Overview
- President Trump says the United States will temporarily run Venezuela until a “safe, just and orderly” transfer of power.
- Federal prosecutors filed narcotics and narco-terrorism charges and say Maduro will be prosecuted in New York, with a court appearance expected Monday.
- Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez interim president, the armed forces pledged support, and officials claim about 40 people were killed in the operation.
- Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said much of Maduro’s security detail died during “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which U.S. commanders described as a highly precise 30-minute raid using more than 150 aircraft.
- Colombia condemned the action, convened an emergency security meeting, and deployed forces to its Venezuela border, while U.S. officials defend the mission as a law-enforcement arrest and critics question its legality.