Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a federal court in New York City on Monday, following their capture by U.S. forces over the weekend in a military operation in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
Following the operation, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for an unspecified "period of time."
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim leader to lead the country after what the Venezuelan Supreme Court described as Maduro's "kidnapping."
Trump slams Republicans who voted to advance resolution
Following the Senate vote to advance a Venezuela war powers resolution, President Donald Trump is publicly calling out the Republican Senators who voted for the resolution, saying they “should be ashamed” and “never be elected to office again."
“This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief,” Trump said in a post on social media.
President Donald Trump speaks during the House Republican Party member retreat at the Kennedy Center in Washington, January 6, 2026.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Jan 08, 2026, 1:12 PM EST
Senate advances Venezuela war powers resolution
Dealing a rather striking rebuke to the Trump administration, a small group of Senate Republicans joined with all Democrats to narrowly advance a war powers resolution that would block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.
The legislation advanced by a vote of 52-47. It needed 51 votes to move forward.
Republican Sens. Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Todd Young, Susan Collins and Josh Hawley voted with all Democrats in favor of the legislation.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer depart after speaking to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 8, 2026.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
This was a test vote. The Senate will still have to take a vote on final passage of the legislation, and it is not yet clear when that vote will be. Still, this afternoon's vote is a strong indication that the Senate will formally pass the resolution.
If the Senate ultimately passes this bill, it will still need to be approved by the House and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Jan 08, 2026, 12:46 PM EST
Venezuela to release 'significant number' of prisoners, top official says
A “significant number” of prisoners will be released as a gesture from the Venezuelan government to “seek peace,” Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said during a press conference Thursday.
"Consider this gesture by the Bolivarian government, which is broadly intended to seek peace, as the contribution that we must all make to ensure that our Republic continues to live in peace and in pursuit of prosperity," he said, according to an Associated Press translation.
Members of the Bolivarian National Police disembark from a truck, outside the Helicoide detention centre, as the release of foreign and Venezuelan prisoners is expected in Caracas, Venezuela, January 8, 2026.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
-ABC News' Othon Leyva and Ismario Rodriguez Perez
Jan 08, 2026, 10:00 AM EST
Colombian president agrees to visit White House in coming weeks
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accepted an invitation to visit the White House to meet with President Donald Trump in the coming weeks, Colombia’s Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said in Bogota Thursday morning.
This comes after the leaders spoke on the phone for about an hour on Wednesday and Trump announced they would be meeting.
