Following the high-stakes capture of Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump has issued a chilling ultimatum to Venezuela’s interim leadership, asserting U.S. control over the nation and threatening a “second wave” of military strikes if his demands are not met.
President Donald Trump ramped up his rhetoric against the remaining leadership in Caracas on Monday (January 5, 2026), warning that a second military strike is “not off the table” if the country’s acting administration fails to cooperate. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump declared the United States is effectively “in charge” of Venezuela following Operation Absolute Resolve, the daring weekend raid that saw Nicolás Maduro snatched from his residence and flown to a federal detention center in New York.
The warning comes as Venezuela enters a period of unprecedented political chaos.
- The “Behave” Ultimatum: When asked if further military action was possible, Trump was blunt: “If they don’t behave, we’ll do a second strike.” He revealed a “second wave” of attacks was prepared for the initial operation but was held back due to the “incapacitation” of Venezuelan defenses.
- The Capture of Maduro: Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. They face federal charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine importation, with Maduro scheduled to appear before a judge later today.
- Interim Friction: Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has publicly condemned Maduro’s removal as a “kidnapping” and an “atrocity.” But Trump claimed private communications are already underway, suggesting Rodríguez “doesn’t have a choice” but to comply.
- Helicopter Damage: Trump confirmed one U.S. helicopter was “hit pretty badly” during the Caracas operation, though he stressed no U.S. personnel were killed.
Invoking the Monroe Doctrine
Defending the intervention, Trump invoked the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy asserting U.S. dominance over the Western Hemisphere. “It’s about peace on Earth… It’s our hemisphere,” Trump said, criticizing previous administrations for losing sight of the doctrine’s importance. He framed the capture not as a coup, but as a “law enforcement action” aimed at dismantling a “narco-state.”
While Trump previously suggested the U.S. would “run” the country, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to clarify the administration’s stance. Rubio said the U.S. goal isn’t day-to-day governance but enforcing an “oil quarantine” to push a transition. Trump echoed this by saying his focus is on “getting Venezuela fixed” rather than immediate elections, which he said would happen only “at the right time.”
The “Absolute Resolve” operation has sent shockwaves across Latin America:
- Colombia: President Gustavo Petro has reportedly deployed 30,000 troops to the border, as Trump hinted Colombia might be the next target for a similar anti-narcotics operation.
- Mexico & Cuba: Trump issued vague warnings to both nations, claiming Cuba is “ready to fall” and urging Mexico to “get its act together” regarding border and drug flows.
With 15,000 U.S. troops remaining in the Caribbean and a 90-day state of emergency declared in Caracas, the situation remains a powder keg. As Maduro faces the “full wrath of American justice” in a Manhattan court today, all eyes are on Delcy Rodríguez to see if she’ll “behave” or face the promised second wave of U.S. strikes.
Also Read / The ‘Donroe Doctrine’: Is Trump’s Venezuela strategy turning into the next Iraq?
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