FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 12, 2026

As Venezuela's leader is held in New York on drug charges, Trump plans next steps in that oil-rich country

The world waits for what'll follow President Donald Trump's extraordinary toppling of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The South American nation's president was seized early this month in a pre-dawn raid by more than 80 U.S. Army Delta Force commandos who arrived on helicopters sent from a warship offshore. Maduro, a dictator in the formerly democratic country, pled not guilty last week in New York City to federal charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns.

Trump says America will control Venezuelan oil exports indefinitely. "We're going to be taking out a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground," he told reporters hours after Maduro's arrest Jan. 3. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the United States will control all oil from Venezuela for the foreseeable future, as it is doing by boarding and diverting outbound tankers in an "oil quarantine." Trump met Friday at the White House with executives from Chevron, Exxon Mobil and other U.S. oil drillers to discuss potential roles for their firms. The president also says Venezuelan oil revenues would now be used exclusively to buy American products.

The Spanish-speaking country of 31 million is being run by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro's vice president. She issued a statement endorsing a "cooperation agenda" with the U.S. and freed some political prisoners, though she says "a stain" now contaminates relations between the countries. Trump says the U.S. will oversee elections there "at the right time" and warns Rodríguez to comply with U.S. wishes or "face a situation probably worse than Maduro."

Top administration officials don't rule out further military actions, including troops in Venezuela. "Republicans support what the president has done," says Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming. "It was an incredible act and the military was absolutely superb." But in the Senate late last week, five Republicans joined Democrats in a 52-47 vote to debate a war powers resolution. Passage would require congressional authorization for continued U.S. military operations in Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the operation was a "law enforcement" one, not a military action., adding: "We will seek congressional approval for actions that require congressional approval . . . and this is not an operation that required congressional approval."

Secretary of State says: "We are at war against drug trafficking organizations, not a war against Venezuela." – Marco Rubio

Democratic leader says: "This was not simply a counternarcotics operation. It was an act of war." – Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House minority leader

Law professor says: "I don't think there is a legal basis for what we’re seeing in Venezuela." – Oona Hathaway, Yale University

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.