Before the court appearance, the UN Security Council held an emergency session to discuss the situation in Venezuela. The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, justified the attack by describing Maduro as "an illegitimate so-called president". I am still president of my country," Maduro said earlier during the 30-minute hearing. Speaking just hours after Saturday's attack - which saw over 150 aircraft and 200 US personnel enter Venezuela - Trump vowed the US would "run" Venezuela until "a safe and proper and judicious transition" was possible. Thousands of Venezuelans gathered outside the Federal Legislative Palace to show support for Maduro, his wife and the interim president Rodríguez as she was sworn in.

Source: The Star January 06, 2026 09:12 UTC