{"id":8970,"date":"2026-01-06T19:19:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/06\/trump-calls-venezuela-strikes-amazing-and-teases-meeting-with-oil-executives-after-ousting-maduro-live-the-guardian\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T19:19:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:19:35","slug":"trump-calls-venezuela-strikes-amazing-and-teases-meeting-with-oil-executives-after-ousting-maduro-live-the-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/06\/trump-calls-venezuela-strikes-amazing-and-teases-meeting-with-oil-executives-after-ousting-maduro-live-the-guardian\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump calls Venezuela strikes \u2018amazing\u2019 and teases meeting with oil executives after ousting Maduro \u2013 live &#8211; The Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><gu-island name=\"EnhancePinnedPost\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{}\"><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<div id=\"pinned-post\" data-gu-marker=\"pinned-post\" data-component=\"pinned-post\">\n<header>\n<h2>Trump calls Caracas strikes &#8216;amazing&#8217; and &#8216;brilliant&#8217; at House GOP retreat<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>Donald Trump has characterized the weekend strikes on Venezuela\u2019s capital, Caracas, as \u201camazing\u201d and \u201cbrilliant\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was amazing. And think of it, nobody was killed. And on the other side, a lot of people were killed,\u201d Trump said, noting the large number of Cubans who were killed in attacks. \u201cThey knew we were coming, and they were protected, and our guys weren\u2019t. You know, our guys are jumping out of helicopters \u2026 it was so brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The president called the operation \u201cbrilliant tactically\u201d and \u201can incredible thing\u201d. He added that the deposed leader, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, is a \u201cviolent guy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe gets up there and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit, but he\u2019s a violent guy, and he\u2019s killed millions of people,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to House Republicans at their annual retreat, the president also said that lawmakers across the aisle have been reluctant to congratulate the president, despite their ongoing condemnation of Maduro\u2019s regime.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt some point they should say, you know, \u2018you did a great job\u2019,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be good? I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different, but if they did a good job, I\u2019d be happy for the country. They\u2019ve been after this guy for years and years and years, and he was a violent guy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{\"keyEvents\":[{\"id\":\"695d4fed8f08189717ef3bf9\",\"elements\":[{\"_type\":\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement\",\"html\":\"\n\n<p>At a march held by dozens of supporters of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, which included pardoned rioters, a brawl erupted after a counter-protester used a bullhorn to interrupt speeches. One attendee tried to wrestle the bullhorn out of the protester\u2019s hands while she called those present \u201ctraitors\u201d. 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Tarrio speaks during a rally ahead of a memorial march, marking five years since the attack on the US Capitol, 6 January 2026.&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;Enrique Tarrio speaks during a rally ahead of a memorial march, marking five years since the attack on the US Capitol, 6 January 2026.&#8221;,&#8221;credit&#8221;:&#8221;Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images&#8221;}},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Many of those at today\u2019s march, including <strong>Enrique Tarrio<\/strong> \u2013 the former Proud Boys leader who was convicted and later pardoned for his role in the January 6th insurrection \u2013 said that they were there to protest against the death of <strong>Ashli Babbitt<\/strong>, a rioter who was killed by Capitol police on the day of the 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Let the money go directly to the people,\u201d he said, referring to his own preference to give low-income enrollees the money in health savings accounts to use for medical expenses.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;960b74a9-5128-4294-8bd3-594049fc5326&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to let no money for the insurance companies,\u201d Trump told House members today. \u201cThey [Democrats] are owned by the insurance companies. You guys don\u2019t get money from the insurance companies. They do. They get a massive amount of money. It\u2019s their biggest donor. 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We will not let that happen,\u201d Jeffries said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;4c10c102-a2b5-409e-89e4-e3ce696da926&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trump pardoned almost everyone convicted or facing charges in the attack on his first day in office, and Jeffries noted that many of those went on to be charged with other offenses.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;623487d3-3c0f-4e19-9ce2-4c3129f654c6&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a Trump-inspired crime spree. Why won\u2019t Republicans in Congress condemn this dangerous behavior and ongoing threat to public safety?\u201d Jeffries asked.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;5e614503-46d2-42f5-82da-003b78e9d5ac&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey refuse to serve as a check and balance on an increasingly out of control executive branch, preferring to be nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump\u2019s extreme agenda. The January 6 violent attack on the Capitol that took place five years ago today was shameful then, it is shameful now, and it will be shameful always and forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;43b1b8a4-eda4-42e6-a542-fdbe0ab5e0c3&#8243;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767714165000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;10.42\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767720363000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;12.26\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767714618000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;10.50\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;10.50&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Top House Democrat says Trump has &#8216;attempted to rewrite history&#8217; on fifth anniversary of January 6 attacks&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[{&#8220;name&#8221;:&#8221;Chris Stein&#8221;,&#8221;imageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2023\/05\/25\/Chris_Stein.jpg?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=816e271eec6598b9b8784a001bf54a35&#8243;,&#8221;largeImageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2023\/05\/25\/Chris_Stein.png?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=5829f7087d8175b610aa897c2d8ded33&#8243;}],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695d29cd8f08a0ad6723e70d&#8221;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Donald Trump has characterized the weekend strikes on Venezuela\u2019s capital, Caracas, as \u201camazing\u201d and \u201cbrilliant\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;c5bb192f-9b55-45f9-abff-cebf39252cc5&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was amazing. And think of it, nobody was killed. And on the other side, a lot of people were killed,\u201d Trump said, noting the large number of Cubans who were killed in attacks. \u201cThey knew we were coming, and they were protected, and our guys weren\u2019t. You know, our guys are jumping out of helicopters \u2026 it was so brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;27d75798-e4b2-4196-9af4-e023f2544989&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The president called the operation \u201cbrilliant tactically\u201d and \u201can incredible thing\u201d. He added that the deposed leader, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, is a \u201cviolent guy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;09c5003c-1b3f-4967-b849-e973b1c7399d&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe gets up there and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit, but he\u2019s a violent guy, and he\u2019s killed millions of people,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;87dd6a86-06e4-4224-93ce-2d6618f1e685&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to House Republicans at their annual retreat, the president also said that lawmakers across the aisle have been reluctant to congratulate the president, despite their ongoing condemnation of Maduro\u2019s regime.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;b502bb1b-4cc8-4448-a524-94a13fafc88f&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt some point they should say, you know, \u2018you did a great job\u2019,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be good? 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of.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;f759ce3b-9645-49c3-8f09-57923c9ddca3&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Many people were imprisoned for protesting Maduro\u2019s declaration of victory or for participating in the opposition\u2019s electoral 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EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695ce6f48f0864efa422e4c1&#8243;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>Amy Hawkins<\/em> <em>is the Guardian\u2019s senior China correspondent<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;77d75120-e1ac-4b3b-8604-1d7aa51cb48d&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the trial of Venezuelan leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a> in New York \u201cseverely violat[ed] Venezuela\u2019s national sovereignty\u201d and undermined the stability of international relations.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;122360ec-5fae-4cba-9eee-15d61c1addfd&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The comments came the day after a China-backed emergency meeting at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/05\/un-security-council-trump-attack-venezuela\">UN Security Council<\/a> in which countries condemned the US\u2019s military operation to capture Maduro as illegal.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;31e7ba93-6bde-4f63-88fe-5934b6f691f5&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Venezuela is a key China ally in Latin America. The South American country has received over $100bn in Chinese loans and Maduro\u2019s last meeting was with a Chinese delegation visiting Caracas, who he greeted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/05\/venezuela-trump-attack-china-interests-analysis\">hours before<\/a> he was captured by US forces.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;c5a9006b-5feb-4822-9060-83c49134ed06&#8243;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767696116000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.41\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767697567000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;06.06\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767697567000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;06.06\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;06.06&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;US trial of Maduro undermines stability of international relations, China&#8217;s foreign ministry says&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[{&#8220;name&#8221;:&#8221;Amy Hawkins&#8221;,&#8221;imageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2024\/06\/24\/Amy_Hawkins.jpg?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=9be999a77e589a9b7a085d1621ad9ec9&#8243;,&#8221;largeImageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2024\/06\/24\/Amy_Hawkins.png?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=ecbaccdc9bf6a7d49499907bf4c10785&#8243;}],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695cdf868f088150d1a33b3d&#8221;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A <strong>spokesperson<\/strong> for the UN high commissioner for human rights, <strong>Volker T\u00fcrk<\/strong>, has said it is \u201c<strong>clear<\/strong>\u201d that the US military operation to capture Maduro and his wife over the weekend \u201c<strong>undermined a fundamental principle of international law<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;8983b5e3-d531-4b7d-8f37-9d64ef303a6b&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, the spokesperson said T\u00fcrk, a career UN official and human rights lawyer, is \u201c<strong>deeply worried<\/strong>\u201d about the \u201csituation in Venezuela\u201d, which has left many Venezuelans fearful as the country\u2019s acting president, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, starts presiding under the apparent supervision of Washington, with Trump vowing to take control of Venezuela\u2019s oil industry with the help of America\u2019s biggest oil companies.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;82e71b26-93db-4894-acdc-a67e7e0c5140&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Here is more of the statement issued by the spokesperson for the UN high commissioner for human rights:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;e2ff10f8-5012-47a8-ba46-53990135cb88&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quoted\"><p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>It is clear that the operation undermined a fundamental principle of international law \u2013 <strong>that <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>states must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>The US has justified its intervention on the grounds of t<strong>he Venezuelan government\u2019s longstanding and appalling human rights record<\/strong>, but accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law. The people of Venezuela deserve accountability through a fair, victim-centred process.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>As has been clear in the UN Human Rights Office\u2019s consistent reporting on the continued deterioration of the situation in Venezuela for about a decade, the rights of the Venezuelan people have been violated for too long. <strong>We fear that the current instability and further militari<\/strong><\/em><em><strong>sation in the country resulting from the US intervention will only make the situation worse<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;6b6539f3-266e-42f3-a616-e50e88ffeb2d&#8221;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767694214000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.10\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767695640000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.34\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767695282000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.28\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;05.28&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;It is &#8216;clear&#8217; the US raid on Venezuela &#8216;undermined a fundamental principle of international law&#8217;, UN human rights office says&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695cddb98f0864cb33d54458&#8243;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>Adam Gabbatt is a writer and presenter for Guardian US, based in New York<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;437e4899-05bc-425e-941a-acb82a35f078&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a> appeared in court in New York on Monday, his choice of lawyer quickly raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;ba562e44-00d8-4269-bed6-d14442ed2773&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The captured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\">Venezuelan<\/a> president was accompanied by <strong>Barry Pollack<\/strong>, a top-tier US trial lawyer who spent years representing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/julian-assange\">Julian Assange<\/a>, eventually securing the WikiLeaks founder\u2019s release from prison in the UK in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;d5b39b43-a3e4-4459-afbd-f4fd85c16135&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Pollack is a partner at Harris St Laurent &#038; Wechsler, a law firm based on New York\u2019s Wall Street in the financial district of lower Manhattan, just a few minutes walk from the federal court where Maduro pleaded not guilty to criminal charges on 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Barry Pollack speaks in Canberra, Australia, on 26 June 2024.&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;Lawyer Barry Pollack speaks in Canberra, Australia, on 26 June 2024.&#8221;,&#8221;credit&#8221;:&#8221;Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams\/Getty Images&#8221;}},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Pollack will take on a case as Maduro\u2019s private counsel that could prove to be just as challenging as that of Assange. Maduro was charged on Monday with drug-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, with the US government labelling Maduro a \u201cnarco-terrorist\u201d and an \u201cillegitimate president\u201d. He faces up to life in prison.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;d12e4e60-e6f4-47ad-bcfc-cbaf29acc2dd&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Harris St Laurent &#038; Wechsler did not respond to requests for comment about Pollack\u2019s involvement, but it is clear that in the legal world, he is highly regarded. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/chambers.com\/lawyer\/barry-j-pollack-usa-5:498918\">Chambers USA<\/a>, Pollack is a \u201cthorough and deep-thinking lawyer\u201d who \u201clives, breathes and sleeps trials, and has such a natural way in front of juries\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;7f6c8ae6-21be-4978-adc5-3851970aac22&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>You can read the full story here:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;2fa3cd83-e7cf-4708-9445-16de0023b368&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;prefix&#8221;:&#8221;Related: &#8220;,&#8221;text&#8221;:&#8221;Maduro\u2019s legal team includes acclaimed lawyer who represented Julian Assange&#8221;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;30be14e6-458b-46cd-950a-90727edea80c&#8221;,&#8221;role&#8221;:&#8221;thumbnail&#8221;,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/06\/barry-pollack-nicolas-maduro-lawyer&#8221;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767693753000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.02\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767693897000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.04\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767693898000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;05.04\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;05.04&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Maduro\u2019s legal team includes acclaimed lawyer who represented Julian Assange&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[{&#8220;name&#8221;:&#8221;Adam Gabbatt&#8221;,&#8221;imageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/static\/sys-images\/Guardian\/Pix\/contributor\/2015\/8\/21\/1440144767556\/Adam-Gabbatt.jpg?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=81895d465d79add63c46a548c9f1df77&#8243;,&#8221;largeImageUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06\/Adam-Gabbatt,-R.png?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=8c5b31f2183252cb733b6f47ddfeef45&#8243;}],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695ccb4e8f08c8e556cdf1bb&#8221;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the UK, the health secretary <strong>Wes Streeting<\/strong> has defended Keir Starmer\u2019s cautious response to the US attack in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Venezuela<\/a> despite MPs wanting the prime minister to condemn what is seen as an operation against a sovereign country in violation of international law.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;a5e2ee7e-6e39-4694-a565-22f776da1e56&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Starmer, always keen to keep on the good side of the US, has declined to criticise the US military operation over the weekend, unlike several Labour MPs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2026\/jan\/05\/venezuela-attack-embolden-china-russia-uk-labour-emily-thornberry\">including Emily Thornberry<\/a>, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;829cffa0-4d7d-4078-9984-7c2c7bac47c6&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Streeting told BBC Breakfast this morning that he had \u201cenormous respect\u201d for Thornberry, who was \u201cright\u201d to speak \u201chonestly and candidly\u201d about her view (that the lack of western condemnation could embolden China and Russia to take similar action against other countries).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;da71ad69-caf1-49bc-b239-a38e3a61071c&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>But he added:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;0ce20f1b-a242-421a-a748-68d21de646f7&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quoted\"><p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>The prime minister and the foreign secretary have a different role and responsibility, and <strong>their words carry different weight<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>And what I can tell you is that at every moment in recent days, since the US action in Venezuela, the prime minister has judged what he says and when he says it with one overriding consideration, which is how to make a challenging situation better, not worse, and how to do so in a way that protects the UK\u2019s national interests, our collective security, <strong>particularly in Europe at a difficult time<\/strong>, and also the best interests of the people of Venezuela who have the right to choose their own leaders and who governs them.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>That\u2019s what the prime minister has been doing, and I appreciate there are others who have been more strident and have been more critical of the United States.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<p><em>The prime minister has a different responsibility, and <strong>he is choosing his words carefully and wisely<\/strong> to try and influence how events unfold from here on.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;88dbab8d-81c9-46b5-badb-2c36b3a5be09&#8243;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767689038000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;03.43\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767689540000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;03.52\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767689474000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;03.51\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;03.51&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;British PM choosing his &#8216;words carefully&#8217; over response to US attack on Venezuela, health secretary says&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;},{&#8220;id&#8221;:&#8221;695c80ce8f085ac3c3a8d8f6&#8243;,&#8221;elements&#8221;:[{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to our live coverage of the continuing aftermath of the US military\u2019s weekend raid on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\">Venezuela<\/a> and removal of president <strong>Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/strong> from power.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;203f3f13-93ae-4c50-adc8-7ed2a9579b86&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace prize winner <strong>Mar\u00eda Corina Machado<\/strong> has said in her first televised interview since then that she hasn\u2019t spoken to <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> since October 2025.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;9fbe6638-64a9-4b61-9a70-0d07d3f7f962&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cActually, I spoke with president Trump on October 10, the same day the [Nobel Peace] prize was announced, [but] not since then,\u201d Machado said on Fox News. Machado \u2013 widely seen as Maduro\u2019s most credible opponent \u2013 left <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Venezuela<\/a> last month to travel to Norway to accept the award and hasn\u2019t returned since.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;120ef93d-90c4-4c2d-a26c-d9d2c05bd1b1&#8243;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m planning to go as soon as possible back home,\u201d she told Fox when asked about her plans to return to Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;1d25b490-c6d9-4da0-98a2-3127334338aa&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Saturday dismissed the idea of working with Machado, saying: \u201cShe doesn\u2019t have the support within or the respect within the country.\u201d US media reported on Monday that a classified CIA assessment presented to Trump concluded that senior Maduro loyalists, including interim president <strong>Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>, were best positioned to maintain stability.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;0dc58814-45d7-4359-b4f1-524618eac34e&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite this, Machado welcomed the US actions as \u201ca huge step for humanity, for freedom and human 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Rodr\u00edguez (in green) is sworn in as Venezuela\u2019s interim president on Monday after Maduro\u2019s capture by US forces&#8221;,&#8221;caption&#8221;:&#8221;Delcy Rodr\u00edguez (in green) is sworn in as Venezuela\u2019s interim president on Monday after Maduro\u2019s capture by US forces. &#8220;,&#8221;credit&#8221;:&#8221;Photograph: Marcelo Garcia\/Miraflores Palace\/Reuters&#8221;}},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In other key developments:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;8643349b-4872-4dc1-8b58-ce1909c2d00d&#8221;},{&#8220;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&#8221;,&#8221;html&#8221;:&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul>n <\/p>\n<li>n\n<p><strong>Mike Johnson<\/strong>, the Republican speaker of the US House, emerged from a classified briefing for congressional leaders insisting that \u201cwe are not at war\u201d and \u201cthis is not a regime change\u201d but \u201ca demand for a change of behaviour by a regime\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<li>n\n<p><strong>Chuck Schumer<\/strong>, the Senate\u2019s Democratic minority leader, expressed discontent with the briefing, calling the Trump administration\u2019s \u201cplan for the US \u2018running Venezuela\u2019 \u2026 vague, based on wishful thinking and unsatisfying\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<li>n\n<p>The reported appearance of unidentified drones over the presidential palace in Venezuela\u2019s capital on Monday night filled the night sky with <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Osinttechnical\/status\/2008334854811709845\">the sound of heavy gunfire<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Osinttechnical\/status\/2008340796546629679\">tracer fire<\/a> as the regime\u2019s security forces reacted to what they mistook for another raid.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<li>n\n<p>Trump suggested <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/trump-says-us-not-war-venezuela-rcna252427\">to NBC News<\/a> that US taxpayers could fund the rebuilding of Venezuela\u2019s infrastructure for extracting and shipping oil. \u201cA tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it, and then they\u2019ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p>n <\/p>\n<li>n\n<p>White House adviser <strong>Stephen Miller<\/strong> reaffirmed to CNN the Trump administration\u2019s position on Greenland becoming a part of the US.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p>n<\/ul>\n<p>&#8220;,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;57eee461-54a4-47b6-aec0-3d83ba037cdb&#8221;}],&#8221;attributes&#8221;:{&#8220;pinned&#8221;:false,&#8221;keyEvent&#8221;:true,&#8221;summary&#8221;:false},&#8221;blockCreatedOn&#8221;:1767674089000,&#8221;blockCreatedOnDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;23.34\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockLastUpdated&#8221;:1767699245000,&#8221;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;06.34\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublished&#8221;:1767674089000,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&#8221;:&#8221;23.34\u00a0EST&#8221;,&#8221;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&#8221;:&#8221;23.34&#8243;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;Opening summary&#8221;,&#8221;contributors&#8221;:[],&#8221;primaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;Tue 6 Jan 2026 14.17 EST&#8221;,&#8221;secondaryDateLine&#8221;:&#8221;First published on Mon 5 Jan 2026 23.34 EST&#8221;}],&#8221;filterKeyEvents&#8221;:false,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;key-events-carousel-mobile&#8221;,&#8221;renderingTarget&#8221;:&#8221;Web&#8221;,&#8221;serverTime&#8221;:1767727204419}&#8221;><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"><\/span><span><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><gu-island name=\"FilterKeyEventsToggle\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{\"filterKeyEvents\":false,\"id\":\"filter-toggle-mobile\"}\"><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label id=\"src-component-5477_description\" data-component=\"filter-key-events\" data-link-name=\"filter-key-events-on\">Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/label><\/p>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d5f368f082f208bb5a0f7\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2023\/05\/25\/Chris_Stein.png?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=5829f7087d8175b610aa897c2d8ded33\" alt=\"Chris Stein\"><\/p>\n<p><span>Chris Stein<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p><em><strong>Reporting from Capitol Hill:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Supporters of January 6 defendants have arrived at the edge of the Capitol, but are being stopped from proceeding on to its grounds by lines of police.<\/p>\n<p>The crowd, which numbers in the dozens, has attracted many journalists as well as a small group of counter protesters that are being kept away by police.<\/p>\n<p>They were playing Trump rally staple \u201cGod Bless the USA\u201d by Lee Greenwood, and just sang the national anthem, after which they chanted, \u201cAshli Babbitt!\u201d \u2013\u00a0the name of the rioter shot dead by police during the insurrection five years ago.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d4fed8f08189717ef3bf9\">\n<header>\n<h2>Brawl erupts as counter-protester is arrested at march by pardoned Jan 6ers<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>At a march held by dozens of supporters of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, which included pardoned rioters, a brawl erupted after a counter-protester used a bullhorn to interrupt speeches. One attendee tried to wrestle the bullhorn out of the protester\u2019s hands while she called those present \u201ctraitors\u201d. Eventually, she was handcuffed by the police.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"1c3028c0-1f77-468d-83de-d09257f42ba1\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\">\n<div id=\"img-2\"><picture><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Enrique Tarrio speaks during a rally ahead of a memorial march, marking five years since the attack on the US Capitol, 6 January 2026.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/16f87fa248aa27a417782160cd9203aa8baa1d0d\/539_0_5393_4314\/master\/5393.jpg?width=465&#038;dpr=1&#038;s=none&#038;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.96551084739474\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/picture><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\"><span><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><span>Enrique Tarrio speaks during a rally ahead of a memorial march, marking five years since the attack on the US Capitol, 6 January 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Many of those at today\u2019s march, including <strong>Enrique Tarrio<\/strong> \u2013 the former Proud Boys leader who was convicted and later pardoned for his role in the January 6th insurrection \u2013 said that they were there to protest against the death of <strong>Ashli Babbitt<\/strong>, a rioter who was killed by Capitol police on the day of the attack.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d53538f08a0ad6723e982\">\n<header>\n<p><span>Richard Luscombe<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n<p><strong>Florida\u2019s Republican governor Ron DeSantis has said he will look at bringing state charges against Venezuela\u2019s deposed president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, ostensibly for trafficking drugs to the state. <\/strong>\u201cWe\u2019ve had people in Florida that have been victimized,\u201d DeSantis said at a Tuesday morning press conference in Clearwater.<\/p>\n<p>Maduro remains in federal custody in New York after being snatched from his home in Caracas by US special forces on Saturday. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/05\/maduro-pleads-not-guilty\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">pleaded not guilty<\/a> to \u201cnarco-terrorism\u201d and weapons charges in a Manhattan court on Monday, and is unlikely to be able to travel to Florida any time soon to answer any charges state prosecutors bring.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, DeSantis said that might be necessary because of what he saw as an omission in the federal indictment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was obviously very involved with bringing drugs particularly to Florida, but you know what he would also do, and this is not in the federal indictment in New York, he would empty his prisons and send them to America across the border,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019d end up with some of these people in Florida, Tren de Aragua gang members that were in prison there. To me, that is a very hostile act.\u201d Florida is home to the largest number of Venezuelan expatriates in the US, many of whom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/04\/us-venezuelans-maduro-doral\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">cautiously celebrated Maduro\u2019s downfall<\/a> at the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis did not elaborate on what any charges might be, but said he would support any action taken by Florida\u2019s unelected state attorney, James Uthmeier, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcmiami.com\/news\/local\/desantis-says-florida-is-looking-into-bringing-state-charges-against-maduro\/3744605\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according to Miami\u2019s NBC 6<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"fd306bb3-b20a-45e5-a241-73d946475921\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\">\n<div id=\"img-3\"><picture><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Clearwater, Florida, 6 January 2026.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/8d980429dc96c20d4531e47c7293092870b62732\/339_0_2483_1987\/master\/2483.jpg?width=465&#038;dpr=1&#038;s=none&#038;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.1123640757149\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/picture><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\"><span><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><span>Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Clearwater, Florida, 6 January 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Katelyn Ferral\/Tampa Bay Times\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<article id=\"block-695d4b9c8f08a0ad6723e923\">\n<header><\/header>\n<div>\n<p>Congressional Democrats have noted today that a plaque meant to commemorate the sacrifices of Capitol police while defending lawmakers during the January 6 attack has not been hung in the Capitol halls. <\/p>\n<p>  \u201cThey\u2019re observing this solemn anniversary by doing, well, exactly nothing,\u201d Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman, said today at the opening of a hearing of the House judiciary committee. \u201cIt\u2019s been five years since January 6. It\u2019s been three years since that plaque was supposed to be put up but they still haven\u2019t put it up. It took them 24 hours to put up a new plaque, allegedly changing the name of the Kennedy Center to the \u2018Trump-Kennedy Center\u2019. 24 hours. And that was illegal. That\u2019s like graffiti that was put up on the Kennedy Center building. They have a legal requirement to put the plaque up, and I call on Speaker Johnson to put it up today. It\u2019s gathering dust in a closet somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<article id=\"block-695d47628f08189717ef3b63\">\n<header><\/header>\n<div>\n<p>The five-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol is drawing sharp and poignant reactions from Democratic lawmakers. <\/p>\n<p>   \u201dThose who fear the truth or attempt to distort it face a lesson in history,\u201d Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorDurbin\/status\/2008591983158456616\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> on X. \u201cThe reality of events will prevail and those who distort it will be relegated to a shameful trash heap reserved for traitors and liars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>   \u201cDonald Trump has done everything he can to try to rewrite the history of that day, even letting the 1500 insurrectionists, including those who senselessly beat cops, off scot-free,\u201d Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorBaldwin\/status\/2008575716557025618\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> in a series of posts on X. \u201cBut, Americans won\u2019t forget what they saw that dark day. And, neither will I. It was an attack on our Capitol, an attack on our police officers, an attack on your vote being counted fairly, and an attack on our very Democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>   Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland described Trump as \u201ca demagogue, a wannabe dictator, a man with no loyalty to our democracy and our Constitution,\u201d in a <a href=\"https:\/\/hoyer.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/hoyer-statement-marking-five-years-after-attack-us-capitol\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">statement<\/a> commemorating the attacks. \u201cHe told a mob of his supporters to \u2018stop the steal\u2019 and \u2018fight like hell.\u2019 There was no steal. But they did fight like hell. \u2026 They paraded the Confederate flag through the Capitol \u2013 something the Confederacy itself never achieved even in the most dire hours of the Civil War. They hunted for Vice President Pence and Speaker Pelosi, hoping to hang them from gallows they erected on the National Mall. Trump did nothing to stop the violence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>   Many, like Senator Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, took note of Trump\u2019s day-one blanket pardon of crimes committed in connection to the attack after his inauguration. She described the pardon as \u201cshameful\u201d and \u201cun-American\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The condemnations come as the president contends with the revelation of congressional testimony by former federal prosecutor Jack Smith had \u201cdeveloped proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.\u201d Smith\u2019s attempt to prosecute Trump was derailed by Trump\u2019s election win in 2024. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<article id=\"block-695d393d8f08a0ad6723e7f1\">\n<header>\n<h2>Trump implores GOP to win midterms, fears impeachment if Democrats regain control of House<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>Donald Trump implored Republican lawmakers to win the upcoming midterms while delivering an address that\u2019s lasted almost an hour and a half. \u201cIf we don\u2019t win the midterms \u2026 they\u2019ll find a reason to impeach me,\u201d Trump said of Democrats. \u201cWe don\u2019t impeach them, you know why, because they\u2019re meaner than we are. We should have impeached Joe Biden for 100 different things. They are mean and smart, but fortunately for you, they have horrible policy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, the president pushed gave several policy points for House GOP to double down on when campaigning. Chief among them: healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>A reminder that the widely popular Affordable Care Act premium tax credits lapsed at the end of last year, and lawmakers are now in search for a plan to stop healthcare premiums spiking for millions of Americans. Republican House speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring a vote to the floor this week on a plan by GOP-centrists that would extend the Obamacare subsidies for three years.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Trump pushed Republicans to \u201cown\u201d healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFigure it out. Let the money go directly to the people,\u201d he said, referring to his own preference to give low-income enrollees the money in health savings accounts to use for medical expenses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to let no money for the insurance companies,\u201d Trump told House members today. \u201cThey [Democrats] are owned by the insurance companies. You guys don\u2019t get money from the insurance companies. They do. They get a massive amount of money. It\u2019s their biggest donor. They\u2019re going to try and fight you, but they can\u2019t win the fight if you explain it, the money goes directly to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d38048f082f208bb59ed6\">\n<header>\n<h2>Trump teases meeting with oil executives following Maduro arrest<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>Speaking to House Republicans today, Trump teased his upcoming meeting with US oil manufacturing executives this week. \u201cYou know what that\u2019s about. We got a lot of oil to drill, which is going to bring down oil prices even further,\u201d the president said, telegraphing his plans to regain control of production in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Venezuela<\/a>.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d29478f08189717ef395a\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>Just a note that Doug LaMalfa\u2019s death means that the Republican majority in the US House stands at <strong>218 members<\/strong>, <strong>compared to the 213 Democratic lawmakers in the lower chamber<\/strong>. This also reflects the resignations of former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene \u2013\u00a0whose last day in Congress was on Monday.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d31658f08a0ad6723e75e\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>Throughout his remarks to House GOP today, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a> has made several baseless comments that elections in the US are \u201ccrooked\u201d or \u201ccorrupt\u201d. He\u2019s also repeated the falsehood that the 2020 election was \u201crigged\u201d \u2013 a claim that has added weight given the five-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d2d758f082f208bb59e11\">\n<header>\n<h2>Top House Democrat says Trump has &#8216;attempted to rewrite history&#8217; on fifth anniversary of January 6 attacks<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2023\/05\/25\/Chris_Stein.png?width=300&#038;quality=85&#038;auto=format&#038;fit=max&#038;s=5829f7087d8175b610aa897c2d8ded33\" alt=\"Chris Stein\"><\/p>\n<p><span>Chris Stein<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p><strong>Hakeem Jeffries<\/strong>, the top House Democrat, opened a hearing commemorating the fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack by strongly criticizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a> and his Republican allies\u2019 efforts to undercut accountability for the insurrection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of holding those responsible for the attack accountable, Donald Trump and far-right extremists in Congress have repeatedly attempted to rewrite history and whitewash the horrific events of January 6. We will not let that happen,\u201d Jeffries said.<\/p>\n<p>Trump pardoned almost everyone convicted or facing charges in the attack on his first day in office, and Jeffries noted that many of those went on to be charged with other offenses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a Trump-inspired crime spree. Why won\u2019t Republicans in Congress condemn this dangerous behavior and ongoing threat to public safety?\u201d Jeffries asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey refuse to serve as a check and balance on an increasingly out of control executive branch, preferring to be nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump\u2019s extreme agenda. The January 6 violent attack on the Capitol that took place five years ago today was shameful then, it is shameful now, and it will be shameful always and forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d29cd8f08a0ad6723e70d\">\n<header>\n<h2>Trump calls Caracas strikes &#8216;amazing&#8217; and &#8216;brilliant&#8217; at House GOP retreat<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>Donald Trump has characterized the weekend strikes on Venezuela\u2019s capital, Caracas, as \u201camazing\u201d and \u201cbrilliant\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was amazing. And think of it, nobody was killed. And on the other side, a lot of people were killed,\u201d Trump said, noting the large number of Cubans who were killed in attacks. \u201cThey knew we were coming, and they were protected, and our guys weren\u2019t. You know, our guys are jumping out of helicopters \u2026 it was so brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The president called the operation \u201cbrilliant tactically\u201d and \u201can incredible thing\u201d. He added that the deposed leader, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, is a \u201cviolent guy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe gets up there and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit, but he\u2019s a violent guy, and he\u2019s killed millions of people,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to House Republicans at their annual retreat, the president also said that lawmakers across the aisle have been reluctant to congratulate the president, despite their ongoing condemnation of Maduro\u2019s regime.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt some point they should say, you know, \u2018you did a great job\u2019,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be good? I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different, but if they did a good job, I\u2019d be happy for the country. They\u2019ve been after this guy for years and years and years, and he was a violent guy.\u201d<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d26268f08189717ef391f\">\n<header>\n<h2>Donald Trump addresses House Republicans at annual retreat<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p>The president is now addressing GOP House lawmakers at their annual retreat. \u201cYou win the presidency, and we sure as hell are having a successful presidency, I will say that,\u201d Trump said in his opening remarks. \u201cThere\u2019s been nothing like what we\u2019re doing. We had a very good day two days ago too,\u201d he added, seemingly referring to the strikes in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and arrest of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a> and his wife, Cilia Flores.<\/p>\n<p>Trump went on to express his condolences at the death of California congressman <strong>Doug LaMalfa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA true defender of American children. He was a defender of everybody,\u201d the president added. \u201cAnd our hearts go out to his wife, Jill, and his entire family.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"7d4fcab9-e396-4e68-980e-b2ab96a3df4b\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\">\n<div id=\"img-4\"><picture><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donald Trump addresses a House Republican retreat, 06 January 2026.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/90757a6c86229438ff35ba6dfe6d7bd3c62a90df\/249_0_4808_3846\/master\/4808.jpg?width=465&#038;dpr=1&#038;s=none&#038;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9613144758735\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/picture><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\"><span><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><span>Donald Trump addresses a House Republican retreat, 06 January 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<article id=\"block-695d20cc8f08189717ef38bf\">\n<header>\n<h2>Top Trump administration officials to brief all US senators on Venezuela strikes and Maduro capture<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p><strong>Several of the Trump administration\u2019s top officials will brief all Senate lawmakers on Capitol Hill tomorrow<\/strong>. This comes as the same group, including secretary of state <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong>, attorney general <strong>Pam Bondi<\/strong>, defense secretary <strong>Pete Hegseth<\/strong>, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff <strong>Dan Caine<\/strong>, spoke with a small group of congressional leaders on Monday about the military operation in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d1aa78f08a0ad6723e620\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>My colleagues, <strong>Dharna Noor<\/strong> and <strong>Oliver Milman<\/strong>, have been reporting on the climate implications of the president\u2019s focus on taking over oil production in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Venezuela<\/a>. Here\u2019s an excerpt of their story below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a>, by dramatically seizing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a> and claiming dominion over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Venezuela<\/a>\u2019s vast oil reserves, has taken his \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/mar\/12\/trump-fossil-fuels-oil-and-gas\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">drill, baby, drill<\/a>\u201d mantra global.<\/p>\n<p>Achieving the president\u2019s dream of supercharging the country\u2019s oil production would be financially challenging \u2013 and if fulfilled, would be \u201cterrible for the climate\u201d, experts say.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has aggressively sought to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/jan\/22\/trump-big-oil-energy-priorities-explained\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">boost oil and gas production<\/a> within the US. Now, following the capture and arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, he is seeking to orchestrate a ramp-up of drilling in Venezuela, which has the largest known reserves of oil in the world \u2013 equivalent to some 300bn barrels, <a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.energyinst.org\/search\/record?id=58930\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according to<\/a> research firm the Energy Institute.<\/p>\n<p>Leading US oil businesses such as Exxon and Chevron have so far <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/03\/us-oil-trump-venezuela\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">remained silent<\/a> on whether they would spend the huge sums required to enact the president\u2019s vision for Venezuela. But should Venezuela ramp up output to near its 1970s peak of 3.7m barrels a day \u2013 more than triple current levels \u2013 it would further undermine the already faltering global effort to limit dangerous global heating.<\/p>\n<p>Even raising production to 1.5m barrels of oil a day from current levels of around 1m barrels would produce around 550m tons of carbon dioxide a year when the fuel is burned, according to Paasha Mahdavi, an associate professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. This is more carbon pollution than what is emitted annually by major economies such as the UK and Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf there are millions of barrels a day of new oil, that will add quite a lot of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and the people of Earth can\u2019t afford that,\u201d said John Sterman, an expert in climate and economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n<p><em>You can read their full story here:<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"df0a0a0c-c946-4735-921c-4dfa4175ffa1\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{\"richLinkIndex\":8,\"element\":{\"_type\":\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\",\"prefix\":\"Related: \",\"text\":\"Trump taking \u2018drill, baby, drill\u2019 plan to Venezuela \u2018terrible\u2019 for climate, experts warn\",\"elementId\":\"df0a0a0c-c946-4735-921c-4dfa4175ffa1\",\"role\":\"inline\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/06\/trump-venezuela-oil-climate-crisis\"},\"ajaxUrl\":\"https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk\",\"format\":{\"design\":11,\"display\":0,\"theme\":0}}\"><\/gu-island><\/figure>\n<article id=\"block-695d12588f08a0ad6723e5ca\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>A reminder that in an interview with NBC News on Monday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a> named several top administration officials \u2013\u00a0including secretary of state <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong>, defense secretary <strong>Pete<\/strong> <strong>Hegseth<\/strong>, deputy White House chief of staff <strong>Stephen Miller<\/strong> and vice-president <strong>JD Vance<\/strong> \u2013 as the team who will help oversee America\u2019s involvement in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have all expertise, different expertise,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also told NBC that there was no possibility of an election within the next 30 days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to fix the country first. You can\u2019t have an election. There\u2019s no way the people could even vote,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>The president also noted in the interview that <strong>Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>, who was sworn in as Venezuela\u2019s interim leader after Maduro was arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom yesterday, has been \u201ccooperating\u201d with US officials. Trump also declined to say whether he\u2019s spoken to Rodr\u00edguez yet, but he said that Rubio \u201cspeaks to her fluently in Spanish\u201d and that their \u201crelationship has been very strong\u201d.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d08548f08189717ef378b\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>Donald Trump is in Washington today. <strong>We\u2019ll hear from him at 10am ET, when he addresses House Republicans at their annual retreat \u2013\u00a0taking place at the newly-minted \u2018Trump Kennedy Center\u2019<\/strong>. It will be the president\u2019s first public appearance since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>, and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in federal court on Monday and plead \u201cnot-guilty\u201d to all charges against them.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, House Democrats are holding a hearing to mark the five-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Those speaking include <strong>Brendan Ballou,<\/strong> who prosecuted several of the rioters, <strong>Winston Pingeon,<\/strong> a former Capitol police officer who was attacked on the day, and <strong>Pamela Hemphill<\/strong>, a rioter who refused Donald Trump\u2019s sweeping pardon.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695d02de8f08189717ef375a\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>A group of European countries underlined their support for <strong>Denmark<\/strong> today amid Donald Trump\u2019s renewed calls to take over <strong>Greenland<\/strong> after the removal of Venezuela\u2019s president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/nicolas-maduro\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You can read the statement from the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark, and catch up with the latest developments on Ukraine, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/jan\/06\/coalition-willing-paris-ukraine-zelenskyy-greenland-denmark-venezuela-trump-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">our Europe live blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<article id=\"block-695cfe7c8f082f208bb59b98\">\n<header><\/header>\n<p>My colleagues <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/tomphillips\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tom Phillips<\/a><em> <\/em>and<em><strong> <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/samjones\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Sam Jones<\/a> have looked at the opposition\u2019s reaction to the US\u2019s operation in Venezuela and Donald Trump\u2019s apparent dismissal of the idea that the conservative activist Mar\u00eda Corina Machado could now lead Venezuela. Here is an extract from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/06\/venezuela-opposition-maria-corina-machado-setback-trump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">their story<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\">\n<p><svg viewBox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\" \/><\/svg><em>\u201c[I felt] astonished, <strong>I could not believe what I was hearing<\/strong>,\u201d Ricardo Hausmann, a former minister and opposition supporter, said, <strong>capturing the opposition confusion and frustration that their movement\u2019s leader appeared to have been unexpectedly cast aside by the White House<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe political strategy that Trump and Marco Rubio have laid out is truly bizarre,\u201d Hausmann added, warning that post-Maduro Venezuela found itself in \u201ca legal and a political vacuum\u201d and still under the control of \u201cillegitimate leaders\u201d led by Rodr\u00edguez, who was sworn in as interim president on Monday.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"7bffe12d-ff42-4e45-b007-afa5e52cb401\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\">\n<div id=\"img-5\"><picture><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 660px)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"><source  media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mar\u00eda Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez address supporters in Caracas in July 2024.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/70e1a5aa20424514ffe943b55e6b84d6ee79ef41\/0_0_5173_3448\/master\/5173.jpg?width=465&#038;dpr=1&#038;s=none&#038;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"309.9400734583414\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/picture><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\"><span><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><span>Mar\u00eda Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez address supporters in Caracas in July 2024.<\/span> Photograph: Leonardo Fern\u00e1ndez Viloria\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\">\n<p><svg viewBox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\" \/><\/svg><em>One US official told the New York Times: \u201c[Rodr\u00edguez is] certainly someone we think we can work at a much more professional level than we were able to do with [Maduro].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Machado, whose movement is widely believed to have beaten Maduro in Venezuela\u2019s 2024 presidential election, sought to put a brave face on the situation on Monday, hailing Trump\u2019s \u201ccourageous vision\u201d and offering to share her Nobel peace prize with him during an interview with Fox News.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c[Maduro\u2019s removal] is a huge step for humanity,\u201d said Machado, who has not returned to Venezuela since sneaking out to travel to Oslo last month to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/dec\/12\/venezuela-maria-corina-machado-nicolas-maduro\">receive the Nobel prize<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>But analysts said opposition leaders were <strong>bitterly disappointed<\/strong> <strong>by Trump\u2019s decision not to back Machado and Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez, a former diplomat who ran in the 2024 election on Machado\u2019s behalf after she was banned and who is widely believed to have won by a landslide<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><gu-island name=\"LiveBlogEpic\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{\"sectionId\":\"us-news\",\"shouldHideReaderRevenue\":false,\"tags\":[{\"id\":\"us-news\/donaldtrump\",\"type\":\"Keyword\",\"title\":\"Donald Trump\"},{\"id\":\"us-news\/series\/us-politics-live-with-shrai-popat\",\"type\":\"Series\",\"title\":\"US politics live with Shrai Popat\"},{\"id\":\"world\/us-attack-on-venezuela\",\"type\":\"Keyword\",\"title\":\"US attack on Venezuela\"},{\"id\":\"world\/venezuela\",\"type\":\"Keyword\",\"title\":\"Venezuela\"},{\"id\":\"us-news\/trump-administration\",\"type\":\"Keyword\",\"title\":\"Trump administration\"},{\"id\":\"us-news\/us-foreign-policy\",\"type\":\"Keyword\",\"title\":\"US foreign 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And think of it, nobody was killed. And on the other side, a lot of people were killed,\u201d Trump said, noting the large number of Cubans [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}