Al-Watan Al-Youm News – January 5, 2026
International Politics – Written by Hassan Al-Najjar
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his country is taking the lead in the Venezuelan scene following the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, while confirming that Washington is communicating with the new transitional leadership in Caracas.
Trump explained, during his conversation with journalists aboard the presidential plane “Air Force One,” in response to a question about whether he had communicated with the interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez,
that the United States is currently dealing with the new officials who have taken the constitutional oath, adding that he prefers not to delve into specifying the responsible party directly to avoid stirring controversy.
When asked about the intent of this statement, Trump stressed that what is happening reflects that the United States is the one leading the course of events in Venezuela.
Committee for Maduro’s Release
In the same context, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez announced the formation of a special committee to consider the release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, after their arrest and transfer to the United States.
Maduro, who faces U.S. accusations related to drug trafficking and supporting terrorism, was placed in a New York prison on Saturday, and is scheduled to appear before U.S. judiciary in the city on Monday.
For his part, Venezuelan Information Minister Freddy Nanez announced the formation of a “high-level” committee including a number of senior officials, chaired by Parliament Speaker Jorge Rodriguez and Foreign Minister Ivan Gil.
In parallel, Delcy Rodriguez called, via a message published on the “Telegram” app, for establishing balanced relations based on mutual respect with the United States, and held the first cabinet meeting after assuming the interim presidency duties.
These rapid developments in Venezuela witness a radical transformation in the political scene, as the transitional leadership seeks to restore internal stability while preserving the country’s sovereignty, amid increasing international pressures and global anticipation for the results of Maduro’s U.S. trial.
