motorcade to a designated location in New York City for processing before being held in jail, according to the same sources.
In a significant turn of events, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez addressed the nation via state television for the first time since Maduro's removal. She demanded his immediate release, asserting that Maduro remains the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Rodriguez fiercely criticized the United States, claiming that the early morning strike was an act of aggression masked by false pretexts aimed at regime change in Venezuela. "We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses," she stated in Spanish, emphasizing the perceived threats to Venezuela's energy, mineral, and natural resources.
Rodriguez further warned that the Venezuelan people are prepared to mobilize if any harm comes to Maduro. "If something were to happen to him, the people must go to the streets," she declared, urging the armed forces to deploy across the country. Her passionate speech called for all institutions to activate in defense of their homeland, invoking the legacy of Simon Bolivar as she rallied support for their cause. "We ride to defend the great homeland," she proclaimed, illustrating the deep-seated national pride and resolve in Venezuela during this crisis.
Meanwhile, in the United States, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have urged for an immediate Gang of Eight briefing regarding the actions taken in Venezuela. This group, consisting of top congressional leaders, is briefed on national security issues. They also requested a comprehensive briefing for all members of Congress next week, criticizing President Trump’s announced plan to manage Venezuela as "unacceptable." Their joint statement emphasized the urgency for transparency and accountability from the Trump administration.
Senator Jack Reed, the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed strong disapproval of the administration's actions in Venezuela. He criticized President Trump's assertion that the U.S. would "run" the country, stating, "Last night, President Trump waged war on a foreign nation without authorization, without notification, and without any explanation to the American people." Reed labeled the idea of U.S. governance over Venezuela as "ludicrous," pointing out the lack of a serious plan for such an extraordinary undertaking. He warned of the historical costs – human, strategic, and moral – associated with attempting to govern another nation through force.
This unfolding situation continues to develop, drawing attention from both U.S. and Venezuelan leaders, with significant implications for national and international relations. As events progress, the calls for clarity and decisive action resonate through both nations.