State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela
The warning came amid reports of armed militias.
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a federal court in New York City on Monday, following their capture by U.S. forces over the weekend in a military operation in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
Following the operation, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for an unspecified "period of time."
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim leader to lead the country after what the Venezuelan Supreme Court described as Maduro's "kidnapping."
Key Headlines
- President Trump says Cuba needs to make deal with US 'before it is too late'
- Venezuela 'in absolute calm,' ministry says in reaction to US alert
- State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela immediately
- US State Department officials arrive in Caracas
- US forces board another oil tanker linked to Venezuela
Vance says Maduro learned that Trump 'means what he says'
Vice President JD Vance shared in a post on X Trump's announcement of a "successful" operation in Venezuela.
Vance wrote that Trump offered Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "multiple off ramps" while being clear that "the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States."
"Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation," Vance added.
Hundreds of flights cancelled due to Caribbean airspace closure
At least 613 flights have been cancelled across the U.S. today, many due to Caribbean airspace closures.
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been particularly impacted, with 267 flights cancelled.
American Airlines and JetBlue Airways have issued waivers for travelers caught up in the closures.
"Due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity, we have canceled approximately 215 flights systemwide," JetBlue said in a statement. "Flights to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are not affected by the government's restrictions. Customers whose flights are cancelled may rebook their travel or request a refund."
Along with the Venezuela prohibition, the FAA has also prohibited U.S. civil aviation from flying in the Curacao, San Juan and part of the Piarco Flight Information Regions.
These cover parts of the southern Caribbean and some areas surrounding Venezuela. The closures are scheduled until midnight tonight.
-ABC News' Clara McMichael
Rubio said Maduro captured to stand trial in the U.S., no further action expected in Venezuela: GOP senator
Republican Sen. Mike Lee said he was told by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the U.S. and that no further action was expected in Venezuela.
In a post on X, Lee said he spoke with Rubio by phone early Saturday.
"He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant," Lee posted.
"This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack," Lee posted.
Lee also said that Rubio told him he anticipates "no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody."
The conversation appears to have come after Lee posted earlier this morning suggesting he had concerns about the actions being taken absent congressional authorization.
"I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force," Lee posted earlier on X.
Read more: Details of the operation emerge
President Donald Trump said the U.S. "successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela" and said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the Country."
The announcement on Trump’s social media platform came shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday a few hours after several explosions were heard in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, witnesses said, and photos and videos showed plumes of smoke and a large fireball in the night sky.
Trump said the operation was carried out in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement and said he would hold a news conference at 11 a.m. from Mar-a-Lago.
In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, President Trump celebrated the success of the mission to capture Maduro.