Confusion As Sporadic Gunfire Erupts Near Venezuela's Presidential Palace Soon After Rodriguez Sworn In
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Update(20:50ET): A mere hours after widespread American mainstream media reports named Maduro's staunchly 'loyal' Vice Presedent Delcy Rodríguez a CIA/US military informer who cooperated with the Trump-ordered invasion which ousted and kidnapped the country's sitting head of state to US soil, there are reports of heavy gunfire engulfing the Venezuelan capital, near the presidential palace. Though there are conflicting reports.
CNN is confirming that something - though we don't know exactly what - is going down (somewhat to be expected after an apparent coup supported by US military invasion):
Gunfire heard near Venezuelan presidential palace: Gunfire was heard in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday night, near the Miraflores presidential palace. Videos geolocated by CNN show what appear to be lights from drones and anti-aircraft fire across the night sky.
It’s unclear what the situation is related to. CNN has reached out to Venezuela’s ministries of communication and foreign affairs for more information.
Celebratory gunfire? The counter-revolution begins? False trigger of anti-air defenses? Or the storming of the presidential palace...
BREAKING: Venezuelan Security Forces Open Fire on Unidentified Drones Over Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas
There are competing reports that the mayhem was triggered by an inbound civilian or hobby drone mistaken for a threat. Polymarket reports, as everyone is no doubt on edge and trigger-happy...
BREAKING: Venezuelan Presidential Guard reportedly mistook their own drones for the enemy, potential case of friendly-fire. https://t.co/IaJRmQTaKw
According to testimony from local residents, the gunfire and assemblage of military forces in Miraflores, Venezuela, were the result of a misunderstanding caused by a civilian drone.
Update(1820ET): Rumors naming the high level Venezuelan official who handed Maduro to the US military, and cooperated with the CIA, have been flying all day. A breaking report in The Wall Street Journal Monday evening names the name top on everyone's list, confirming the rumors or what was becoming increasingly obvious to close observers:
A recent classified U.S. intelligence assessment determined top members of Nicolás Maduro’s regime—including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez—would be best positioned to lead a temporary government in Caracas and maintain near-term stability if the autocrat lost power, people familiar with the matter said.
The analysis by the Central Intelligence Agency was briefed to President Trump and shared with a small circle of senior administration officials, according to two of the people. It was a factor in Trump’s decision to back Maduro’s vice president instead of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, some of the people said.
The assessment provides insight into Trump’s decision not to support the opposition’s bid for control of Venezuela following the brazen U.S. military operation to capture Maduro last week and bring him to the U.S. for trial. As in his first term, Trump was convinced that near-term stability in Venezuela could be maintained only if Maduro’s replacement had the support of the country’s armed forces and other elites.
What next? There are obvious fears of some kind of insurgency or political chaos akin to the post regime change Libya or Iraq years. Meanwhile...
President Trump says “we have to fix” Venezuela before the country holds elections to replace deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to an interview with NBC News.
But "fixing a country" is a very tall order, even when it comes to the United States. Or how about those elections in Ukraine?
* * *
And the arraignment circus begins. With world media cameras gathered outside the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan and the court "perp walk" of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores set to take place at around noon (eastern), a gaggle of rival protest groups have gathered.
MADURO SAYS HE IS NOT GUILTY OF US NARCO-TERRORISM CHARGES
MADURO SAYS HE IS AN INNOCENT, DECENT MAN
CILIA FLORES ALSO PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO US CHARGES
CILIA FLORES SAYS SHE IS `COMPLETELY INNOCENT'
JUDGE SETS NEXT MADURO HEARING FOR MARCH 17
Maduro: "I'm innocent. I'm a decent man. I'm the president of Venezuela. I consider myself a prisoner of war."
Delcy Rodriguez has been formally sworn in as new president of Venezuela, amid strong rumors that she cooperated with the CIA to oust Maduro.
The opposing groups appear to number in the several dozens each, some holding "USA hands off of Venezuela" and "US out of Latin America" signs - while others are celebrating the US ouster of the longtime socialist strongman who was accused by Washington last July of 'stealing' the national election which kept him in power.
Threats and slogans are being hurled in both Spanish and English across police-erected barriers. They represent the political divide not only among the Venezuelan community in the US, but also with some among contingent accused of being "paid Left-wing agitators". But we can also imagine that more simply anti-war Americans are among them, but also without doubt pro-socialist activists. The day is about to get a lot more interesting...
NOW: Confrontations and Clashes continue between Venezuelans and Pro-Maduro Protesters outside of the NYC Court where Maduro is being processed
Some conservative pundits are claiming that among the most vocal protesters include Venezuelan-government linked agitators, or else diehard socialists.
But amid a thick information war kicking into full gear, there's reason to question all simplistic claims and counter-claims at this point:
🚨🇻🇪 BREAKING — Even Members of the Venezuelan Opposition Are Now Demanding Maduro´s Release. pic.twitter.com/a9cXmuD0K6
However, plenty of Libertarians, anti-war Conservatives, and even those among Trump's MAGA base are standing against the brazen US military invasion of Venezuela, which Trump has long admitted is to essentially 'get back' control of the country's significant proven oil reserves.
BREAKING NOW: Chaos outside Manhattan federal courthouse as real Venezuelan exiles clash with pro-Maduro leftist protesters demanding his release.
— Dave Benner, Nemesis of Neocons (@dbenner83) January 4, 2026
In Caracas, the government under Maduro's VP and now Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has ordered police to arrest anyone who helped the US military invasion and capture of Maduro.
And will the CIA now get its Caracas base of operations back? The US is preparing to reopen its embassy in Caracas if President Trump authorizes.
* * *
That didn't take long. At a moment Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife Flores are set to appear before a New York federal judge on various drug-trafficking and gun-running related charges, his VP and now apparently Interim President Delcy Rodriguez is offering a huge olive branch.
This is unsurprising given the staunchly socialist, pro-Maduro number two under the ousted president is herself under immense pressure from Washington, and still facing down the barrel of Uncle Sam's gun - or rather the collective might of the Pentagon's persisting US naval blockade just off Latin America's coast.
She's quickly expressed her willingness to cooperate with the United States on the future of Venezuela, in a significant shift in tone following Maduro's Friday into Saturday morning 'shock' abduction by US special forces.
"We consider it a priority to move towards a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela," Rodriguez wrote on Telegram Sunday.
And more than that, her following words convey willingness of Caracas to bend the knee: "We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperation agenda, aimed at shared development, within the framework of international law, and to strengthen lasting community coexistence," she stated.
This emphases on a "cooperation agenda" is something that Maduro himself had desperately offered Trump, reportedly over the last several weeks, but this appeared too little, too late from the US admin's perspective.
Rodriguez is watching from Caracas as Maduro gets hauled to court in front of media cameras:
Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president, and his wife were expected to appear at noon on Monday in federal court in Manhattan to face charges of drug trafficking and other crimes, two days after they were captured in a U.S. military raid in Caracas.
Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were escorted off a helicopter in Downtown Manhattan on Monday morning and were being brought to the courthouse to face charges including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, according to an unsealed indictment. Their capture on Saturday followed a monthslong campaign by the Trump administration to drive out the autocratic leader.
He has arrived at the New York courthouse at this point, having been transported by amored vehicle after spending the night in a Brooklyn jail.
BREAKING: Nicolás Maduro surrounded by heavy security as he is transported to New York City court ahead of his arraignment. pic.twitter.com/2EqrMrNKxe
President Trump has warned that if authorities in Venezuela fail to cooperate, the United States would carry out a second strike on Venezuela, noting that any decision to deploy ground troops there would depend on how the situation develops and how Venezuela responds.
He's also meanwhile said the idea of launching an operation involving Colombia "sounds good" to him in comments Sunday, describing the country as being in serious trouble and claiming it is currently led by "a sick man" - and even suggested he won't remain long in power.
It was actually Colombia which has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, set also for Monday. The South American country is a non-permanent member of the Council, and was supported by permanent members China and Russia.
Meanwhile the theft of Venezuelan assets has begun, with the Swiss government moving on Monday to freeze any holdings of Maduro and his associates "with immediate effect".
