Nicolás Maduro Guerra publicly pledged "unconditional support" to interim President Delcy Rodríguez as she was sworn in by the National Assembly, marking Maduro Guerra's first public appearance since his father and stepmother were captured and extradited to New York. Maduro Guerra condemned the U.S. operation as a "kidnapping" and warned it threatened global stability. International reactions were mixed: China and Russia condemned the U.S. action while some regional governments expressed support. Opposition leader María Corina Machado praised the arrests and outlined plans for a post‑Maduro Venezuela.
Maduro's Son Pledges 'Unconditional Support' for Interim President Delcy Rodríguez After U.S. Arrests
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of ousted President Nicolás Maduro, speaks to demonstrators on the day Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was formally sworn in as Venezuela's interim president in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 5, 2026.
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, often known as "Nicolasito," publicly pledged his "unconditional support" to Delcy Rodríguez after she was sworn in as interim president of Venezuela. Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Nicolás Maduro, took the oath as the National Assembly began a new term that will run through 2031.
My unconditional support for the very hard task you've been given. Count on me, count on my family, count on our firmness in taking the right steps at the forefront of this responsibility that is now yours.
The remarks marked Maduro Guerra's first public appearance since his father, Nicolás Maduro, and his stepmother, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces in Caracas and extradited to New York. Maduro Guerra, a legislator, attended a planned swearing-in ceremony of the National Assembly alongside other ruling-party lawmakers, The Associated Press reported.
At the opening session of the National Assembly's new legislative term, Delcy Rodríguez is sworn in as acting president of Venezuela, pledging loyalty to Nicolás Maduro and to Hugo Chávez in Caracas on Jan. 5, 2026.
Accusations and Reactions
Maduro Guerra condemned the U.S. operation as a "kidnapping," warning that normalizing the seizure of a head of state would threaten global political stability. He said that if such actions become routine, "no country is safe."
Rodríguez, sworn in on Monday and vice president since 2018, criticized the U.S. military action but said she intends to engage with the Trump administration. "I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland," she said, according to the AP.
What Happened
The Trump administration announced that U.S. forces seized Maduro and Cilia Flores early on a Saturday morning at their Caracas residence following what the administration described as "large-scale" military strikes against Venezuelan government targets. Both are being held in New York pending narco-terrorism charges, the reports say. The unprecedented operation drew both praise and condemnation internationally.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures during an anti-government protest on Jan. 9, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela.
International And Domestic Response
Major powers including China and Russia publicly condemned the U.S. action, calling it unlawful. Some regional governments, including Argentina, voiced support for the arrests.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado — who the article reports was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her efforts on behalf of Venezuelan freedom — welcomed the arrests as a turning point. In an interview she described Jan. 3 as "a day that justice defeated tyranny," and outlined priorities for a post-Maduro Venezuela: dismantling criminal networks, restoring rule of law and foreign investment, transforming Venezuela into an energy hub, and enabling the return of millions of displaced Venezuelans to help rebuild the country.
Machado, who has spent more than a year in hiding, said she plans to return to Venezuela.
Reporting: Fox News Digital's Maria Lencki and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
