Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan:

President Trump doesn’t have a limitation on his authority to make this country safe.

There’s no limitation.

The capture of Nicolás Maduro came after the breakdown of a late-December proposal that would have sent him into exile in Türkiye.

The arrangement would have allowed Maduro to leave Venezuela in exchange for oil-related concessions, but he rejected the offer.

After the talks collapsed, Operation Absolute Resolve proceeded, ending with his arrest and transfer to the United States.

Source: NYT

NEW: North Korea denounces Maduro’s capture as a “serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.”

Stephen Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, posts about Greenland.

Flights across Greece were disrupted Sunday morning due to a technical failure at the Athens Flight Information Region, grounding departures nationwide and affecting arrivals at Athens and regional airports.

The problem is linked to radio frequency systems at air traffic control centers.

Aircraft already in the air are landing normally, but all departures have been suspended as a precaution.

Source: Kathimerini

Netanyahu:

I express the full support of the Israeli government for the determined decision and decisive action of the United States regarding Venezuela.

This is about restoring freedom and justice to another region of the world.

Across Latin America, we are witnessing a historic shift — countries returning to the American axis and renewing ties with Israel.

Netanyahu:

Trump was absolutely unequivocal: Hamas must be disarmed.

There is no alternative. This is a fundamental and essential condition.

There was no concession on this point, and there will be no flexibility on this issue.

Netanyahu:

Four hundred kilograms of enriched material must be removed from Iran.

There must be strict, real supervision over all nuclear sites.

📸 New mural at Palestine Square, Tehran.

Netanyahu:

It is very possible that we are at a moment when the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands.

In the weeks before his capture, Maduro repeatedly appeared dancing and engaging in other displays of nonchalance on Venezuelan state television, projecting calm and defiance as the U.S. escalated threats against his government.

What was likely intended as a show of confidence and domestic control was interpreted by U.S. officials as mockery—evidence that Maduro believed Washington was bluffing.

Source: NYT

The Trump administration signaled it would accept Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s interim leader, viewing her as a more workable option than opposition figure María Corina Machado.

Rodríguez was seen as a pragmatic economic manager with experience stabilizing the country and overseeing oil production, while Machado, despite winning the 2024 election and later receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, was described by President Trump as lacking the authority and support needed to govern.

Source: NYT

Weeks before Maduro was captured, U.S. officials had already identified Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as an acceptable interim replacement.

Source: NYT

Trump never warmed to opposition leader María Corina Machado, despite her efforts to court his support by echoing his rhetoric and dedicating her Nobel Peace Prize to him.

Source: NYT

Somaliland, recently recognized by Israel, expresses support for the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.

NBC News: Why do you oppose working with the opposition leader, María Corina Machado. She’s a Nobel Peace Prize winner as well.

Rubio: The vast majority of the opposition is no longer present inside Venezuela. We have short-term issues that have to be addressed right away.

We expect to see more compliance and cooperation.

Marco Rubio on Venezuela:

Now there are other people in charge of the military and police apparatus there; they are going to have to decide now what direction they want to go.

We hope that they will choose a different direction than the one Maduro picked.

NBC News: How soon will elections be held in Venezuela? Within 30 days?

Rubio: Elections? I think it is premature at this point.

Marco Rubio:

All of the problems we had with Maduro when Maduro was there. We still have those problems in terms of them needing to be addressed.

We are going to give people an opportunity to address those challenges and those problems. Until they address it, they will continue to face this oil quarantine.

They will continue to face pressure from the United States. We will continue to target drug boats if they try to run towards the United States.

We will continue to seize the the boats that are sanctioned with court orders.

We will continue to do that and potentially other things until the things we need to see addressed are addressed.

Marco Rubio:

There's not a war. We are at war against drug trafficking organizations — not a war against Venezuela.

NBC News: Who’s going to run Venezuela? So is it you? Is it Secretary Hegseth?

Rubio: Well, it’s not about “running” the country in that sense. It’s about policy.

We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction.