# US attacks Venezuela and captures President Maduro - Jan 3, 2026 {Breaking News} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [January 3, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300 "2026-01-03T12:38:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/1 "2026-01-03T12:38:19Z")
This is the Breaking News thread. CNN updating link below [https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/venezuela-explosions-caracas-intl-hnk-01-03-26](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/venezuela-explosions-caracas-intl-hnk-01-03-26) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/2 "2026-01-03T13:14:30Z")
Trump will hold a news conference at 11am EST ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/3 "2026-01-03T15:51:44Z")
Reddit claims the US bombed the mausoleum of Hugo Chavez. That’s just petty. > [Mausoleum of Hugo Chavez in Caracas targeted in US strike](https://i.redd.it/82upp2fpm3bg1.jpeg) > **[https://preview.redd.it/82upp2fpm3bg1.jpeg?width=631&auto=webp&s=86f929e...](https://preview.redd.it/82upp2fpm3bg1.jpeg?width=631&auto=webp&s=86f929ed3b60ef1b5cac22fb38b0dcc16a40c56e)** ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/4 "2026-01-03T15:56:04Z")
Already-existing thread here: > [@The US is currently attacking Caracas (Venezuela), has captured Maduro](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296): > > Lots of airstrikes and helicopters. Bluesky is suggesting it’s likely to be a snatch and grab attempt on Maduro. Fucking wild. Puzzlegal edited to add: This is a general discussion thread. A breaking news thread has been created here I expect P&E and Pit threads will likely be opened as well, and if so, i will link them here. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/5 "2026-01-03T15:59:34Z")
This is the breaking news thread. That one is for commentary and speculation ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/6 "2026-01-03T16:04:59Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That’s just petty. Petty, but typical of this administration. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/7 "2026-01-03T16:44:17Z")
We have just crossed into the Sudetenland. Metaphorically. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/8 "2026-01-03T17:17:59Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Already-existing thread here: > > [The US is currently attacking Caracas (Venezuela), has captured Maduro](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296) That one may have been intended as breaking news, but it got pretty political before anyone flagged it as such. Please keep political jabs out of this one. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/9 "2026-01-03T17:18:57Z")
Moderating: > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > > That’s just petty. > > Petty, but typical of this administration. That’s the type of comment better for the other thread. 😉 I know this is going to be challenging. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/10 "2026-01-03T23:17:03Z")
Delcy Rodriguez, the President de facto, is in charge in the meantime. I hope she has decent relationships with the military command, legislature and cabinet. To suddenly fill the holes must take great executive action. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/11 "2026-01-04T02:12:27Z")
trump enjoyed watching it. I can’t wait for the movie. > Lisa Simpson: You’ve got the plant but we’ve got the power We’ve got the oil. Why’d they bring Maduro to New York? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/12 "2026-01-04T02:35:59Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Why’d they bring Maduro to New York? Political reasons no doubt, so it can’t be discussed in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/13 "2026-01-04T02:46:50Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Political reasons no doubt, so it can’t be discussed in this thread. Thanks for the thread pointer. My theory wasn’t “He hadn’t been and wanted to visit” ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/14 "2026-01-04T02:46:55Z")
Unlike the people in Afghanistan or Iraq, the public in Venezuela have a long history of democracy. Maduro supposedly lost the last 2 elections, he just refused to step down. I really hope they transition back to a working democracy, because Chavez and Maduro have ruined the lives of endless Venezuelans. However how do you uproot all the loyalists? The military, militias, etc are likely full of loyalists. You can’t just kidnap the leader and expect all the military, police and paramilitary groups to disband and give up. You’d need to disband the supreme court in Venezuela (which is full of Maduro loyalists) and rewrite the constitution. I hope the EU gets involved in helping that happen. This needs to be a global effort if they are actually going to recreate the Venezuelan government and turn it back into a democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/15 "2026-01-04T02:53:07Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Why’d they bring Maduro to New York? Because he was indicted by a grand jury in New York. He has to go there to face trial. Just like Noriega was sent to Miami to face his indictment there. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/16 "2026-01-04T02:57:37Z")
Dunno why either states were chosen for grand juries, yet trying to be good on my threads. With trump it’s almost always BBQ. I did see a picture of him flying with blackout glasses on. Are hoods out of style? Did he not know the way to New York? (all facetious). ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-attacks-venezuela-and-captures-president-maduro-jan-3-2026-breaking-news/1026300/17 "2026-01-17T01:46:24Z")
I don’t know which thread to put this in, but was anybody else aware of this? > **[Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some...](https://www.semafor.com/article/01/14/2026/us-gets-first-500-million-venezuelan-oil-deal-holding-some-proceeds-in-qatar)** > > The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro. In short, Trump ‘sold’ about a half-billion worth of Venezuelan oil, and then put the proceeds into an account in [wait for it] Qatar over which [wait for it] Trump himself is said to have total control. A dictator does what? Stashes money in ‘safe places’ for their inevitable ouster? As they say in Caracas, _no bueno._