LIVE: Maduro arrives in New York to face criminal charges | NBC News NOW

, FROM OTHER, OTHER OTHER AREAS, COLOMBIA, ETC. BUT IT IS BEING SOLD AS A WAR ON DRUGS. NOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DIRECT MILITARY STRIKES ON DIRECT EXCUSE ME, ON MILITARY STRIKES, DIRECTLY ON MILITARY TARGETS THAT SUSTAIN THE REGIME, THAT GOES BEYOND JUST A WAR AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS, A WAR AGAINST SMALL BOATS CARRYING RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS OF NARCOTICS, ALLEGEDLY. SO THIS THIS IS A. MESSAGE THAT THE REGIME WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IGNORE ANY LONGER. >> RICHARD, LET'S STAY ON ON THAT POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING THERE ABOUT ABOUT A MESSAGE WE SPOKE EARLIER WITH WILL

FREEMAN, THE FELLOW FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES AT COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. AND ONE THING HE MENTIONED WAS, OF COURSE, WE CAN'T SPECULATE WHAT THAT NEXT STEP MIGHT BE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. BUT HE DID SAY THAT ANY SUCCESS HERE WOULD HAVE TO COME WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND. ARE YOU HEARING FROM ANY OF YOUR SOURCES ABOUT ANY NOT POTENTIAL THAT THIS, THAT THAT WOULD BE ANY SORT OF IMPENDING NEXT STEP, BUT JUST THE POSSIBILITY OF OF THAT EVEN BEING A CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION AT SOME POINT. >> CONSIDERATION. EVERYTHING

IS UNDOUBTEDLY UNDER CONSIDERATION. AND THE PENTAGON PLANS FOR, FOR EVERY SCENARIO, IN EVERY CONFLICT. SO I'M SURE THEY DO HAVE A, A PLAN FOR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. BUT NO ONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAS, HAS, HAS CONSIDERED THAT AS A SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THAT IS A REAL POSSIBILITY. THE THE ABSOLUTE PREFERENCE WOULD BE ECONOMIC PRESSURE. AND VENEZUELA IS ALREADY UNDER TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC PRESSURE FROM, FROM THE UNITED STATES. BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WITH, WITH, WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ONLY GO SO FAR. WE'VE SEEN IT WITH IRAN.

IRAN IS ONE OF THE MOST SANCTIONED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, YET IT CONTINUES TO FIND ALLIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD CHINA AND RUSSIA, OTHER PARTS OF THE SO-CALLED GLOBAL SOUTH HELP SUSTAIN IT. SAME THING WITH NORTH KOREA. NORTH KOREA IS SANCTIONED, BUT IT FINDS WAYS WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA AND OTHER ALLIES TO KEEP ITS ECONOMY MOVING. SO THE NEXT PRESSURE CAMPAIGN WOULD BE, IS OR HAS HAS BEEN MILITARY STRIKES, BOATS ON LAND POTENTIALLY NOW IN CARACAS, BOOTS ON THE GROUND AMERICAN TROOPS OCCUPYING A TERRITORY IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF OF CONFLICT. THAT

WOULD BE AMERICANS THERE TRYING TO BRING IN AND SUSTAIN A NEW GOVERNMENT. AND NO ONE HAS SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THAT IS IS UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION. ALTHOUGH, AS I MENTIONED, ANY TIME YOU'RE INVOLVED IN MILITARY PLANNING, YOU HAVE YOU HAVE OPTIONS FROM A TO Z. BUT BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT CONSIDERED AS A REALISTIC OPTION. >> YEAH RICHARD THANK YOU FOR THAT. IF, IF WHAT WE ARE SEEING TONIGHT REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL ESCALATION, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE PENTAGON YET THESE STRIKES ARE EXPLOSIONS. IF IF THIS IS

BEING CONSIDERED A MASSIVE ESCALATION, CERTAINLY ANY OTHER SCENARIO BEYOND THAT WOULD BE INCONCEIVABLE AT THIS POINT. WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE FOR THAT. RICHARD ENGEL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING, CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR US. AND WE'LL HAVE YOU STAND BY TO CONTINUE TO GIVE US. OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN ANA VANESSA HERRERA. SHE IS A JOURNALIST BASED IN CARACAS. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM HER NOW ON HER EXPERIENCE, WHAT SHE'S HEARING, WHAT SHE'S SEEING. ANA, DO I HAVE YOU? >> YES, YES. I'M HERE. HOW ARE YOU? >> ANA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I

APPRECIATE IT. FIRST OF ALL, HOW ARE YOU? AND ARE YOU SAFE. >> SO FAR? YES, WE ARE SAFE. WE ARE IN THE EASTERN SIDE OF CARACAS. AND APPARENTLY ALL THE STRIKES OR ALLEGED STRIKES ARE HAPPENING IN THE PART OF THE EASTERN SIDE, BUT ALSO IN THE CENTER OF CARACAS. >> OKAY, TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING SO FAR, WHETHER IT'S FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW OR WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED DIRECTLY. >> YES. WELL, IT ALL STARTED. I'M GOING TO START WITH WHAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED, WHAT I WITNESSED. IT STARTED AROUND 2 A.M. LOCAL TIME. I HEARD A VERY,

VERY LARGE BANG, AN EXPLOSION, AND ALL THE WINDOWS STARTED VIBRATING, ALL THE WINDOWS SHAKING NOT ONLY ON MY APARTMENT, BUT THE REST OF THE AREA AS WELL. AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, I WITNESSED A LARGE TOWER SMOKE COMING FROM WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE CENTER OF CARACAS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BRIGHT LIGHTS AND OTHER EXPLOSIONS. WHAT WE WHAT WHAT I WAS HEARING MOST WAS THE SOUND OF WHAT I BELIEVE WERE AIRCRAFTS OR HELICOPTERS FLYING ABOVE THE, THE, THE, THE CAPITAL CITY. AND IMMEDIATELY WHEN I STARTED WITNESSING THAT, I RECEIVED REPORTS FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, KNOWN

ONES THAT WERE SEEING AND HEARING EXACTLY THE SAME IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF CARACAS. ALSO, JUST MINUTES LATER, MAYBE HALF AN HOUR LATER, I STARTED SEEING REPORTS OF EXACTLY THE SAME THING. BUT ON THE COASTAL AREA OF VENEZUELA IN LA GUAIRA, SPECIFICALLY IN THE PORT OF LA GUAIRA, WHICH IS THE MAIN PORT OF VENEZUELA, WHERE ALL SHIPS AND CARGO ARRIVES, AND THERE ARE VIDEOS THAT ARE NOT CONFIRMED YET BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATIONS OF SPECIFICALLY EACH VIDEO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WAS BEING SHARED ON WHATSAPP, ON TWITTER, ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF

THAT. BUT THERE IS SPECIFIC VIDEO THAT IS SHOWN IN LA GUAJIRA. I CAN RECOGNIZE THE STREETS OF LA GUAIRA. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS RECORDED AT WHAT TIME, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE DEVASTATION OF THE PORT OF LA GUAIRA. WHAT WAS LEFT AFTER THAT BOMBING, AND ALSO SOMETHING VERY THAT THAT IS COMMON BETWEEN ALL OF THE REPORTINGS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY SCARED AND NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT'S NOT ONLY WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. >> DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THAT AREA? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO

SPEAK TO THEM? IF YOU DO, AND ARE THEY SAFE? >> THEY'RE ALL SAFE. AND MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, THEY'RE ALL SAFE AND AROUND THE AREA. I WORRY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEAR THE MILITARY BASES THAT WERE ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED AND I, I REPEAT, ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC CONFIRMATION OF ANY CASUALTIES OR, YOU KNOW, MATERIAL DEVASTATION FROM ANY AUTHORITY, NOT ONLY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, BUT ALSO FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES. WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION FROM, YOU KNOW, THE FIREMEN OR POLICE IN ANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT WERE HIT BY BY WHATEVER IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. >> AND

I KNOW WE HAVE HEARD OF REPORTS OF LOSS OF POWER. HAVE YOU SEEN THAT FROM FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE? >> YES, I WITNESSED FROM WHERE I'M STANDING, YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME THERE'S LIKE A SMALL MOUNTAIN. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, AT MY RIGHT THERE IS. I'M SORRY. I'M JUST GETTING A LOT OF REPORTS RIGHT NOW. SO I'M. THERE ARE A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S COMING. SO WE JUST I JUST NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO CONFIRMATION ON WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE DETONATIONS

FROM ANY, ANY AUTHORITY SO FAR. SO I WAS TELLING YOU AT MY RIGHT, I HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF A PART OF WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD OF PETARE AND PART OF THE CENTER OF CARACAS, AND BOTH AREAS ARE STILL WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICITY. THERE WERE REPORTS OF ELECTRICITY FAILURES AND BLACKOUTS, NOT ONLY IN LA GUAJIRA, WHICH IS THE PORT OF VENEZUELA, BUT ALSO IN THE PLACES NEARBY MILITARY BASES, LA CARLOTA AND THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IN THE CENTER OF CARACAS. >> OKAY, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT DIRECTLY, SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS BEHIND YOU. AND I KNOW THAT YOU

HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANYONE ON THE GROUND IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BESIDES YOUR FAMILY? >> NO, THERE THERE'S NO THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE REALLY COMPLICATING THE THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW. SO WHAT WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT WE FIRST LEARNED WAS THROUGH NOT ONLY SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THROUGH WHATSAPP AND VIDEOS AND PICTURES SHARED ON WHATSAPP, BUT WITHOUT ANY KIND OF CONTEXT, BECAUSE OF COURSE, THIS IS OUR REGULAR CITIZENS WHO ARE JUST THEY, WE DON'T WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, AND THEY'RE JUST FILMING AND SHARING THE INFORMATION.

SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH FOOTAGE, BUT WE HAVE NO SPECIFIC CONTEXT. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN, WHO RECORDED IT, WHERE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING, WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE AND AFTER THEY STOPPED RECORDING. SO IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME SPECIFICALLY TO, TO TO TALK TO ANYONE AROUND MILITARY AREAS AND AROUND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WE I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN LA GUAJIRA REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD EXPLOSIONS AND THEY SAW THE EXPLOSIONS. AND THEN THIS VIDEO WAS, AS I WAS TELLING YOU, SHOWED ALLEGEDLY WHAT WOULD BE THE DEVASTATION OF THE PORT OF LA GUAIRA. >>

WHEN WAS THAT? THE LAST ROUND OF EXPLOSIONS THAT YOU HEARD? I KNOW THAT WE ARE HEARING REPORTS THAT THE FIRST ROUND WAS HEARD JUST BEFORE 2 A.M. LOCAL TIME. CARACAS? >> YES, EXACTLY. EXACTLY RIGHT. AS YOU SAID, AROUND 2 A.M. I HEARD THE FIRST EXPLOSIONS. AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SHARED THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS ME. AND THEN THE LAST ONES I HEARD WAS ABOUT MAYBE 40, 40 MINUTES AGO. BUT AGAIN, I AM IN THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CAPITAL OF CARACAS, NOW IN THE CENTER OF CARACAS. THERE ARE REPORTS OF PEOPLE STILL HEARING NOT ONLY THE

OTHER BANKS, OTHER EXPLOSIONS OR WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE EXPLOSIONS, BUT ALSO THE THE SOUND OF PLANES. I HEARD THAT UP UNTIL LIKE 20 MINUTES AGO, I WAS HEARING PLANES FLYING OVER WHAT I BELIEVE WERE PLANES, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LOUD SOUND FLYING OVER WHERE I AM AND AND GOING STRAIGHT TO, APPARENTLY TO THE CENTER OF CARACAS. PEOPLE ARE REPORTING EXACTLY THE SAME. BUT I HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY NEW DETONATION, ANY NEW EXPLOSION SO FAR. AND BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN, OF COURSE, THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ANY IN ANY OTHER WAY, ANY OTHER PLACE. I'M

SORRY. >> CERTAINLY. OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL BASED ON YOUR SPECIFIC VANTAGE POINT FROM FROM THE FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THEIR OF THE REGION. YES. AND WHEN IT COMES TO ANY SORT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, YOU SAID YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM LOCAL FIRE FROM LOCAL POLICE. HAVE YOU HEARD FROM ANYONE IN YOUR BUILDING, ANY LEADERSHIP ASKING FOR EVACUATIONS, ANYONE LEAVING ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO. >> NO, NO, NOT AROUND HERE. WE DO HAVE REPORTS OF THAT HAPPENING. EVACUATIONS HAPPENING IN TIJUANA WHERE THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IS. AND AND PEOPLE WERE APPARENTLY LEAVING THE AREA. BUT, YOU

KNOW, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE NEED WE NEED TO RIGHT NOW UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF THE SITUATION. THERE IS SO NO ONE REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT, NICOLAS MADURO REPRESENTATION ADDRESSED THIS AND SAID THAT VENEZUELA WAS BEING ATTACKED AND THAT WAS THERE WAS A MILITARY ATTACK ON VENEZUELA. BUT WE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND VENEZUELA HAS BEEN A COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY WARS FOR THE LONGEST, FOR 200 YEARS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE REALLY READY FOR

WHAT IS HAPPENING. I DON'T KNOW IF REALLY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO EVACUATE OR THEY NEED TO RUN, OR THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK FOR SHELTER IF THEY ARE AROUND THIS. WHAT WE KNOW WHAT I KNOW IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF FOOTAGE THAT IS BEING RECORDED VERY CLOSE BY THE WHERE THE SITUATION IS HAPPENING. >> YOU KNOW, ANA, YOU BRING UP A GREAT POINT THAT IF IF THE POPULATION WAS NOT READY OR BRACED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS COULD GET VERY SCARY, VERY FRIGHTENING, VERY DANGEROUS VERY QUICKLY FOR PEOPLE IN AND

AROUND CARACAS. AND OUR NBC NEWS REPORTER, GABE GUTIERREZ HAD MENTIONED TO US EARLIER THAT HIS SOURCES WERE TELLING HIM THAT THEY WERE HEARING OF THESE STRIKES BEING AT THE MAIN OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF VENEZUELAN ARMED FORCES, WHICH HAD RESIDENTS THERE, AND ALSO POSSIBLY POSSIBLE STRIKES ON MILITARY BASES, INCLUDING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE, GET ACROSS INFORMATION TO ONE ANOTHER. LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, YOU HAVE BEEN THANKFULLY ABLE TO COMMUNICATE VIA WHATSAPP AND OTHER CELL PHONE APPLICATIONS SO FAR. YOUR CELL PHONE CURRENTLY WORKING. I ASSUME. >> IT IS CURRENTLY

WORKING WITH WITH THE SATELLITE INTERNET AND AND POWER BACKUPS. AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN READY FOR THIS FOR SINCE THE CONFLICT STARTED. WHEN IT STARTED, I IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THAT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT FROM ANY KIND OF CONFLICT AND MILITARY CONFLICT THAN BEFORE. WE YOU KNOW, VENEZUELA HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM NOT ONLY NOT ONLY THIS, THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION, DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION, THEY ALSO APPLIED FULL PRESSURE POLICY AGAINST VENEZUELA. BUT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT FROM THE START WHEN THE SHIPS STARTED BLOCKING VENEZUELA, I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THAT THIS

WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. SO MY MY CONNECTION RIGHT NOW WORKS. BUT I KNOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRST THING THAT IS GOING TO COLLAPSE IS GOING TO BE NOT ONLY COMMUNICATIONS, BUT ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLY, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF SOMETHING OF THE STRIKE OR WHATEVER. WE CAN CALL THIS THIS NEXT STEP. WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO CALL IT, BUT BUT BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE MAIN ISSUES THAT VENEZUELANS HAVE HAD FOR THE LONGEST TIME, ELECTRICITY, COMMUNICATIONS, INTERNET CONNECTION HAS BEEN VERY POOR FOR YEARS NOW. SO OF COURSE, IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED, WE COULD

EXPECT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATIONS COMING IN, NOT ONLY BEING BLOCKED BUT COLLAPSING. >> YEAH. AND ANA, YOU MENTIONED TAKING ALL OF THIS INTO CONTEXT OF THE HISTORY OF THE REGION AND THE GOVERNMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND ANYONE WATCHING AT HOME THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA HAS RESPONDED. SO I WANT TO WANT TO REREAD THAT ONE MORE TIME. THE BOLIVARIAN, EXCUSE ME, THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA REJECTS, CONDEMNS AND DENOUNCES BEFORE THE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION PERPETRATED BY THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST VENEZUELAN TERRITORY AND POPULATION

IN THE CIVILIAN AND MILITARY AREAS OF THE CITY OF CARACAS, THE CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC, AND THE STATES OF MIRANDA, ARAGUA AND LA GUAIRA. THIS ACT CONSTITUTES A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER, ESPECIALLY ARTICLES ONE AND TWO, WHICH ENSHRINE RESPECT FOR SOVEREIGNTY, THE LEGAL EQUALITY OF STATES, AND THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF FORCE. SUCH AGGRESSION THREATENS THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY, SPECIFICALLY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, AND PLACES THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AT GRAVE RISK, AND I APOLOGIZE. I THINK WE LOST OUR REPORTER THERE ON THE GROUND, ANA VANESSA

HERRERA. OKAY, ANA, WE HAVE YOU. WE HAVE YOU BACK. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK OUT TO ANA HERE AS SOON AS WE CAN. WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW AT THIS HOUR. ANA, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> I CAN HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. >> OKAY, GREAT. YEAH. SO JUST KIND OF REEXAMINING THIS STATEMENT THAT WAS PUT OUT JUST WITHIN THE LAST HOUR BY THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA. WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? >> I'M SORRY, I THINK YOU I THINK I LOST THAT THAT LAST PART. CAN YOU. >> YES. JUST HEARING FROM THE THE REACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT

OF VENEZUELA WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, OF COURSE, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OR FOR THE PENTAGON REGARDING THESE, THESE STRIKES OR THESE EXPLOSIONS. BUT THE THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA IS POINTING THE FINGER TOWARD THE UNITED STATES, CONDEMNING, STRONGLY CONDEMNING THESE EXPLOSIONS. WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? >> WELL, IT'S ONLY NATURAL THAT THIS THEY THEY UNDERSTAND OR THEY WOULD POINT TO THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE NEXT PHASE THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS ANNOUNCING JUST A MONTH AGO, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, WE NEED CONFIRMATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND

FROM DONALD TRUMP AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO, YOU KNOW, CONFIRM THAT THIS IS THE SITUATION. BUT I THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF NICOLAS MADURO WOULD KNOW IF THIS WAS SOMETHING ORCHESTRATED FROM INSIDE OR AN ATTACK COMING FROM THE UNITED STATES. SO THE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF VIDEOS THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING. SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHICH ONE IT WAS RECORDED WHEN. BUT EVERY, EVERY VIDEO SHOWS THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER. LOUD EXPLOSIONS, A LOT OF PLANES OR WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE PLANES FLYING ABOVE. THE COASTAL AREA AND THE, THE

THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS. AND, YOU KNOW, THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT JUST ISSUING THE STATEMENT FOR ME IS ABSOLUTE CONFIRMATION THAT THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING FROM A SOURCE, DIFFERENT FROM AN INTERNAL BREAK. AND AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE CONFIRMATION THEY WERE WAITING FOR. THEY TOOK A WHILE TO CONFIRM, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM FROM THEM. WE JUST READ THE STATEMENT AND THEY'RE AGAIN, I REPEAT REPORTS OF A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING. ALLEGEDLY, WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION WHERE NICOLAS MADURO IS RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM

HIM. BUT WE WOULDN'T WAIT FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE SO THAT WE DEFINITELY CONFIRM WHAT WHAT HAPPENED. I'M SURE THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT IT, THEY WILL GIVE ALL THE DETAILS. BUT I THINK THAT THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT CAME TO A POINT THAT VENEZUELA WAS NOT REALLY EXPECTING. JUST DAYS BEFORE WE SAW NICOLAS MADURO DANCING, CELEBRATING NEW YEAR'S CHRISTMAS, AND BEFORE THAT, CELEBRATING AND SAYING THAT THIS WAS ONLY A PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR. BUT THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS THREAT. BUT JUST A DAY AGO, HE, AFTER WHAT TRUMP

ANNOUNCED, WAS THE FIRST STRIKE THAT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED IN IN THE AREA, THE AREA, THE REGION CLOSE TO COLOMBIA AND THAT PRESIDENT PETRO, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO LATER CONFIRMED HE CHANGED THE NARRATIVE AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS READY TO SERIOUSLY SPEAK AND TALK TO DONALD TRUMP AND TO AND TO WELCOME NEW INVESTMENTS, U.S. INVESTMENTS, IF THEY WANTED THE OIL, THEN THEY HE COULD NEGOTIATE THAT AS WELL WITH NEW INVESTMENTS. SO HE CHANGED THE NARRATIVE. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE KEPT DANCING AND AND CELEBRATING. SO I, I, I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY SAW THIS COMING BECAUSE

I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULDN'T BE THE SPEECH IF THEY THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> ANA VANESSA HERRERA REPORTING FOR US DIRECTLY FROM CARACAS. ANA, I APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE THERE. IF YOU CAN STAND BY FOR US, WE WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU COMING UP, NO DOUBT. BUT FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO NBC NEWS SENIOR PRODUCER GERALDINE AZUCAR, WHO WE SPOKE WITH EARLIER, WHOSE FAMILY IS THERE IN CARACAS. GERALDINE, YOU'VE GOT SOME NEW INFORMATION FOR US. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> YEAH. HI,

COREY. JUST TO RECAP, WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER, I TALKED TO MY BROTHER WHO LIVES IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AS THEY EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST BOMBARDMENT, SMELL THE SMOKE. THERE WERE SEVERAL SORT OF EXPLOSIONS, AND THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS INSIDE OF THE MILITARY BASE. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. AND THEN I ALSO, A LITTLE WHILE AGO, SPOKE TO MY OTHER TWO BROTHERS WHO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE EAST OF CARACAS, AND THEY EXPERIENCE OTHER EXPLOSIONS ALSO. AND THEY LIVE NEAR LA CARLOTA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE AIRPORTS IN CARACAS. AND SO THEY SAID

THAT THEY FELT LIKE THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE TARGET FOR THAT ONE, FOR THOSE EXPLOSIONS. AND ALSO EVERY TIME ONE OF THOSE BOMBS SORT OF FELL, THEY FELT IT, YOU KNOW, THEY HEARD IT, THEY FELT IT. AND ONE OF MY BROTHERS DESCRIBED IT AS LIKE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A THUNDER THAT NEVER ENDS. AND THAT'S SORT OF WHAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A LITTLE BIT. >> I HAVE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO, TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE THAT. THAT'S A VERY VISCERAL THING TO EXPERIENCE. WE'VE ALSO BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THESE VIDEOS AND AND AS OUR

REPORTER ANA VANESSA HERRERO HAD MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THESE VIDEOS THAT WE'RE SEEING. BUT THESE VIDEOS ACROSS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN SHOWING, I MEAN, THIS THIS EXPLOSION THAT YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN. IT IS ABSOLUTELY STRIKING TO SEE. AND WE'VE SEEN THESE SAME EXPLOSIONS ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT VIDEOS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE, STILL WAITING TO VERIFY WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHERE THESE STRIKES OR EXPLOSIONS CAME FROM. BUT YOU ALSO SEE IN SOME OF THESE VIDEO, SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A HELICOPTER OR AIRCRAFT FLYING

OVERHEAD, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT AIRCRAFT IS. AND ACROSS THE BOARD WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD MORE FROM PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO BE FLEEING THE THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY NEAR WHERE THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED. BUT EVEN EVEN IF THEY'RE FURTHER OUTSIDE OF CARACAS, HAVE YOUR FAMILY SEEN EVACUATIONS YET? GERALDINE. >> NO, THEY'VE ACTUALLY SORT OF EXPERIENCED THE OPPOSITE. IN THE THREE LOCATIONS WHERE MY RELATIVES LIVE. THEY SAID THAT IT'S SORT OF LIKE DEAD SILENCE, LIKE NOBODY IS OUT IN THE STREETS. EVERYBODY IS SORT OF LIKE STAYING INSIDE OF THEIR HOMES. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT QUITE SURE

HOW WHATEVER ORDERS MADURO HAS GIVEN SORT OF AFFECT THAT OF PEOPLE BEING AROUND AND WALKING AROUND. BUT YEAH, LIKE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN LIKE THERE'S NO CARS, NO MILITARY MOVEMENT OR ANYTHING IN CARACAS. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING. AND THIS IS SORT OF LIKE IN THE EAST. AND AGAIN, IN THE CENTER OF CARACAS. >> AND THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANY EMERGENCY SERVICES YET EITHER, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE. THEY'RE. >> NO, NOT AT ALL. THE ONLY THING THEY SORT OF REPORTING IS LIKE NEAR THE CENTER WHERE MY BROTHER, WHO LIVES NEAR FORTUNA, IS

EXPERIENCING OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE BLACKOUT. SO COMMUNICATIONS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE DICEY. AND OTHER PARTS OF CARACAS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, ARE LIT UP AND OTHER ONES ARE SORT OF LIKE IN THE DARK. >> YOU KNOW, ANA VANESSA HERRERA HAD MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL THAT ONE CHALLENGE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS IS GOING TO BE BESIDES, THE ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO BE SOME BASIC NEEDS IN THE COMING DAYS, SUCH AS WATER. HAVE YOUR FAMILY REPORTED ANY CONCERNS FOR THEIR SURVIVAL IN THE COMING DAYS? >> WELL, I THINK THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE

DAYS LEADING TO THE SPECULATION ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN ACTION, VENEZUELAN SOIL OR NOT. AND SO I THINK A LOT OF FAMILIES LIKE, INCLUDING MINE, HAVE SORT OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, SLOWLY SORT OF GATHERING SUPPLIES IN CASE SOMETHING DID HAPPEN. VENEZUELANS HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, RIGHT? JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PROTESTS AND THE DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE I THINK THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE HAVE RISEN AND GONE OUT IN PROTEST AND SORT OF IT AT TIMES, IT HAS PARALYZED OPERATIONS IN CARACAS. SO PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH GOING AND BEING LIKE SORT OF

STOCKPILING, IF YOU WILL, A LITTLE BIT, WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND AND WHATEVER THEY CAN AFFORD, TO BE VERY HONEST. SO YEAH, THEY STARTED PREPARING A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN. >> YOU KNOW, EARLIER WE WERE SPEAKING TO CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RICHARD ENGEL FOR NBC NEWS, WHO SAID HIS SOURCES DIDN'T SAY EXACTLY, BUT THEY WERE ALLUDING TO THAT THIS WOULD BE A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION. AND WITH ALL OF THE REPORTING THAT GABE GUTIERREZ HAD GIVEN US FROM HIS SOURCE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE TARGETS OF THESE STRIKES, OF

THESE ALLEGED STRIKES, RICHARD ENGEL SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG INDICATION THAT THIS WAS A COORDINATED ATTACK. AND OF COURSE, WE DID HEAR IN THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, HOUR FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA STRONGLY CONDEMNING THIS AND POINTING TO THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED CONFIRMATION ABOUT THESE EXPLOSIONS, WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS AN OPERATION THAT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE UNITED STATES, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT THEY PUT OUT, AND HAS YOUR FAMILY HEARD THAT? HAVE THEY HAD ANY REACTION TO THAT? >> NO,

THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'VE HEARD IS THAT SORT OF LIKE THERE IS AN ORDER, AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE NAME IN ENGLISH RIGHT NOW. THERE'S AN ORDER OF PEOPLE STAYING IN THEIR HOMES. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY'VE HEARD. I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT LIKE MADURO'S REACTION IS GOING TO BE TO THIS. I HONESTLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE THINKING OR HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SORT OF RESPOND BACK TO TO THE EXPLOSIONS. >> I'M SURE THIS IS INCREDIBLY CONFUSING. THE FACT THAT THAT WE'RE HEARING THAT THAT YOUR FAMILY IS SAYING

THAT THERE'S POSSIBLY A STAY IN PLACE ORDER OR A, YOU KNOW, AN EMERGENCY ORDER FOR PEOPLE TO TO STAY IN AND SHELTER IN IS MORE THAN WE HAD HEARD BEFORE. SO THAT IS THAT IS AN UPDATE THERE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AT THIS HOUR? GERALDINE. >> NOT REALLY. I'LL KEEP WORKING THE PHONES AND SEE WHAT ELSE I CAN FIND OUT, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. >> WE APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME ON OUR END AND WE HOPE YOUR FAMILY

STAYS SAFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT, GERALDINE. AZUCAR. SHE'S AN NBC NEWS PRODUCER AND NO DOUBT WE WILL BE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN. GERALDINE. I'M SURE IF YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, WE ARE ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW FOR BREAKING NEWS. A COUPLE HOURS AGO AT TWO, JUST BEFORE 2 A.M. LOCAL VENEZUELAN TIME, LOCAL CARACAS TIME, LOCALS THERE HAD REPORTED HEARING AND SEEING EXPLOSIONS. AND AT THIS POINT, WE ARE REPORTING ALLEGED STRIKES OR EXPLOSIONS IN THE CITY OF CARACAS. WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD DIRECTLY FROM OUR REPORTERS ON THE GROUND THAT THERE IS A

LOSS OF POWER IN PARTS OF THE CITY AND OUR EXPERT REPORTERS THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SOURCES THAT HAVE CONFIRMED WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN, WHICH IS ALLEGED STRIKES ON MILITARY BASES IN CARACAS. LET'S GO BACK OVER TO NBC NEWS SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT GABE GUTIERREZ. GABE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US? >> HEY THERE COREY. SO WE ARE GETTING MORE REACTION FROM ACROSS THE REGION. WE HAD EARLIER EARLIER TOLD YOU ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA DENOUNCING THESE THESE APPARENT STRIKES. NOW WE ARE HEARING FROM CUBA'S GOVERNMENT, CUBA'S

PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL. CUBA DENOUNCES AND URGENTLY DEMANDS THE REACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGAINST WHAT IT CALLS A CRIMINAL ATTACK BY THE U.S. ON VENEZUELA AGAINST. THAT'S A REACTION FROM CUBA. AND, OF COURSE, AS YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING, THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSING THE U.S. OF EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION. WE SHOULD STRESS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THE PENTAGON. NO CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS, IN FACT, THE U.S. BEHIND WHAT'S TRANSPIRING HERE OR THERE IN VENEZUELA. BUT AS WE'VE BEEN REPORTING AND AS WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT WITH

RICHARD EARLIER, THIS STRONGLY SUGGESTS SOME SORT OF COORDINATED ATTACK. AND GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THE ONGOING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VENEZUELA, IT CERTAINLY RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE U.S. AND POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT HERE. AS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MY SOURCES THERE ON THE GROUND. YES, THEY THERE DOES. THERE DO SEEM TO BE SEVERAL MILITARY TARGETS AMONG THOSE THAT WERE HIT BY THESE EXPLOSIONS. AGAIN, ACCORDING TO ONE SOURCE, AN ANALYST WHO IS QUITE CONNECTED WITH THE SITUATION DOWN THERE, ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS TARGETED IS THE. TIUNA MILITARY COMPLEX IN CENTRAL CARACAS, A MAIN OPERATIONAL

HEADQUARTERS OF VENEZUELA'S ARMED FORCES. AGAIN, THAT'S ACCORDING TO ONE OF MY SOURCES, NOT CONFIRMED, BUT THIS IS ALL VERY PRELIMINARY INFORMATION, COREY. THIS THIS DOES COME AFTER JUST THE. ESCALATING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VENEZUELA THAT HAS REALLY RAMPED UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND WITH THE U.S. TARGETING THESE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC, MANY IN VENEZUELA WERE WONDERING WHEN WHETHER SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD TRANSPIRE. IN FACT, LOOK, PRESIDENT TRUMP OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS HAS REPEATEDLY SUGGESTED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. SOME VERSION OF THIS THIS IS

CERTAINLY MUCH LARGER THAN WE HAD SEEN THUS FAR. EARLIER THIS WEEK, JUST SEVERAL DAYS AGO, IN FACT, THE PRESIDENT, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE U.S. HAD STRUCK INSIDE VENEZUELA IN SOME SORT OF DOCK AREA IN A PLACE WHERE HE CLAIMED THAT BOATS WERE BEING LOADED UP WITH DRUGS, ALTHOUGH EVEN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE NEW YEAR, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS VERY RELUCTANT TO RELEASE ANY INFORMATION, EVEN THE EXACT LOCATION OF THAT TARGETED STRIKE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD ACKNOWLEDGED. BUT THIS DOES APPEAR TO BE A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS THAT, AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIRMATION

YET THAT IT WAS ORDERED BY THE UNITED STATES. BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF SIGNS POINTING TO THAT. UNCLEAR IF THERE'S ANY INJURIES FROM THESE STRIKES, UNCLEAR WHAT NICOLAS MADURO'S NEXT MOVE MIGHT BE. AND IN FACT, COREY, WE HAVE YET TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM NICOLAS MADURO. THERE HAS BEEN THAT GOVERNMENT STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED A SHORT TIME AGO BLAMING THE U.S. FOR THESE EXPLOSIONS. BUT NICOLAS MADURO, WE'VE NOT HEARD FROM HIM JUST YET. THE LAST TIME WE WE DID HEAR FROM HIM WAS AN INTERVIEW JUST TWO DAYS AGO ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, ON STATE RUN TELEVISION

IN VENEZUELA, WHERE THE AUTHORITARIAN LEADER SAID THAT HE WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNITED STATES. OF COURSE, IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT THAT WOULD HAVE MADE MUCH DIFFERENCE, GIVEN THAT THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT HIMSELF, PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAS SAID THAT HE HAS RECENTLY SPOKEN WITH NICOLAS MADURO, ALTHOUGH THE WHITE HOUSE DID NOT CLARIFY EXACTLY WHEN. BUT THE PRESIDENT SEEMED TO BRUSH THAT OFF AND SAY THAT SPEAKING WITH MADURO WOULDN'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE. MADURO, DURING THAT INTERVIEW DIDN'T MAKE DIDN'T COMMENT ON THAT STRIKE BY THE U.S. INSIDE HIS COUNTRY. BUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, ESPECIALLY WITHIN

THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO TAKING A LARGER AND LARGER ROLE IN FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS VENEZUELA. THERE HAD BEEN A SORT OF DRUMBEAT IN A WAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS HOPING FOR TO FORCE MADURO FROM POWER. OF COURSE, THAT WAS NOT THE STATED GOAL. THE STATED GOAL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WAS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS HOPING TO STOP DRUGS, FENTANYL, COCAINE FROM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES. HOWEVER, EVEN CHIEF OF STAFF SIOUXSIE WILES, IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF THESE DRUG BOATS ALLEGED DRUG BOAT

STRIKES WAS TO QUOTE, MAKE MADURO CRY, UNCLE. AND SO GIVEN THAT BACKDROP, GIVEN THAT CONTEXT, THE WORLD WAS WATCHING TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IN THIS MILITARY BUILDUP. ALREADY, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AS PART OF THOSE ALLEGED DRUG BOAT STRIKES IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN, IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE EASTERN PACIFIC. AND NOW WE ARE AWAITING WORD FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE PENTAGON. ANY CONFIRMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT IS TRANSPIRING HERE IN VENEZUELA. SO THE LATEST WE HAVE IS THAT GOVERNMENT STATEMENT FROM VENEZUELA ACCUSING THE U.S. OF BEING BEHIND THE

EXPLOSIONS. AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. BUT WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF ANY INJURIES, NO CONFIRMATION OF THE WHEREABOUTS OF NICOLAS MADURO, NO INDICATION WHAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO NEXT, AND NO INDICATION OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S REACTION, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REACTION MIGHT BE TO WHAT'S TRANSPIRED OVERNIGHT. >> YEAH, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT GABE HOW THE FACT THAT AS THE MOMENTS CONTINUE TO PASS, AS WE WERE REPORTING ON THIS BREAKING NEWS, THE SILENCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON GETS LOUDER AND LOUDER. NO DOUBT THEY ARE KEEPING ABREAST OF ANY UPDATES.

SO WE CONTINUE TO WAIT TO HEAR FROM OUR GOVERNMENT. LET'S GO NOW TO OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL. RICHARD, WHAT'S THE LATEST? WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN RICHARD AS SOON AS WE GET HIS HIS SIGNAL UP HERE IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT I. >> WANT TO HEAR. YES. >> OH, HERE WE GO. HI, RICHARD. >> TAKE IT AWAY. >> I SORRY, I DON'T THINK YOU WERE HEARING ME. YES. THIS IS. >> EXTRAORDINARY DETAILS THAT ARE COMING IN THE REPORT. YOU HAD THE WITNESS REPORT IN CARACAS AS SHE WAS DESCRIBING WHAT SHE THOUGHT WERE LOW

FLYING AIRCRAFT OR HELICOPTERS, EXPLOSIONS IN MULTIPLE PARTS OF THE OF THE COUNTRY. THIS CAN ONLY BE A COORDINATED STRIKE. THE MAIN QUESTION THAT I HAVE AT THIS MOMENT IS, IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING? IS THIS A MESSAGE TO MADURO AND HIS INNER CIRCLE? BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY HAD NOT BEEN GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO DELIVER? OR IS THIS THE START OF A OF A CONTINUING CAMPAIGN? AND I THINK THAT WILL ONLY BECOME CLEAR BY NOT BY THE STATEMENTS FROM U.S. OFFICIALS. THAT WILL BE AN INDICATION, BUT BY WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT, TOMORROW,

WILL THERE BE A FOLLOW ON MILITARY CAMPAIGN? BECAUSE MULTIPLE COORDINATIONS, THE SOUNDS OF HELICOPTERS AND AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW EXPLOSIONS ARE AT AND AROUND MILITARY SITES. THAT'S A COORDINATED MILITARY STRIKE. THAT IS REGIME CHANGE OPERATION LEVEL, NOT COUNTER-NARCOTICS OPERATION. WE'RE STILL AWAITING OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE INDICATIONS HERE, THERE ARE VERY FEW COUNTRIES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS, THAT HAVE THE WILL TO DO THIS. THIS IS A AN ESCALATION. AND THE QUESTION I HAVE AT THIS MOMENT IS, WILL THERE BE MORE STRIKES TONIGHT OR WAS THIS A A? I

DON'T WANT TO SAY ONE OFF BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY BEEN STRIKES ON BOATS AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A STRIKE IN A REMOTE PART OF THE COUNTRY. BUT WAS THIS JUST ONE MORE ESCALATORY STEP TO TRY AND CONVINCE THE REGIME TO LEAVE POWER, OR IS THIS THE START OF A SUSTAINED MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE THEM FROM POWER? >> NOW, RICHARD, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE I AGREE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL WONDERING AT THIS HOUR. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OR

THE PENTAGON, IS THAT IN ITSELF A RESPONSE? >> NO, IT'S I DON'T WANT TO SAY HOLIDAY PERIOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT IT IS ALSO HOLIDAY PERIOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO CALIBRATE THEIR RESPONSE. AND THERE ARE ALSO COUNTRIES MEDIATING. I KNOW SEVERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN A VACUUM. WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN STRIKES CARRIED OUT AGAINST THE BOATS. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NEGOTIATIONS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN U.S. OFFICIALS THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES, HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE MADURO REGIME AND MADE

IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANT THE MADURO REGIME, SPECIFICALLY PRESIDENT MADURO HIMSELF AND HIS AND HIS INNER CIRCLE, TO LEAVE, TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, TO NO LONGER BE IN POWER. AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES AND OTHERS BELIEVE THAT THE REGIME IS NOT ONLY ILLEGITIMATE, THAT IT IS BACKED BY CUBAN INTELLIGENCE, THAT IT IS TIED TO THE DRUG TRADE. THEY HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED NARCO TERRORISTS AND THEY WANT THEM OUT. SO GOING BACK TO TO TO WHY? WE HAVEN'T HEARD A STATEMENT YET. THERE ARE IT'S ALSO VERY LIKELY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS,

THERE ARE BACK CHANNEL CONVERSATIONS GOING ON WITH INTERMEDIARIES, WITH OFFICIALS IN, IN THE REGIME TO, TO CALIBRATE THEIR REACTION. DID THEY GET THIS MESSAGE? DO THERE NEED TO BE MORE STRIKES? IS THERE A PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS? NOW? MADURO HAS SAID THAT HE IS OPEN TO TALKS, BUT HE HAS ALSO MADE IT CLEAR HE HAS NO INTENTION AT THIS STAGE OF STEPPING DOWN AND LEAVING POWER. WE WILL SEE IF THAT CALCULATION HAS NOW CHANGED OR IF THOSE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY AROUND HIM HAVE CHANGED THEIR CALCULATIONS, BECAUSE DICTATORS ONLY LAST AS LONG AS THEY HAVE CONTROL OF OF

PRIMARILY THE MILITARY. IF THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THE MILITARY AND THE SECURITY SERVICES, THEY GENERALLY LOSE CONTROL OF OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL. SO I THINK WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO WE WILL HEAR SOMETHING QUITE SOON. BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY'RE TRYING TO CALIBRATE WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE TRYING WHAT MESSAGE THEY'RE TRYING TO SEND. AND THEY'RE PROBABLY TRYING TO GET SOME INITIAL ASSESSMENTS OF WHAT THE WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS. HOW THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS, IS RECEIVING THIS, THIS ATTACK. >> AND OF COURSE, WE ARE NOW GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF A TRICKLE IN OF OF GOVERNMENTS

RESPONDING. THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT ALSO STRONGLY DENOUNCING THESE ALLEGED STRIKES, AS REPORTED BY GABE GUTIERREZ. RICHARD, WHEN IT COMES TO THE TALK THAT HAPPENED BACK AND FORTH, MAYBE NOT DIRECTLY BUT INDIRECTLY BETWEEN NICOLAS MADURO AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THIS. ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, FOR EXAMPLE, NICOLAS MADURO SAYING THAT HE WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE TO SOME DEGREE, AND THEN THE UNITED STATES SAYING THAT THEY FELT THAT IT WOULDN'T MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. DOES THIS FEELS THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT TO ME, LIKE A PREAMBLE LEADING UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE

STRIKES MAY HAVE BEEN PLANNED AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MOVED FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT. >> WELL, LET'S NOT FORGET HOW MANY AMERICAN TROOPS AND HOW MUCH MILITARY FORCE HAS BEEN MOVED TO LATIN AMERICA RECENTLY. THE WE WE'VE ALL NOTICED THE STRIKES ON THE BOATS. THAT'S BEEN THE MOST OBVIOUS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN. AND GABE MENTIONED A SHORT WHILE AGO THAT AROUND 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THESE STRIKES ON SMALL BOATS ALLEGEDLY CARRYING NARCOTICS DESTINED FOR THE UNITED STATES, BUT STRIKES LETHAL STRIKES ON SMALL BOATS. YOU DON'T NEED AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. YOU DON'T NEED THE

THOUSANDS OF TROOPS THAT ARE STATIONED IN THE REGION, STATIONED IN THE REGION NOW FOR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THAT LEVEL OF POWER IS ONLY NEEDED TO AGAIN SEND A MESSAGE TO THE MILITARY THAT THE U.S. IS SERIOUS AND HAS THE POSSIBILITY FOR REGIME CHANGE, OR TO CARRY OUT STRIKES LIKE THE ONES THAT WE SAW JUST A FEW HOURS AGO. SO THERE IS A MILITARY PRESENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I'M GOING TO PAUSE YOU HERE, BECAUSE I WANT TO ALERT ALL OF OUR STATIONS TO BE ON STANDBY AT THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE

HEADING TO AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. I WANT TO ALERT OUR STATIONS TO BE ON STANDBY AT THIS MOMENT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. >> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. >> GOOD DAY TO YOU. I'M PETER ALEXANDER WITH THIS NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. WE ARE COMING ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW WITH BREAKING NEWS OUT OF VENEZUELA, WHERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS HAVE ROCKED THE CAPITAL CITY THERE OF CARACAS. THAT IS, ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE EYEWITNESSES THAT NBC NEWS HAS SPOKEN TO OVER THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. THOSE EYEWITNESSES SHARING FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF THOSE

EXPLOSIONS. THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT, FOR ITS PART, HAS ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES, IN A NEW STATEMENT FROM OVERNIGHT OF CARRYING OUT THE MILITARY ATTACKS, CONDEMNING THE STRIKES AS WHAT IT CALLS EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION. NEITHER THE WHITE HOUSE NOR THE PENTAGON HAS ISSUED ANY COMMENT. WE ARE OUT TO BOTH THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON, AS WELL AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE MONITORING TRUTH SOCIAL TO HEAR IF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SHARES ANY COMMENTS AS WELL. BUT NOTABLY, IF THE U.S. IS BEHIND THESE STRIKES, IT WOULD

MARK A MAJOR ESCALATION FROM THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S MONTHS LONG PRESSURE CAMPAIGN ON VENEZUELAN LEADER NICOLAS MADURO'S REGIME THERE. MADURO, SOMEONE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS SAID IS AN ILLEGITIMATE LEADER, THE HEAD OF WHAT THE UNITED STATES, THE U.S. SAYS IS A NARCO TERRORIST STATE. AND, OF COURSE, IT FOLLOWS A RECENT U.S. STRIKE IN VENEZUELA JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, AS WELL AS AS WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS NOW, THOSE MILITARY STRIKES ON BOATS IN THE REGION THAT THE U.S. SAYS HAS BEEN HAVE BEEN CARRYING DRUGS

THROUGHOUT THE REGION. AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE LOOKING AT PICTURES INTO OUR NEWSROOM OF EXPLOSIONS IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS, VENEZUELA. NO STATEMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES SO FAR, BUT THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT IS ACCUSING THIS OF BEING AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION, A MILITARY ATTACK FROM THE UNITED STATES. A SERIES OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE UP EARLY AS WE BEGIN THE NEW YEAR TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW, WITH THE VERY LATEST ON ALL OF IT. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH NBC NEWS SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, MY COLLEAGUE GABE GUTIERREZ, WHO HAS BEEN UP EARLY DETAILING SOME OF

WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. GABE, AS WE KNOW, THIS COMES AFTER WHAT HAVE BEEN WEEKS OF THREATS AND WARNINGS AND ACCUSATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, HAD SAID THAT NICOLAS MADURO'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. IF THE U.S. IS BEHIND THESE STRIKES, IT APPEARS VERY CLEAR THAT THE U.S. IS NOW AMPING UP THE PRESSURE ON THE VENEZUELAN LEADER GABE. >> CERTAINLY, IT'S A DRAMATIC ESCALATION. IT APPEARS TO BE PETER AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HAD BEEN SAYING THAT HE ANTICIPATED STRIKES INSIDE VENEZUELA. NOW, JUST WITHIN THE

PAST SEVERAL DAYS, THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE STRIKE INSIDE VENEZUELA. ALTHOUGH THE WHITE HOUSE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY DETAILS ON THAT, THE PRESIDENT ONLY SAYING EARLIER THIS WEEK CONFIRMING THAT THE U.S. HAD STRUCK SOME SORT OF DOCK AREA IN AN UNSPECIFIED PART OF VENEZUELA, A PLACE WHERE HE SAID THAT BOATS WERE BEING LOADED UP WITH DRUGS. AND, PETER, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY SAYING THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN THAT THE FOCUS HERE IS TARGETING WHAT IT CALLS NARCO TERRORISTS AND TRYING TO PREVENT DRUGS LIKE

FENTANYL AND COCAINE FROM REACHING THE UNITED STATES. OF COURSE, MUCH OF THE FENTANYL THAT REACHES THE U.S. IS MADE IN MEXICO WITH PRECURSOR CHEMICALS FROM CHINA, BUT THAT HAS NOT STOPPED THE ADMINISTRATION FROM MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS ENGAGED IN WITH ARMED COMBATANTS. THAT IS, LABELED FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN AND AROUND VENEZUELA AND IN THE CARIBBEAN. NOW, THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAS CARRIED OUT A SERIES OF STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN. IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC, SOME AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. BUT

THIS IF IT INDEED TURNS OUT TO BE STRIKES BY THE U.S. THIS WOULD BE, OF COURSE, A DRAMATIC ESCALATION. OF COURSE, WE ARE AWAITING ANY SORT OF REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PENTAGON. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY OF THEM. WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, THOUGH, PETER, IS QUITE A LOT OF REACTION FROM SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MENTIONED THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA OUT WITH A STATEMENT CONDEMNING DENOUNCING THIS, WHAT IT CALLS SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION PERPETRATED BY THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND ALSO CALLING THIS A FLAGRANT VIOLATION

OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER. THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA HAS ALSO DENOUNCED THESE APPARENT STRIKES. SO HAS THE PRESIDENT OF CUBA ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITHIN THE PAST FEW HOURS. NOW THIS AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THESE EXPLOSIONS BEGAN JUST BEFORE 2:00 LOCAL TIME IN VENEZUELA. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED WORD OF ANY ANY INJURIES OR ANY ANY DEATHS AS A RESULT OF THESE EXPLOSIONS. BUT AS WE'RE STARTING TO GET VIDEO FROM PARTS OF VENEZUELA, YOU SEE DRAMATIC IMAGES OF OF FIERY EXPLOSIONS IN INSIDE THE CAPITAL OF CARACAS. NOW, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A SOURCE, A VENEZUELAN ANALYST, CONNECTED

TO THE SITUATION DOWN THERE WHO HAS BEEN COLLECTING SOME OF THESE REPORTS. AND ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE MULTIPLE MILITARY FACILITIES IN CARACAS THAT HAVE BEEN STRUCK, ALTHOUGH THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY INFORMATION, PETER. AND IT COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME AS THIS SITUATION UNFOLDS. WE ARE, OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, AWAITING ANY CONFIRMATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OR FROM THE PENTAGON THAT IT IS THE U.S. BEHIND THESE STRIKES. AND SO FAR, SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION ARE BLAMING THE EXPLOSIONS ON THE UNITED STATES AMID THIS ESCALATING PRESSURE CAMPAIGN THAT THE U.S.

ADMINISTRATION THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN UNDERTAKING WITH VENEZUELA. >> PETER GABE, STAY WITH US FOR A SECOND. AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND AUDIENCES, AS WE LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING THOSE FIERY EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS, IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW. AND MUCH OF THAT REGION HAS BEEN BRACING FOR THE POTENTIAL THIS MIGHT HAPPEN, GIVEN SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS IN RECENT DAYS. WE SHOULD NOTE WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, JUST A MATTER OF HOURS AGO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WHERE HE

SAID THAT HE WAS OPEN TO NEGOTIATING WITH WASHINGTON, WITH A PRESIDENT, TO COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND WHAT WAS REALLY THE FIRST SIGN, PERHAPS, THAT THIS SUSTAINED U.S. PRESSURE CAMPAIGN WAS BEGINNING TO TAKE ITS TOLL IN SOME FORM ON THIS EMBATTLED SOUTH AMERICAN LEADER. AT THE TIME, MADURO SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT WAS RECORDED AND AIRED WITH A SOUTH AMERICAN SPANISH JOURNALIST, HE SAID, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT KNOWS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TOLD MANY OF THEIR SPOKESPEOPLE THAT IF THEY WANT TO SERIOUSLY DISCUSS AN AGREEMENT TO COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING, WE ARE READY. THE PRESIDENT, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER,

IN RECENT DAYS BEFORE WE SAW THAT STRIKE THAT TOOK PLACE AT A DOCKING FACILITY ALONG VENEZUELA'S SHORELINE LAST MONTH, MEDIA REPORTS SUGGESTED IT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE CIA. THE CIA HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT TO ME AND TO MY COLLEAGUES IN A SERIES OF ITS PUBLIC STATEMENTS SO FAR, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT DID SAY PUBLICLY IN ADVANCE OF THAT THAT THE U.S. HAD KNOCKED OUT A FACILITY TIED TO VENEZUELA. AND HIS WORDS, HE SAID IT WAS A BIG PLAN OR FACILITY WHERE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE SAID THE SHIPS COME FROM. HE SAID, IN

THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS THAT WE HIT THEM VERY HARD. BUT CLEARLY THIS WOULD BE A MUCH HARDER STRIKE WERE IT TO BE THE UNITED STATES BEHIND IT. RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD NOTE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM THE U.S. SO FAR, AS WITH OTHER STRIKES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE IN IRAN AND ELSEWHERE, IT'S OFTEN A MATTER OF HOURS OR EVEN DAYS BEFORE THE U.S. WOULD CONFIRM SUCH A THING. GABE AS YOU STAY WITH US HERE, I'M STRUCK BY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, OBVIOUSLY, AMONG THE QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKING RIGHT NOW, IF THIS WAS THE U.S. WAS THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE NOTIFIED OF ANY STRIKES THAT WOULD BE TAKING HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE? THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATS, EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT INTO THIS PROCESS THAT, IN EFFECT, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN WORKING UNILATERALLY HERE ALREADY AT THIS EARLY HOUR, AS WE TRY TO GET MORE DETAILS, THERE ARE ACCUSATIONS FROM DEMOCRATS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. WE HEARD FROM ONE OF FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS, ONE OF HIS HEADS OF

STRATEGIC PLANNING THERE, BEN RHODES, A MOMENT AGO, EFFECTIVELY SAYING THAT A REGIME CHANGE WAR IN LATIN AMERICA BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALES ABOUT DRUG TRAFFICKING, NO EXPLANATION OF GOALS AND COUNTER TO EVERYTHING TRUMP PROMISED CAMPAIGNING. THAT'S THE WAY HE HAS FRAMED IT. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CRITICISM IS ALREADY BEGINNING BEFORE THERE'S EVEN CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THIS MAY BE RIGHT NOW. BUT LET'S FOCUS IN THE MOMENT AGAIN WITH THOSE STRIKES RIGHT HERE. GABE. AND THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WE KNOW OVER RECENT WEEKS WITH SOME OF HIS TOP ADVISERS. WE KNOW THEY'VE

BEEN FOCUSED ON A SERIES OF MILITARY SITUATIONS, MOST NOTABLY WHAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE. BUT GABE UPDATE US ON THE CONVERSATIONS, THE MEETINGS THE PRESIDENT AND HIS AIDES HAVE BEEN HAVING AS IT RELATES TO VENEZUELA. >> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY PERIOD, PETER, AS YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT DEALING WITH A LOT OF FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES REALLY AROUND THE WORLD, OF COURSE, NOT JUST THE UKRAINE, BUT ALSO ESCALATING TENSIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND ISRAEL. AND VENEZUELA ALSO HAS COME UP JUST WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS AS HE'S BEEN SPENDING THE HOLIDAY, THE

HOLIDAYS AT HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. NOW, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MEETING WITH HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, REGARDING VENEZUELA, THE DRIVER OF THIS POLICY, THE FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS VENEZUELA, HAS CERTAINLY BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE. MARCO RUBIO, ALSO THE ACTING NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, AS WELL AS WELL AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEPHEN MILLER, OF COURSE, CHIEF OF STAFF SIOUXSIE WILES INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL. AND YOU'LL RECALL, PETER, THAT IT'S JUST A SHORT TIME AGO, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THAT

IN A VANITY FAIR INTERVIEW WITH SIOUXSIE WILES, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, MADE A VERY CANDID ASSESSMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOALS IN VENEZUELA. WHILE THEY HAVE PUBLICLY BEEN SAYING THAT STOPPING DRUGS FROM ENTERING THE U.S. IS THE MAIN GOAL AND COMBATING NARCO TRAFFICKERS, SIOUXSIE WILES SAYING IN THAT INTERVIEW THAT ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF ATTACKING THESE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS WAS TO MAKE MADURO CRY. UNCLE, AND CERTAINLY SECRETARY OF STATE, RUBIO HAS MADE NO SECRET THROUGHOUT HIS POLITICAL CAREER OF WANTING REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA, A GOVERNMENT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION VIEWS AS ILLEGITIMATE, THAT SAYS THAT IT

WON THE LAST ELECTION BUT HAS BEEN DENOUNCED BY MUCH OF THE WORLD WHICH VIEWS THE MADURO GOVERNMENT AS AS ILLEGITIMATE. SO THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CRITICISM, CERTAINLY NOT JUST FROM DEMOCRATS, BUT SOME SKEPTICAL REPUBLICANS WHO, AS YOU MENTIONED, PETER, HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE AROUND CONGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ENGAGEMENTS WITH WITH VENEZUELA. AND THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS WITHIN THE PAST FEW DAYS. IF THERE WERE STRIKES INSIDE VENEZUELA, WOULD THAT AMOUNT ESSENTIALLY TO A DECLARATION OF WAR? AND YOU SPOKE ABOUT THAT EARLIER STRIKE INSIDE THE COUNTRY THAT THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED

THAT THE CIA DECLINED TO COMMENT. YOU KNOW, IF THIS OPEN IF THIS DOES END UP BEING STRIKES CONDUCTED BY THE U.S. AND AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION OF THAT. BUT IF IT IS, HOW WILL CONGRESS REACT? AND WILL THERE BE MORE OUTRAGE, NOT JUST AMONG DEMOCRATS, BUT AGAIN, AMONG REPUBLICANS, WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS, EVEN THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THAT STRIKES INSIDE VENEZUELA WERE COMING. SO THIS MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED. PERHAPS THE SCOPE OF IT, IF IT DOES END UP BEING THE UNITED STATES, CERTAINLY IS RAISING A LOT OF EYEBROWS

RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE PENTAGON, AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD DIRECTLY FROM VENEZUELA'S LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO. WE HAVE HEARD A STATEMENT FROM HIS GOVERNMENT. BUT MADURO HIMSELF, WE ARE NOT SURE OF HIS WHEREABOUTS AT THIS HOUR EITHER. >> PETER GABE, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO TRY TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF YOUR SOURCES, EVEN AT THIS EARLY HOUR, JUST 4:00, 415, ALMOST IN THE MORNING, EAST COAST TIME, AN HOUR AHEAD THERE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, WHICH MEANS IN THE COURSE OF THE NEXT HOUR

OR SO, IT WILL FINALLY BECOME DAWN DAYLIGHT, WHICH WILL GIVE US A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT DESTRUCTION. WHAT DAMAGE? WHAT ATTACKS MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE SO FAR. AGAIN, TO CONFIRM, WE DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY THAT THE U.S. IS BEHIND IT, BUT THAT IS THE ACCUSATION BEING MADE BY THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT AT THIS TIME. I WANT TO BRING IN OUR COLLEAGUE. OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT IS RICHARD ENGEL. HE'S ALSO JOINING US ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW. AND RICHARD, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE GETTING SOME INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT NOT SPECIFIC TO THESE ATTACKS, BUT

PERHAPS RESPONDING TO THEM. THIS IS FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BOGOTA THAT SAYS IT IS AWARE OF THESE REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS IN AND AROUND CARACAS, VENEZUELA. THEY ARE WARNING U.S. CITIZENS NOT TO TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA. THEY SAY CITIZENS, AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO ARE IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW SHOULD SHELTER IN PLACE WHAT IT CALLS ITS HIGHEST TRAVEL ADVISORY LEVEL, A LEVEL FOUR RIGHT NOW. SO THOSE THAT'S THE FIRST SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS IS TAKING PLACE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN SOME FORM, THOUGH IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER THE U.S. IS BEHIND WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. YOU

HAVE BEEN IN THAT REGION IN RECENT MONTHS. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR SENSE AS WE WITNESS THIS RIGHT NOW, TAKING PLACE ON THE GROUND THERE IN AND AROUND CARACAS, THE CAPITAL CITY. >> PETER, GOOD TO JOIN YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. AND IT LOOKS LIKE VENEZUELA IS GOING TO BE A STORY THAT IS GOING TO BE DOMINATING THIS, THIS NEW YEAR. AS YOU MENTIONED A SHORT WHILE AGO, THE U.S. HASN'T ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS BEHIND IT. NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION, BUT THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT COULD CARRY OUT COORDINATED STRIKES IN A

FOREIGN COUNTRY THIS KIND OF SCALE, OR WOULD WHO WOULD HAVE THAT INTEREST? AND THE UNITED STATES HAS CERTAINLY INDICATED THAT PRESIDENT MADURO IS A TARGET. GABE GUTIERREZ HAD TWO PHRASES THAT I THINK ARE WORTH NOTING. A SHORT WHILE AGO, HE SAID THAT THE POINT OF THE MILITARY PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING NOW IS TO GET NICOLAS MADURO, THE DICTATOR WHO RUNS THE COUNTRY, TO CRY UNCLE. WELL, SO FAR HE HAS NOT BEEN CRYING, UNCLE. THERE HAVE BEEN STRIKES AGAINST BOATS ALLEGEDLY CARRYING DRUGS, KILLING UPWARDS OF 100 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DENOUNCED BY. NOT

LONG AGO, HE HE HAD SUSPENDED INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THOSE STRIKES. THEN, AS YOU MENTIONED, RIGHT AROUND THE NEW YEAR, JUST BEFORE ABOUT TWO, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, THERE WAS THIS MYSTERIOUS LAND STRIKE IN VENEZUELA. NOW, THIS STRIKE, WHICH WITNESSES IN VENEZUELA SAY TOOK PLACE IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MILITARY FACILITIES IN CARACAS. WITNESSES DESCRIBE HEARING LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT, WHAT SOUNDED LIKE HELICOPTERS, HEARING VERY, VERY LOUD EXPLOSIONS. AND AND NOT ONLY IN CARACAS. SO WHAT IT APPEARS THAT WE SAW OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS WAS A COORDINATED, SOPHISTICATED MILITARY STRIKE PRIMARILY

TARGETING MILITARY FACILITIES, VERY LIKELY CARRIED OUT BY THE UNITED STATES, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THAT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED AT THIS. AT THIS STAGE. WE'LL SEE IF THAT CONFIRMATION COMES SHORTLY OR IF IT NEVER COMES. BUT THE GOAL, AS IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME BY MEDIATORS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, IS TO NOT ONLY TO GET NICOLAS MADURO TO CRY UNCLE, BUT TO LEAVE POWER. A REGIME CHANGE STYLE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN DIRECTED AGAINST HIM AND MORE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AGAINST HIS INNER CIRCLE. BECAUSE MADURO IS IN POWER, HE IS BACKED BY, ACCORDING TO THESE MEDIATORS, BY CUBAN INTELLIGENCE.

HE IS BACKED BY HIS MILITARY INNER CIRCLE, IS BACKED BY A CIRCLE OF ELITE BUSINESS AND MILITARY LEADERS. BECAUSE THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF CROSSOVER IN THE COUNTRY. SO UNDER THE GUISE OF A COUNTER-NARCOTICS OPERATION, WE'RE SEEING AN ESCALATING REGIME CHANGE OPERATION TO GET RID OF MADURO. BUT SO FAR IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. SO THE BIG QUESTION I HAVE, PETER, THIS MORNING AS WE START THIS NEW YEAR, IS THIS ONE MORE NOTCH, ONE MORE ESCALATION TO TRY AND GET HIM TO CRY UNCLE? OR ARE WE SEEING RIGHT NOW THE START OF AN EXTENDED REGIME

CHANGE STYLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD BE A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE? I HAVE HEARD NO INDICATION THAT THE U.S. HAS ANY INTENTION OF SENDING TROOPS INTO THE COUNTRY OR BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TROOPS ON LAND AND AT SEA AROUND VENEZUELA, AND THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. >> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SPECIFICALLY. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUILDING FOOTPRINT, THE AMERICAN MILITARY FOOTPRINT IN THAT REGION. THE U.S. HAVING MOVED IN ONE OF ITS ITS LARGEST CARRIER STRIKE GROUP INTO THE REGION

IN RECENT MONTHS, WEEKS, HARD TO EVEN KEEP TRACK AT THIS POINT. HOW RECENTLY THEY GOT THERE GIVE US A SENSE OF THE CAPABILITIES AND HOW THE U.S. HAS SORT OF JUST RAMPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY ITS MANPOWER AND ITS ITS CAPABILITIES, ITS FORCE IN THAT REGION. >> SO THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF THIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN, THIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN TO CONVINCE THE GENERALS AND ELITE AROUND MADURO TO TURN ON HIM AND TO KICK HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE MOST VISIBLE PART HAS BEEN THE ON BOATS. THE PENTAGON HAS BEEN PROUD TO TO SHOW THEM OFF TO THE

WORLD AND HAS BEEN PRESENTING THESE VIDEOS. BUT IN THE BACKGROUND, THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF TROOPS MOVED INTO THE AREA. AMERICAN FIGHTER JETS, DRONES, SUBMARINES. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS DON'T JUST TRAVEL ALONE, THEY TRAVEL WITH AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS AND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MILITARY POWER. FAR MORE THAN ANYONE WOULD NEED TO DESTROY A FEW RELATIVELY SMALL BOATS ALLEGEDLY CARRYING NARCOTICS. THE AMOUNT OF FORCE IS THE KIND YOU WOULD NEED TO CARRY OUT AN OPERATION LIKE WE SAW SEVERAL HOURS AGO, OR POTENTIALLY CARRY OUT MORE, MORE DRAMATIC REGIME CHANGE LEVEL OPERATIONS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT

WHO COULD BE RESPONSIBLE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN TROOPS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE REGION AND AND HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE ATTACKING RELATIVELY EASY, SMALL TARGETS. BUT YOU DON'T NEED DRONES AND FIGHTER JETS AND SUBMARINES AND AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS IN ORDER TO TO KNOCK OUT A FEW DRUG ALLEGED DRUG BOATS. >> RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, HAS BEEN JOINING US RIGHT NOW. WE WANT TO UPDATE FOLKS AS JUST SHY OF 420 IN THE MORNING ON THE EAST COAST. IF YOU'RE WAKING UP JUST FLIPPING ON YOUR TELEVISION RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE SEEING

WHAT APPEAR TO BE SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS, VENEZUELA. AT THIS TIME. NO PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE U.S. SO FAR FROM THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE PENTAGON. BUT THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT IS ACCUSING THE UNITED STATES OF EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY AGGRESSION, BLAMING THE UNITED STATES AND THE PRESIDENT FOR THE MILITARY STRIKES THAT WE ARE SEEING AT THIS TIME. AGAIN, STICKING WITH OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL, FOR A MOMENT. AND WE HAVE SOME EYEWITNESSES ON THE GROUND WHO HAVE CONFIRMED WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN THERE AS WELL. WE HOPE TO

SPEAK TO THEM SHORTLY. RICHARD, I JUST WANT TO SET THE SCENE FOR FOLKS RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO CAME INTO OFFICE. AMONG THE FIRST THINGS THAT HE SAID WHEN HE ARRIVED WAS THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP WARS. WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT WHO HAS STRUCK, IRAN HAS STRUCK SOMALIA HAS STRUCK NIGERIA A SERIES OF STRIKES IN A LOT OF PLACES. THE ARGUMENT THE WHITE HOUSE MAKES IS THIS IS NOT STARTING WARS. IT'S AVOIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR WARS, THIS REGION. BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS RAMPS UP IF IT'S TO BE

THE UNITED STATES THAT'S BEHIND IT. THIS DOES RAMP UP IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY, THE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN THAT THE U.S. HAS DIRECTED, SPECIFICALLY AT NICOLAS MADURO, THE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, WHO IT DESCRIBES AS THE HEAD OF A NARCO TERRORIST REGIME. WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE, THE POWER STRUCTURE, AS IT WERE, IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW? IF THE DESIRE IS, THOUGH, THEY PUBLICLY SAY IT'S TO END DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE UNITED STATES, IF THE DESIRE IS TO REMOVE NICOLAS MADURO FROM POWER. >> SO, PETER, THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS MEDIATION, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO BACKCHANNEL MEDIATION GOING UNDERWAY

TO TRY AND GET MADURO TO LEAVE POWER. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE'S THAT HE WANTS MADURO OUT OF POWER. HE SAID THAT HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED. HE'S DESCRIBED HIM AS A NARCO TERRORIST. WE HAVE SEEN THE STRIKES ON THE BOATS, BUT THE THE POWER STRUCTURE IN VENEZUELA IS QUITE, IS QUITE SIMPLE. IT IS A IT IS A DICTATORSHIP. IT IS A DICTATORSHIP RUN BY MADURO. ACCORDING TO MEDIATORS. IT IS BACKED BY CUBAN INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS ALTHOUGH PEOPLE MIGHT NOT CONSIDER CUBAN INTELLIGENCE TO BE A A POWERFUL ENTITY, CONSIDERING IT IS A, YOU

KNOW, A SMALL ISLAND. AND PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CUBA GOING BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE COLD WAR, CUBAN INTELLIGENCE REMAINS A A SIGNIFICANTLY POWERFUL ENTITY DOES HAVE INFLUENCE IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES ACROSS LATIN AMERICA. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND YOU MENTIONED MARCO RUBIO BELIEVE THAT CUBAN INTELLIGENCE, MADURO, THE NARCO TRADE ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER AND THAT REMOVING MADURO THROUGH A PRESSURE CAMPAIGN WOULD LEAD TO MORE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. CRITICS, HOWEVER, SAY THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE AND THAT WE ARE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE ENTERING INTO A REGIME CHANGE WAR UNDER THE GUISE OF A

WAR ON DRUGS. >> AND RICHARD. >> THE BIG QUESTION. >> RICHARD, I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU VERY I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU VERY BRIEFLY. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS JUST POSTED A STATEMENT ON TRUTH SOCIAL. THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE UNITED STATES. I WILL READ IT FOR YOU. JUST SEEING THIS POP UP ON MY PHONE AS WE SPEAK, WHILE TEXTING BACK AND FORTH WITH SENIOR ADVISERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE

AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, WHO HAS BEEN, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THIS OPERATION WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT. DETAILS TO FOLLOW. ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THERE WILL BE A NEWS CONFERENCE, HE SAYS TODAY AT 11 A.M. AT MAR A LAGO. HE THEN PUNCTUATES IT, AS HE OFTEN DOES, WITH THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. IT IS SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO REPEAT TWO OF THE KEY SENTENCES IN THERE. HE CONFIRMS THAT THE U.S. CARRIED OUT THIS LARGE SCALE

STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA, AND HE SAYS THAT ITS LEADER, PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, WHO HAS BEEN, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. SO, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THE UNITED STATES, NICOLAS MADURO, IS NO LONGER ON THE GROUND IN VENEZUELA. IT LEAVES OPEN A BIT OF A VACUUM THERE. IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP, IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHO IS EFFECTIVELY RUNNING THAT COUNTRY AT THIS TIME. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THE NEWS THAT WE ARE HEARING AGAIN, IN A TRUE SOCIAL POST FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> WELL,

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING. THIS MEANS THAT THIS WAS A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION AND THAT THIS WAS A HAD SOME DEGREE OF COORDINATION. WITNESSES EARLIER DESCRIBED HELICOPTERS. WITNESSES DESCRIBED LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT. I'M I WAS TAKEN ABACK BY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THAT THE THAT THAT NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THAT MEANS THEY WERE EITHER LOCAL FORCES ON THE GROUND OR LOCAL FORCES WORKING WITH AMERICANS TO HAND OVER THE LEADER AND BRING HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. AN EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT. WE JUST SAW A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION TAKE PLACE QUICKLY IN THE EARLY HOURS,

YOU SAID, DOES IT LEAVE A POWER VACUUM? I KNOW THAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS GOING ON THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES WITH THE, THE, THE, THE GENERALS AND THE TOP LEADERS AROUND MADURO TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM TO TURN ON HIM, TO HAND HIM OVER, TO ALLOW HIM TO BE ARRESTED AND TO GET HIM TO, TO USE OR TO USE THE PHRASE WHAT WE HAD HEARD EARLIER TO CRY UNCLE. HE WASN'T CRYING, UNCLE. AND NOW IT SEEMS HE WAS ARRESTED. AN EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT. IT STARTED OUT WITH SOME BOAT STRIKES AND THEN IT TO A

MILITARY CAMPAIGN ON LAND, AND NOW A MILITARY OPERATION AND AN ARREST. >> AND RICHARD, THAT, OF COURSE, IT OPENS. >> UP A DEVELOPMENT. >> I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING AGAIN THAT BREAKING NEWS THAT ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, THE U.S. HAS NOW SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED, CARRIED OUT, AS HE SAYS, WHAT WAS A LARGE SCALE STRIKE ATTACKS ON IN AND AROUND CARACAS, THE CAPITAL CITY OF VENEZUELA. BEYOND THAT, HE SAYS THAT THE U.S. HAS CAPTURED. HE SAYS THE U.S. HAS CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE AND RICHARD, I BRING THIS

UP BECAUSE IT'S SIGNIFICANT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. NICOLAS MADURO, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, SAID IN A NEW INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS OPEN TO NEGOTIATING WITH WASHINGTON TO COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE FIRST SIGN THAT THIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN WAS TAKING ITS TOLL. THE QUESTIONS THAT IT RAISES NOW ARE, WAS THERE ANY RESISTANCE BY MADURO WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE? WAS THIS IN SOME WAY NEGOTIATED WITH THOSE AROUND HIM? THOSE ARE QUESTIONS WE HAVE ON THE GROUND. AS YOU SAY, THE U.S. SWEPT IN AND DID THIS UNDER THE VEIL OF DARKNESS. IT TOOK PLACE VERY QUICKLY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW, BUT IT RAISES A LOT OF REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT, IF ANY, CONVERSATIONS DID EXIST IN ANY FORM WITH NICOLAS MADURO, OR IF THIS WAS THE FIRST CONTACT WHEN, IN EFFECT, THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WAS KNOCKING ON HIS DOOR AND SWEEPING UP HIM AND HIS WIFE AND TAKING HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. >> PANAMA, PANAMA TO NORIEGA PEOPLE, THOSE WHO REMEMBER THE STORY. HE WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A NARCOTRAFFICKER REFUSED TO LEAVE. U.S. FORCES SWEPT IN AND GRABBED HIM. I TO ANSWER SOME OF THE

QUESTIONS. I KNOW FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN CONTACTS WITH THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES WITH MADURO'S INNER CIRCLE TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. HE WAS NOT INTERESTED. HE WAS RESISTING THIS PRESSURE. CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ESCALATING, FIRST WITH THE BOATS, THEN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARING HIM A NARCO TERRORIST. THEN ALL OF THE U.S. MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE REGION, THE THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS, THE SUBMARINES, THE DRONES, AIRCRAFT. THEN SHORTLY BEFORE NEW YEAR'S, A LAND STRIKE ALLEGEDLY CARRIED OUT BY THE CIA, VERY FEW DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WAS HIT THEN AND NOW. OVERNIGHT,

A CAPTURE OPERATION. AND YOU DON'T DO A CAPTURE OPERATION WITHOUT ATTACKING SOME MILITARY SITES BECAUSE YOU NEED TO CLEAR THE AIRSPACE. YOU NEED TO CLEAR AWAY AIR DEFENSES. YOU NEED TO PROTECT THE HELICOPTERS AND THE TROOPS THAT ARE GOING IN TO REMOVE THE PERSON YOU'RE TRYING TO ARREST. SO THE U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST DECIDED TO PULL A PANAMA TWO FOR NEW YEAR'S AND AFFECT REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA. AN EXTRAORDINARY AN EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT. AND YOU ASKED, WAS THIS COORDINATED? IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN COORDINATED WITH WITH AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE WHO TURNED ON MADURO BECAUSE THE

PEOPLE KNEW WHERE HE WAS. THEY KNEW WHERE HIS FAMILY WAS. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE IS STILL ALIVE. AND I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE HIM IN FRONT OF AN AMERICAN COURT IN THE COMING WEEKS OR MONTHS. >> SO THIS HAS BEEN A A DRAMATIC SERIES OF DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE OVERNIGHT IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS NEW YEAR. JANUARY 3RD, SHORTLY AFTER 1:00, 2:00 LOCAL TIME. THE FIRST REPORTS FROM EYEWITNESSES ON THE GROUND OF EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS, VENEZUELA. AND NOW, WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES AGO, WE

ARE HEARING FROM THE PRESIDENT AGAIN, DETAILING PUBLICLY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE US WAS BEHIND WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO. HE SAYS MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE. THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT DETAIL WHERE THEY ARE BEING TAKEN AT THIS TIME. THE PRESIDENT, WHO REMAINS AT HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE, HIS PROPERTY IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, SAYS THAT THIS OPERATION WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAYS THAT THERE WILL BE A. ORDERS IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AT

A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT ABOUT 11:00. EXCUSE ME, EASTERN TIME. I WANT TO GET BACK TO GABE GUTIERREZ IF I CAN. RIGHT NOW, HE IS OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT. GABE, YOU'RE JOINING US BY PHONE AS WELL. YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT THERE, SPEAKING TO SOME OF HIS AIDES AND ALLIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK, WHILE MOST PEOPLE WERE ENJOYING THEIR HOLIDAY BREAK. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS HAS BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON A VARIETY OF THINGS. ONE, WHAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE IN VENEZUELA WITH THIS NEW SERIES OF BOAT STRIKES IN

RECENT DAYS THAT STRIKE ON A DOCKING FACILITY THAT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF REVEALED, THOUGH THE U.S. HAS NOT SAID IF THE CIA WAS BEHIND IT. SEPARATELY, THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE SITUATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AS WELL. BUT THE PRESIDENT, GABE, AS YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED TOGETHER, HAS SAID PUBLICLY THROUGHOUT THAT THE DESIRE IS TO END THE THE TRANSPORTATION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES. AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SORT OF PUSHED BACK ON THE IDEA THAT THIS FOCUS HAS BEEN REGIME CHANGE. SO THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF SAID IN AN INTERVIEW NOT LONG AGO THAT

THAT MADURO'S DAYS WERE, IN EFFECT, NUMBERED. THIS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, NOTABLE CHANGE, AND IT DOES IMPACT THE U.S. IN TERMS OF ITS POLICY AS IT RELATES TO VENEZUELA, TO THAT REGION. >> OH, PETER, THIS IS JUST STAGGERING NEWS THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT THAT NOT ONLY DID THE U.S. CARRY OUT THESE STRIKES, BUT ACTUALLY HAS CAPTURED NICOLAS MADURO. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, PETER, WE HAVE HAD CONFLICTING MESSAGES FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS ON WHAT WAS THE GOAL OF THESE STRIKES AND OF THIS MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE CARIBBEAN. CERTAINLY, A LOT OF

SKEPTICS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WONDERED WHY SEND SO MANY TROOPS TO THE CARIBBEAN JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, AIRSTRIKES ON ON THESE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS IN AND AROUND THE CARIBBEAN AND IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC. AND NOW IT APPEARS THAT THIS A COORDINATED ATTACK, AN OPERATION TO REMOVE NICOLAS MADURO FROM POWER IS JUST STAGGERING NEWS. AND WE HAD BEEN HEARING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, PETER, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I REMEMBER SPEAKING WITH SOME OFFICIALS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO DID SAY THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME TALKS WITH MEMBERS OF NICOLAS MADURO'S INNER CIRCLE AND THAT THE, THE THE

ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO GET AT LEAST SOME OF THEM TO TURN ON NICOLAS MADURO. OF COURSE, WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS NOW ABOUT HOW EXACTLY ALL THIS WENT DOWN. WHAT WERE THE DETAILS? DID DID SOMEONE TURN HIM IN? HOW DID THIS OPERATION GO DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, JUST AFTER A HOLIDAY WEEK? CERTAINLY WE WILL HOPE TO LEARN MORE OF THOSE DETAILS WHEN THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS LATER ON TODAY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. BUT SOMETHING I WILL BRING UP, PETER, AND SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED. WHAT DOES WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH LEADERSHIP IN VENEZUELA? RIGHT. IT

WAS NOT VERY LONG AGO THAT THE LEADING VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION FIGURE, MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SHE ACTUALLY WAS RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY. AND SHE MADE THIS INCREDIBLE, DARING JOURNEY FROM BEING IN HIDING IN VENEZUELA TO COLLECT HER PRIZE IN NORWAY, DESPITE GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS. SO YOU REMEMBER, DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT BACKED THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE, THEN JUAN GUAIDO, WHILE THERE WERE GOVERNMENT PROTESTS BACK THEN, ONGOING BLACKOUTS, HYPERINFLATION AND UNREST INSIDE VENEZUELA. BUT THOSE PROTESTS FIZZLED AND MADURO STAYED IN POWER. CLEARLY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE THIS TIME. AND MANY

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP IN THAT COUNTRY NOW. >> GABE, STAY WITH US, RICHARD ENGEL. STAY WITH US. TO OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE WAKING UP AND WATCHING THIS, THIS HISTORIC MOMENT WITH US RIGHT NOW, THE UNITED STATES, IN THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENT, HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA. THE PRESIDENT ADDS THAT BOTH ITS LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO, AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. JOINING US NOW FROM THE GROUND IN CARACAS, THAT IS THE CAPITAL CITY OF VENEZUELA, IS JOURNALIST VANESSA HERRERA. VANESSA, I KNOW YOU

HAVE HEARD THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT HE HAS SAID A MATTER OF MINUTES AGO WHEN WE SPOKE TO YOU, YOU WERE REACTING TO STRIKES ON THE GROUND. NOW YOU'RE REACTING FOR THE FIRST TIME. LIVE TO WORD THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION. AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, YOU'RE HEARING FROM FROM THOSE WHO ARE AWAKE AT THIS EARLY HOUR THERE? >> WELL, I THINK I THINK, AS YOU ALL SAID, THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT. IF THIS. WELL, JUST TRUMP JUST CONFIRMED THIS. BUT

OF COURSE, WHEN THE FOOTAGE, THE PICTURES, THE STORY ABOUT HOW HE WAS CAUGHT, IF HE RESISTED OR NOT, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN EXACTLY COME TO LIGHT, I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SEE A GREAT DEAL OF REACTION, NOT ONLY AROUND CARACAS, BUT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THIS THIS IS EXACTLY A MOMENT IN HISTORY. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS OF CHAVISMO JUST VANISHING IN, IN OVERNIGHT, OVER HOURS, NOT EVEN AT NIGHT HOURS. I MEAN, THIS THIS SITUATION REALLY, I BELIEVE NOW MORE THAN EVER NOW THAT DONALD TRUMP JUST TWEETED THAT SAID

THAT ON HIS TRUTH SOCIAL, THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS STRIKE WAS ABSOLUTELY CUT OUT OF THE BLUE, CAUGHT UNAWARE THE THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT. AND I'M SORRY I'M STUMBLING THERE BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY HUGE NEWS RIGHT NOW. >> NO. ANA. VANESSA, I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US RIGHT NOW. THE FIRST VOICE FROM INSIDE VENEZUELA SHARING THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD, WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN THERE, IF YOU CAN JUST TAKE A BREATH FOR A MOMENT, YOU KNOW THIS SITUATION ABOUT AS WELL AS ANYBODY YOU'VE COVERED THAT THAT REGION SPENT SO MUCH TIME CLEARLY IN VENEZUELA, JUST YOUR GUT.

WHEN YOU HEARD THAT NEWS, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? >> I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED, TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T BELIEVE THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE. I ACTUALLY STILL DON'T KNOW. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION AGAIN ABOUT AT LEAST FROM FROM VENEZUELA. WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SAYING THAT THIS HAPPENED OR HOW IT HAPPENED, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF VIDEOS FLOATING AROUND WHATSAPP AND SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWING HELICOPTERS NEAR WHAT THEY CLAIM. THE PEOPLE RECORDING CLAIMED TO BE THE HOUSE OF OF HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RODRIGUEZ, JORGE RODRIGUEZ,

DIOSDADO CABELLO. WE DON'T WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM. SO WE DO KNOW NOW ABOUT NICOLAS MADURO FLORES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, MADURO. NUMBER TWO, CABELLO, WHO'S ALSO A HUGE NAME FOR THE US GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF HIS WHEREABOUTS. WE DON'T KNOW IF HIS WAS AFFECTED BY BY THE STRIKE, IF HE WAS IN CARACAS. AT THE MOMENT, WE WE DON'T WE WE JUST DON'T KNOW. >> WELL, VANESSA, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S WHAT'S STRIKING TO ME IS WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND FROM OTHERS ABOUT THE

TIMELINE THAT TOOK PLACE HERE. BUT WE DID QUICKLY GET A STATEMENT FROM THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT. YEAH, AFTER THESE STRIKES BEGAN, SAYING, IN EFFECT, THAT THIS THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY ACT OF AGGRESSION. SO, YOU KNOW, IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT IF NICOLAS MADURO WAS NO LONGER IN A POSITION TO BE LEADING, WHO IS LEADING, WHO IN THE SYSTEM IS STILL GOVERNING, IN EFFECT, TO BE PUTTING OUT THESE DEFIANT STATEMENTS DIRECTED AT THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT, IF ANY, PLAN EXISTS TO HELP TRY TO STABILIZE THAT COUNTRY, AS IT WERE, IN THE IMMEDIATE DAYS AND WEEKS

THAT MAY FOLLOW HERE WITH WITHOUT ITS LEADER, THOUGH, A LEADER THAT THE U.S. DESCRIBED AS THE HEAD OF A NARCO TERRORIST STATE WITHOUT ITS PRESIDENT THERE ON THE GROUND. >> WELL, IT IS UNKNOWN. >> BECAUSE WE JUST KNOW, AS I WAS TELLING YOU, WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT NICOLAS MADURO AND CILIA FLORES. WE DON'T KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT DELCY RODRIGUEZ, THE VICE PRESIDENT, OR JORGE RODRIGUEZ, THE HEAD OF THE CHAVISTA CONTROLLED CONGRESS AND THE PARLIAMENT. SO WE DON'T KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF RODRIGUEZ STILL HERE, SHE SHOULD IF SHE'S STILL SHE'S STILL IN VENEZUELA, IF SHE'S NOT

AFFECTED, SHE WASN'T AFFECTED BY BY THE STRIKES, THEN WE SHOULD HEAR FROM HER IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. BUT IF THE HIGH MEMBERS, 6 OR 7 HIGH MEMBERS OF THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT, NICOLAS MADURO'S GOVERNMENT WERE ALSO MAYBE TAKEN OR AFFECTED, THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT WOULD THE PROTOCOL BE? WE DO KNOW THAT NOBEL LAUREATE MARIA CORINA MACHADO, WHO WAS HE IS A KEY ALLY TO EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, WHO WAS THE WINNER OF 2024 ELECTIONS, ACCORDING TO THE VOTE TALLIES. WE DO KNOW THAT, SHE SAID, THAT THEY HAVE THE TRANSITION ALL ALREADY

TO START WHENEVER NICOLAS MADURO WAS OUT OF POWER. SO MAYBE WE CAN EXPECT THE OPPOSITION TO TAKE THE PLACE AND START THIS, THIS, THIS SO-CALLED TRANSITION INTO MAYBE NEW ELECTIONS. >> ANA VANESSA HERRERA, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU LIVE FOR OUR ROLLING COVERAGE OF THIS HISTORIC DEVELOPING NEWS WE'VE BEEN WATCHING FROM THE GROUND IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AGAIN. AND WE REPEAT IT BECAUSE IT'S SO DRAMATIC. AND I THINK, FRANKLY, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, QUITE STUNNING IS ANA. VANESSA HERSELF JUST SAID THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MAKING VERY

CLEAR THAT THE US HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, THAT COUNTRY'S CAPITAL CITY. AND THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT IT'S IT'S PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED. HE, ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY THE UNITED STATES. I WANT, IF I CAN, VERY QUICKLY TO GET BACK TO RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, FOR A MOMENT. RICHARD, DO YOU HEAR ME? >> EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT. >> RICHARD, WHERE WHERE DOES THE US TAKE. I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING. WHERE WHERE COULD THE US TAKE NICOLAS MADURO AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, I WOULD TAKE HIM INTO US CUSTODY IF YOU WOULD TAKE HIM TO A WARSHIP BECAUSE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HELICOPTERS. SO YOU WOULD TAKE HIM TO A SOME SORT OF WARSHIP, AND THEN FROM A WARSHIP FLOWN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR TO PANAMA, VERY SIMILAR TO NORIEGA. THE US WENT IN, GRABBED HIM, AND THEN ONCE HE'S IN CUSTODY. SO THERE ARE A SERIES OF STEPS. BUT THESE ARE THE KIND OF OPERATIONS THAT ARE CARRIED OUT BY NAVY SEALS, DELTA FORCE, CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE CIA. THE UNITED STATES

HAS SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS. THE UNITED STATES FOR DECADES WAS INVOLVED IN A WAR ON TERRORISM. IT INVOLVED IN A KILL AND CAPTURE OPERATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH EASIER TO CARRY OUT AN ASSASSINATION CAMPAIGN, IF CLEARLY THE UNITED STATES KNEW WHERE NICOLAS MADURO WAS. CLEARLY, THERE WAS COORDINATION ON THE INSIDE WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR EASIER TO TO DO WHAT ISRAEL DID IN IRAN, PICK YOUR TARGET AND CARRY CARRY OUT AN ASSASSINATION STRIKE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY WANTED TO ARREST HIM. THEY WANTED HIM IN CUSTODY. AND THE CLOSEST PLACE THAT

IS AMERICAN CUSTODY WOULD BE A WARSHIP AND THEN A WARSHIP TO THE US, TO THE US MAINLAND. SO I WOULD BE EXPECTING THAT WE WILL SEE NICOLAS MADURO IN FRONT OF AN AMERICAN COURT BEFORE TOO LONG. AND IT WILL BE A MOMENT FOR MARCO RUBIO TO TO CELEBRATE A WAY FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PROVE IT'S SERIOUS ABOUT EXERTING ITS FORCE IN IN LATIN AMERICA. LET'S NOT FORGET, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WAS CALL THE GULF OF MEXICO THE GULF OF AMERICA. HE CLEARLY WANTS TO SHOW DOMINANCE IN IN AMERICA'S BACKYARD. AND

HE HAS JUST CARRIED OUT A, I DON'T SAY BREATHTAKING, BUT A SURPRISE SECRET OPERATION. THE VENEZUELAN JOURNALIST YOU WERE TALKING TO A SHORT WHILE AGO SAID THAT SHE WAS SHOCKED BY THIS NEWS. PETER, WE WERE ON AIR WHEN THIS NEWS CAME IN. I ALMOST ASKED YOU TO REPEAT IT. DID YOU REALLY SAY THE US JUST WENT IN AND ARRESTED MADURO? CLEARLY. CLEARLY THEY DID. HE HAD NOT BEEN RESPONDING TO THE ESCALATING PRESSURE CAMPAIGN. HE HAD NOT BEEN CRYING. UNCLE. HE HAD RECENTLY SAID THAT HE WAS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. HE WAS WILLING TO COLLABORATE. HE WAS

WILLING TO FIND OUT A SOLUTION. IT REMINDS ME OF THE DAYS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, SADDAM HUSSEIN IN IRAQ. WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. HE'D BEEN HIDING IN A HOLE IN. THE FIRST THING HE DID IS HE PUT UP HIS HANDS AND HE SAID, I AM SADDAM HUSSEIN, AND I AM WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. IT WAS TOO LATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS AT THAT STAGE, AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND THEN ULTIMATELY HANDED OVER TO THE IRAQIS AND EXECUTED. I THINK AT THIS STAGE, NICOLAS MADURO, WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED A TERRORIST, ALREADY BEEN CHARGED WITH NARCO CRIMES, WILL

END UP FACING FACING AN AMERICAN COURT AND PROBABLY PROBABLY BEING SENTENCED TO TO A LITANY OF CRIMES. >> RICHARD, I WANT TO MARINATE IN THIS MOMENT FOR A SEC ABOUT WHATEVER TYPE OF OPERATION IT WOULD REQUIRE TO BE ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND SWEEP UP NICOLAS MADURO, TO TAKE HIS WIFE WITH HIM AS WELL, OUT OF THAT COUNTRY. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID. THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF COURSE, ARE VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VEILED IN SECRECY THAT STUNNED IN MANY WAYS, THE WORLD. YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH SADDAM

HUSSEIN, THOUGH VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE UNITED STATES, BACK IN 2011, OF COURSE, WAS ABLE TO GO INTO ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, WHERE THEY FOUND OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHO HAD BEEN HIDING OUT THERE. THAT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT DESIRE. HE WAS NOT THE LEADER OF OF ANY COUNTRY, OF COURSE. IN FACT, HE WAS A TERRORIST LEADER, AND HE WAS KILLED IN THE COURSE OF THAT OPERATION. BUT IT THE US ABILITY TO DO THIS IN SECRECY, AND AT LEAST TO THIS POINT, WE'RE WAITING FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER ANY AMERICANS, WHETHER THERE WAS ANY RESISTANCE, WHETHER ARMS WERE FIRED

AT AMERICAN TROOPS OR WHETHER THE SITUATION WAS NOT TOO DISSIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU DETAIL WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN, WHERE HE JUST PUT HIS HANDS UP AT THE TIME. BUT THE US HAS, YOU KNOW, IT REMINDS AMERICANS OF THE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES THE US HAS WHEN THE ORDERS COME FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE MILITARY INVOLVED, TO DO SOMETHING OF SUCH A HIGH AND DRAMATIC SCALE LIKE THIS. >> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A HELICOPTER OPERATION. YOU CAN'T LAND A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY, AND WITNESSES IN CARACAS DESCRIBED HEARING HELICOPTERS.

SO THE REASON YOU DO A WIDE SCALE MILITARY OPERATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FORCES GOING IN ARE PROTECTED. VENEZUELA DOES HAVE ALLIES IN RUSSIA DOES HAVE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. ITS MILITARY IS A BIT OF A SHAMBLES. THE COUNTRY IS UNDER SANCTIONS. THERE IS AN ELITE THAT HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND A GREAT DEAL OF POVERTY. MOST OF THE REFUGEES THAT ARE THAT ARE SPREADING AROUND ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, MANY OF THEM COME FROM FROM VENEZUELA ITSELF. SO AN IMPOVERISHED NATION THAT HAD BEEN RUN BY A DICTATOR WHO HAS NOW BEEN ARRESTED. BUT IT DEFINITELY

DEMONSTRATES THE THE US CAPABILITIES. AND I STRESS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO MEDIATORS FOR FOR MONTHS NOW, THERE HAS BEEN AN ESCALATING PRESSURE CAMPAIGN DIRECTED NOT JUST ON MADURO, BUT AROUND HIS INNER CIRCLE, THE MILITARY AROUND HIM TO HAND HIM OVER. AND MADURO'S RESPONSE WAS EITHER TO LAUGH IT OFF. IF YOU REMEMBER, HE WAS SEEN IN HOLDING RALLIES SINGING JOHN LENNON SONGS, SAYING, IMAGINE A TIME WE CAN HAVE PEACE. HE WAS SAYING THAT THIS WAS JUST A GREAT BIG AMERICAN YANKEE IMPERIAL PLOT, AND HE WASN'T GETTING THE MESSAGE. PEOPLE AROUND HIM CLEARLY GOT WORRIED, AND

IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE TURNED HIM IN. WITH THE US MILITARY PRESSURE IN THE REGION, WITH THE STRIKES ON THE BOATS, AND THEN THAT STRIKE ON LAND JUST BEFORE NEW YEAR'S. I THINK YOU CAN SEE THESE NOW, HOW THEY LINE UP, LEADING TO TO WHAT WE SAW OVERNIGHT, AN ESCALATING CAMPAIGN OF MILITARY PRESENCE, BOAT STRIKES, A LAND STRIKE, BACK CHANNEL NEGOTIATIONS TO GET THE INNER CIRCLE TO TURN ON MADURO, AND NOW A CAPTURE OPERATION. YOU MENTIONED THE BIN LADEN. THAT WAS A KILL OPERATION. KILL OPERATIONS ARE MUCH EASIER. YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS. YOU BOMB IT,

IT'S OVER. BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CLEARLY WANTED TO TAKE HIM GO POWER AND PUT HIM IN FRONT OF A COURT. >> JUST TO PULL BACK THE CURTAIN, TO LET OUR AUDIENCE IN ON SOME OF WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES DURING DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS. WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO OUR TO THOSE WHO WORK AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON AS WELL. FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS. I'VE BEEN TEXTING AS WE SPEAK WITH OFFICIALS IN AND AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ANY DETAILS. WE HAVE NOW BEEN ASKING WHERE NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN TAKEN IS BEING TAKEN.

THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND TO THAT. AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT HE WILL HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE, A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT ABOUT 11:00, WHICH IS WHAT IF IT'S ALMOST 5:00 HERE, ROUGHLY SIX HOURS FROM NOW? RICHARD, STAY WITH US. GABE GUTIERREZ, STAY WITH US. I WANT TO GET FOR A MOMENT TO WILL FREEMAN. HE IS A FELLOW FOR THE LATIN AMERICA STUDIES AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. HE IS JOINING US NOW. WILL, HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION WITH DEVELOPMENTS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE. HAVE IMAGINED. CERTAINLY SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF WHO

IS AN EXPERT IN THAT REGION. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND FLOWED OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY THE UNITED STATES. >> I'M ALMOST SPEECHLESS. I MEAN, THIS IS A COMPLETELY SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT. LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. I MEAN, THIS IS A DICTATORSHIP THAT HAS CONSOLIDATED POWER OVER 20 YEARS. 8 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM VENEZUELA. THAT'S A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION, THE BIGGEST MASS DISPLACEMENT IN THE RECENT HISTORY, MAYBE THE ALL TIME HISTORY OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, HUGELY DISRUPTIVE

FOR ALL OF SOUTH AMERICA. EVENTUALLY THE UNITED STATES, TO A REGIME THAT WAS IMPLICATED IN ALL TYPES OF ORGANIZED CRIME, INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS A IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD. I THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL MAYBE A SMALL ONE, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE IN A FEW DAYS TALKING ABOUT A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA. AND I SURELY HOPE THAT THAT'S THE CASE, THAT SOMEHOW THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE FEAT OF BACK CHANNEL DIPLOMACY HERE, AND THAT YOU

HAVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAVING WORKED OUT A PLAN WITH A SECTOR OF THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY AND THE OPPOSITION IN THAT COUNTRY THAT CREATES STABILITY AND A TRANSITION, ONE THAT VENEZUELANS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR LAST YEAR IN AN ELECTION THAT MADURO ROBBED. NOW, I SAID THAT, I THINK, I HOPE DEEPLY FOR THAT OUTCOME, BUT I FEAR ANOTHER ONE AND I FEAR ANOTHER ONE THAT MAY ACTUALLY BE MORE LIKELY, WHICH IS THAT WE HAVE A VACUUM OF POWER IN VENEZUELA THAT YOU SEE THE ARMED FORCES THERE SPLIT DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN NEXT. AND THEN WE'RE IN AN

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MOMENT WHERE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE MADURO OUT OF THE COUNTRY, YOU MAY HAVE JUST THRUST ONE OF THE MAJOR COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA INTO A TOTAL PANDORA'S BOX. I'VE JUST SEEN A VIDEO NOT YET CONFIRMED, BUT OF VLADIMIR PADRINO LOPEZ, THE HEAD OF THE VENEZUELAN ARMED FORCES, CALLING ON THE ARMED FORCES TO FIGHT BACK AND RESIST THIS. RIGHT. SO CLEARLY, IF THAT VIDEO IS CONFIRMED, A SIGNAL THAT HE IS NOT ON BOARD WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. SO, LOOK, IT'S REALLY JUST IT'S A MYSTERY WHAT COMES NEXT. I REALLY THINK WE CAN'T SAY YET.

DOES DELCY RODRIGUEZ, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MADURO, HAS SHE MADE SOME KIND OF DEAL THAT SHE STEPS INTO POWER? DO WE SEE YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING TO BE FEARED. DO WE SEE A HARDLINER IF HE'S STILL SURVIVING RIGHT NOW, LIKE DIOSDADO CABELLO, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST, MOST AUTHORITARIAN FIGURES IN THE MADURO REGIME, DOES HE STEP IN AND FILL THE VACUUM? AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DOES THE US EXERT LEVERAGE ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITHOUT OUR OWN TROOPS. >> ON THE GROUND? >> RIGHT. SO SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

TO JUST I THINK, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO VENEZUELAN FRIENDS, SOURCES ON THE GROUND, THERE'S A MIX OF DISBELIEF, HOPE THAT SOMEHOW THIS TERRIBLE SITUATION THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN IN COULD FINALLY BE ENDING. FEAR, OF COURSE. AND AGAIN, I THINK JUST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THAT UNLIKELY BUT BUT HOPEFUL SCENARIO THAT THERE IS CHANGE HERE IF THAT BEARS OUT OR IF WE'RE IN A MUCH DARKER, MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. >> WILL FREEMAN IS AN EXPERT OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES WITH THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. HE'S SPEAKING TO US HERE LIVE ON NBC

NEWS RIGHT NOW DURING OUR ROLLING COVERAGE, AFTER LEARNING THAT THE US IS SUCCESSFULLY, IN THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE. THEY'RE CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. IT'S ITS LEADER, WHO THE US DESCRIBED AS AN ILLEGITIMATE LEADER. NICOLAS MADURO WILL JUST TO PULL. I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE GOING TO WAKE UP THIS MORNING TO MAJOR HEADLINES. THEY'RE WAKING UP IF THEY'RE WATCHING US RIGHT NOW. AND THEY THERE WAS A LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH VENEZUELA, ITS ROLE IN THAT REGION. OBVIOUSLY, OIL IS CENTRAL IN TERMS OF

ITS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW. THE NARCO TERRORIST REGIME IS THE WHITE HOUSE DESCRIBES. IT HAS OBVIOUSLY RELIED HEAVILY ON THE TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS, MUCH OF IT COCAINE. THAT GOES TO EUROPE. THE PRESIDENT MAKING ACCUSATIONS THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES FENTANYL GOING TO THE UNITED STATES. HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VENEZUELA IN THAT REGION, AND HOW IT SORT OF FALLS INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT NOW VIS A VIS THE UNITED STATES. >> RIGHT? RIGHT. WELL, FIRST OFF, I'D SAY, LOOK, LATIN AMERICA IS A REGION OF DEMOCRACIES. OVERWHELMINGLY, THERE ARE ONLY THREE DICTATORSHIPS

REMAINING IN THE REGION, RIGHT? THOSE ARE VENEZUELA, CUBA AND NICARAGUA, WHERE VENEZUELA IS BY FAR THE LARGEST COUNTRY BY AREA, BY GEOSTRATEGIC IMPORTANCE, BY POPULATION. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, 8 MILLION VENEZUELANS, A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION HAVE FLED UNDER MADURO'S RULE AND THAT OF HIS PREDECESSOR, HUGO CHAVEZ. SO JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXODUS OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LEAVING MILLIONS OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN COLOMBIA, PERU, HALF A MILLION IN BRAZIL, IN THE UNITED STATES EACH. SO THERE'S BEEN THAT DISRUPTION. AND YOU HAVE ALSO SEEN VENEZUELA, UNDER MADURO, TURN INTO A MAFIA STATE WHERE THE REGIME

IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN ILLEGAL GOLD MINING, COCAINE TRAFFICKING, ALTHOUGH NOT FENTANYL. THAT IS NOT TRUE. WHAT THE WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS THERE. WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT. AND IN ALL TYPES OF OTHER CORRUPTION, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN A SITUATION WHERE ORDINARY VENEZUELANS HAVE TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO COME ONTO THE STREETS TO PROTEST, TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE. THEY VOTED IN ELECTIONS THEY'VE ELECTED IN 2015, A SUPER MAJORITY FOR THE OPPOSITION THAT WASN'T REALLY ALLOWED TO LEGISLATE. LAST YEAR, THEY ELECTED AN OPPOSITION PRESIDENT BY A LANDSLIDE, NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE POWER.

MADURO SIMPLY STOLE THE VOTE. SO THEY'VE TRIED EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER. AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FEEL THAT THERE WAS ANY OTHER OTHER PATH FORWARD, ANY PATH FOR HOPE IN THE COUNTRY. NOW, I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS AROUND THE WORLD, THE MILITARY PART OF THE MILITARY ALWAYS HAS TO BE ON BOARD. SO OTHERWISE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE PART OF THE MILITARY AGREEING TO THE TRANSITION, GUIDING IT, YOU END UP WITH CHAOS.

YOU END UP OFTEN WITH CIVIL WAR, WITH THE POWER VACUUM. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF CRITICS OF THE CURRENT STRATEGY ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT. RIGHT. IT'S THAT WE SEE A SITUATION HERE MORE LIKE LIBYA POST-ARAB SPRING, MORE LIKE IRAQ. EVENTUALLY, AFTER THE US INTERVENTION THERE, AND NOT A SITUATION LIKE, SAY, PANAMA IN 1989, WHERE YOU HAD THE EXTRACTION OF THAT COUNTRY'S NARCO PRESIDENT AND A VERY QUICK TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE THERE WERE U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THERE WERE US FORCES TO TO GUIDE THAT TRANSITION. YOU'RE NOT GOING

TO HAVE THAT HERE IN VENEZUELA FOR ALL THAT WE KNOW. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 15,000 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL, GIVE OR TAKE, OFF THE COAST IN THE CARIBBEAN. THAT'S NOT EVEN ANYWHERE NEAR THE QUANTITY YOU'D NEED TO HOLD AND CONTROL CRITICAL TRANSIT LINES ALONG OUR TRANSPORT ROUTES, ALONG THE PATH TO CARACAS AND THE CITY ITSELF. SO, LOOK, I THINK THE BEST CASE SCENARIO HERE IS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH THE PARTS OF THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY, POWERFUL ONES, AND THAT THEY'VE AGREED TO SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATED TRANSITION WHERE THE OPPOSITION

WILL GAIN SOME POWER. UNFORTUNATELY, PROBABLY THEY'LL RECEIVE SOME AMOUNT OF IMPUNITY. BUT THAT'S THE BEST CASE. THE WORST CASE IS THAT NONE OF THAT PLANNING HAS BEEN DONE, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT TOMORROW THAT THERE'S NO DAY AFTER PLAN, THAT IT WAS SOMEHOW MAGICALLY HOPED THAT THE OPPOSITION WOULD SIMPLY TAKE POWER, AND THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND THAT WE EITHER GET A WORSE VERSION OF MADURO IN OFFICE OR NO ONE IS IN CONTROL, RIGHT? IN WHICH CASE YOU MAY SEE MUCH LARGER OUTMIGRATION FROM VENEZUELA. YOU MAY SEE DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND OTHER CRIME GROUPS

GAIN EVEN DEEPER CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY. SO THIS IS A ROLL OF THE DICE, AND I DON'T WANT TO PASS ANY CONCLUSION YET ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. CLEARLY, WE DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH, BUT IT'S JUST IT INJECTS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY INTO LATIN AMERICA. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY MAYBE AS MUCH AS YOU'VE SEEN AS MUCH AS YOU'VE EVER SEEN SINCE THE 1962 CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EVENT OF THOSE PROPORTIONS. >> WILL FREEMAN, YOUR EXPERTISE IS INVALUABLE TO US RIGHT NOW, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR HONESTY AND THE

ASSESSMENT THAT YOU, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, ARE SORT OF JUST STUNNED BY THE NEWS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. AND WE WILL WATCH AS THIS PLAYS OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS, DAYS, AND HOPE TO GET A BETTER MINUTE BY MINUTE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE DAWN, EVEN AS WE ANTICIPATE THE SUN TO RISE SHORTLY OVER CARACAS VERY SOON. STAY WITH US. WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO REVISIT WITH YOU, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE CONTINUE WITH OUR DEVELOPING COVERAGE HERE. I WANT TO GET VERY QUICKLY AS WE COME CLOSE TO THE TOP OF

THE HOUR. BACK TO OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL. RICHARD, YOU HEARD FROM WILL FREEMAN THERE DETAILING WHAT THE UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND HAD SAID ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO. I THINK IT WAS BACK IN DECEMBER WHERE THEY SAID THERE WERE ABOUT 15,000 U.S. FORCES WHO WERE THERE IN THE REGION. THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBED THEM AS PART OF A, QUOTE, MASSIVE ARMADA. AS HE SAID, THE U.S. IS IN NO POSITION, THOUGH, WITH THAT NUMBER TO SORT OF CONTROL VENEZUELA WHERE THAT NECESSARY. AND HE DETAILED THIS SORT OF FORK IN THE ROAD WE NOW FACE ABOUT

THE POTENTIAL, PERHAPS, FOR A DEMOCRATIC LED GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO THE REAL CONCERN AND FEAR THAT THE VACUUM COULD BE FILLED WITH OTHERS, SORT OF IN THE IMAGE OF NICOLAS MADURO, WHO SHARE HIS HIS VIEW, HIS CONDEMNATION OF THE UNITED STATES. >> WELL, I THINK HE DESCRIBED IT PERFECTLY THAT VENEZUELA IS NOW AT A FORK IN THE ROAD. IT WILL EITHER GO AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION, AND THERE IS A AN OPPOSITION JUST WON NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. VENEZUELA HAD AN ELECTION WHICH NICOLAS MADURO STOLE. SO WILL THE LEGITIMATE OPPOSITION BE ABLE TO TAKE POWER IN

A RELATIVELY SMOOTH WAY, OR DID PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST PLUNGE VENEZUELA INTO A CIVIL WAR? HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. 15,000 TROOPS ARE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO OCCUPY A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF VENEZUELA AND MANAGE A TRANSITION THAT WERE MORE THAN 120,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ, SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAT, AND ABOUT A MILLION TROOPS CYCLED THROUGH THE COUNTRY. AND AND IRAQ STILL PLUNGED INTO CIVIL WAR. SO MORE TROOPS HAD TO BE ADDED IN ORDER TO STOP THE CIVIL WAR. HE MENTIONED LIBYA, WHICH I THINK IS A IS A KEY EXAMPLE. THE UNITED STATES NEVER OCCUPIED LIBYA, NEVER HAD TROOPS

ON THE GROUND, JUST DID A IN THAT CASE, IT WAS AN ASSASSINATION OPERATION TO TO REMOVE MUAMMAR GADDAFI AND PLUNGED LIBYA INTO CIVIL WAR. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CROSSROADS. THE ONE ADVANTAGE THAT VENEZUELA DOES HAVE IS IT HAS A STRONG, LEGITIMATE OPPOSITION THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH, THAT HAS A CREDIBLE LEADER. BUT WILL THE MILITARY ALLOW THAT? WILL FACTIONS OF THE MILITARY ALLOW THAT? AND AND OIL? LET'S ALL THIS LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT OIL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT MORE WITH LATER. YES.

>> RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, HAS BEEN JOINING US. OUR COLLEAGUE KEIR SIMMONS IS JOINING US AS WELL, GABE GUTIERREZ, OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, AS WE CONTINUE WITH THIS ROLLING COVERAGE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STRIKES THAT IT HAS CARRIED OUT TAKING PLACE IN VENEZUELA OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. AS WE COME UPON 5:00, WE WANT TO GIVE OUR AUDIENCES A CHANCE AS WE WILL RESET IT VERY QUICKLY. AGAIN, I'M PETER ALEXANDER HERE LIVE WITH THIS SPECIAL REPORT. OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND TAKING PLACE IN

THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS, VENEZUELA, OVERNIGHT, FIRST BEGINNING AT ABOUT 2:00 EASTERN TIME, WE LEARNED ABOUT STRIKES TAKING PLACE THAT STRIKES THAT YOU SEE ON THE GROUND THERE THOSE FIERY EXPLOSIONS AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY OF CARACAS. AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER 4:00 THIS MORNING, THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, DETAILING IN A POST ON HIS PREFERRED SOCIAL MEDIA MEGAPHONE, TRUTH SOCIAL, SAYING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT WHAT HE CALLED A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, WHO HAS BEEN, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, CAPTURED AND

FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY AGAIN. NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY, THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT MADURO WAS CAPTURED. THE OPERATION, HE SAYS, WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE PRESIDENT SAID MORE DETAILS WOULD FOLLOW THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEWS CONFERENCE TAKING PLACE THIS MORNING AT 11:00 AT MAR A LAGO, THE PRESIDENT'S FLORIDA ESTATE WHERE HE HAS BEEN SPENDING MOST OF THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY. IT IS SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO A JOURNALIST ON THE GROUND, OUR EYEWITNESS THERE, WHO DETAILED JUST

WHAT SHE DESCRIBED IN EFFECT AS A BREATHTAKING MOMENT. HER HER STUNNED SURPRISE THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED, THAT THE U.S. HAD BEEN ABLE TO CARRY OUT SUCH A THING. THE ANXIETY AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOPE IN THAT REGION THAT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT MAY ULTIMATELY COME TO POWER. BUT AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR EXPERTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS WELL, THERE ARE ALSO REAL CONCERNS THAT THAT POWER VACUUM COULD BE FILLED BY OTHERS WHO SORT OF FIT INTO THAT SAME IMAGE OF NICOLAS MADURO. THE IN THE WORDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE ILLEGITIMATE LEADER, WE SHOULD NOW

SAY FORMER LEADER AS HE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY, THE HEAD OF WHAT THE U.S. DESCRIBES AS A NARCO TERRORIST REGIME. I WANT TO GET TO OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. THAT'S KEIR SIMMONS. KEIR, YOU, LIKE ALL OF US, HAVE BEEN WATCHING THESE DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS, PUNCTUATING A PRESSURE CAMPAIGN, A SERIES OF THREATS AND WARNINGS AND ACCUSATIONS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE WAS, IN EFFECT, TRYING TO GET MADURO TO CRY UNCLE. AND IT APPEARS HE WOULDN'T DO THAT. AND ULTIMATELY, AT THE PRESIDENT'S ORDERS, THE U.S. WENT IN AND PICKED HIM UP. YOUR REACTIONS

AND YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE WITNESSED THIS HISTORY? >> WELL, I THINK IT'S STUNNING. AND I THINK IT'S ALSO, IN MANY SENSES, NOT SURPRISING GIVEN THE PAST YEAR. OF COURSE, WE JUST TICKED OVER THAT FIRST YEAR IN THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. AND WE HAVE KNOWN FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THAT FIRST YEAR THAT THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, THAT THERE'S BEEN A DETERMINATION TO LOOK AT LATIN AMERICA. AND IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU MIGHT DESCRIBE AS AMERICA'S KIND OF NEAR ABROAD, THAT'S THE WAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RUSSIANS DESCRIBE COUNTRIES LIKE UKRAINE

AND EASTERN EUROPE. THAT'S THE WAY CHINA DESCRIBES PLACES THAT ARE CLOSE TO ITS BORDERS. THERE HAS BEEN THAT DETERMINATION, AND THERE HAS BEEN THAT MILITARY BUILDUP. AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, PETER, TO WAKE UP AND AND FOR MANY PEOPLE AND TO SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN THIS WAY WILL BE, WILL BE SHOCKING. I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING COMING IN THE COMING DAYS THROUGH THE WEEKEND IS WHAT WILL BE THE REACTION OF SOME OF VENEZUELA'S PARTNERS, GLOBAL PARTNERS, AND THAT INCLUDES RUSSIA, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST IN IN THE

PAST DAYS, IN THE PAST WEEKS, WE SAW A SHIP HEADING FROM VENEZUELA, WE SAW THE RUSSIANS, WE SAW MOSCOW SAY, ASK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOT TO TARGET IT. THE US WAS PURSUING IT, THE US COAST GUARD WAS PURSUING IT. THE RUSSIANS INTERVENED THERE. HOW WILL PRESIDENT PUTIN REACT NOW TO TO THIS? IT'S LIKELY THAT HE WILL BE VERY CRITICAL OF IT. AND WHAT IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE THEN ON HIS OWN DECISIONS? AND THE SAME WITH PRESIDENT XI IN BEIJING, CHINA'S LEADER. HOW WILL CHINA RESPOND? IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE RUSSIANS, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL BE POWERLESS

IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM. BUT IF YOU THINK BACK, FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE FALL OF PRESIDENT ASSAD IN SYRIA, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY PRESIDENT PUTIN AND BY MOSCOW, EFFECTIVELY, RUSSIA DID VERY LITTLE EXCEPT FOR OFFER EFFECTIVELY ASYLUM TO TO THE LEADER OF SYRIA AT THAT TIME, WHEN THERE WAS WHEN THAT UPRISING IN SYRIA OVERWHELMED HIM. SO THAT THAT I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. RICHARD ASKED ANOTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE VENEZUELA NOW DOES IS THERE WHO COMES TO POWER? WHAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN US FOREIGN POLICY. AND WE'VE SEEN IT NOW ON A NUMBER

OF OCCASIONS. JUST TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHING IN MILITARILY WITH IRAN LAST YEAR. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION USE US POWER. BUT BUT FROM A DISTANCE LONG ARM OF OF US FORCE NOT PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND. AND OF COURSE THAT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF US BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL BE ASKING THE QUESTION. AND RICHARD DESCRIBED IT VERY WELL, ONCE AGAIN, WILL BE ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH AIR POWER AND WITH NAVAL POWER, BUT WITHOUT WITHOUT THE BOOTS ON

THE GROUND, WITHOUT THE ARMY, WITHOUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY TAKING POWER. AND WHAT IS THE PLAN IN VENEZUELA? THAT IS, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'LL NEED AN ANSWER TO, THAT WE'LL NEED AN ANSWER TO THAT, TO THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S THINKING IS IN THE COMING DAYS. >> KEIR SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S JOINING US ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW AGAIN, AS WE AS WE GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, IN THAT COUNTRY, AFTER THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE LARGE SCALE STRIKES THAT HAVE TAKEN

PLACE THAT THE U.S. HAS CAPTURED AND FLOWN NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE OUT OF THE COUNTRY, THAT CAPTURE KEIR GIVES US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE FIRST REPORTING OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS THAT LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS WERE SPOTTED THERE NOT JUST FIERY EXPLOSIONS, BUT LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS IN THAT REGION AS WELL, WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR, EXCUSE ME, AN OPERATION OF THIS KIND WHERE THE U.S. WASN'T JUST STRIKING, BUT IT WAS, IN EFFECT, A CAPTURE OPERATION WHERE THEY WERE PICKING UP. NICOLAS MADURO, THE LEADER OF THAT COUNTRY. WE ARE HEARING

FROM A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUALS NOW BEGINNING TO WAKE UP ON THE EAST COAST IN THE UNITED STATES, AMONG THEM, MIKE LEE, WHO IS THE SENATOR FROM UTAH, HAS HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN HIS CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT MOST NOTABLY RECENTLY IN VENEZUELA. THE REPUBLICAN FOR UTAH POSTING WITHIN THE LAST HOUR. I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING WHAT, IF ANYTHING, MIGHT CONSTITUTIONALLY JUSTIFY THIS ACTION IN THE ABSENCE OF A DECLARATION OF WAR OR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE. THAT'S WHERE LAWMAKERS WILL GO IN TERMS OF THIS CONVERSATION IN THE DAYS AND

WEEKS AHEAD. BUT IN THE IMMEDIATE HOURS FOLLOWING THIS KEIR, THE REAL FOCUS, OBVIOUSLY, IS ON WHAT HAPPENS IN VENEZUELA ITSELF. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS, THE PLANS TO FOLLOW UP THESE STRIKES THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THESE PREDAWN HOURS IN VENEZUELA? >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND I THINK ANOTHER QUESTION IS WHERE IS MADURO? WHERE HAS HE BEEN? WHERE HAS HE GONE? CLEARLY, THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE SYMPATHETIC TO VENEZUELA THAT ARE CLOSE. IT COULD BE THAT IF HE'S BEEN THOUGH EVACUATED, IF YOU LIKE, IF HE'S BEEN TAKEN BY U.S. FORCES, AS

YOU DESCRIBE, AND THAT LOOKS VERY LIKELY, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO POTENTIALLY LOOK TO COUNTRIES THAT ARE THAT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US AND WOULD BE PREPARED TO TO TAKE HIM, IF YOU LIKE. THERE IS THE QUESTION OF, AGAIN, OF RUSSIA AND PRESIDENT PUTIN. RUSSIA IS CLOSELY IS HAS IS A CLOSE PARTNER OF VENEZUELA, THE MADURO REGIME. SO AGAIN THAT'S THAT IS THAT'S A POSSIBLE PLACE TO LOOK. BUT THERE ARE MANY POSSIBILITIES OF WHERE HE IS. AND OF COURSE, ONE ASPECT OF THIS IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT, THE

WAY THAT YOU WOULD PLAN THIS IF YOU WERE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, IS YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO HEAR FROM MADURO IN THE COMING DAYS. WHILE THE COUNTRY ITSELF, AS YOU DESCRIBE, IS FIGURING OUT KINETICALLY, FRANKLY, FIGURING OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. AND AGAIN, WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW. SO SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMING HOURS WILL BE WILL BE OUT OF CONTROL A LITTLE BIT UNTIL WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ACTUALLY SOME KIND OF A STRATEGY BEYOND REMOVING MADURO. >> NBC'S CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT IS KEIR SIMMONS. HE'S BEEN JOINING US WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SITUATION

THAT TAKES PLACE THAT IS TAKING PLACE ON THE GROUND HERE IN KEIR, AS YOU WERE DESCRIBING. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, NOT JUST OBVIOUSLY FOR WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT COUNTRY, BUT THE SORT OF IMPACT IT HAS GLOBALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMY AND BEYOND. OIL, ONE OF THE VENEZUELA, ONE OF, IF NOT THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF OIL IN THE WORLD, THE US, IN RECENT WEEKS WE HAVE WITNESSED HAS BEEN TARGETING SEIZING AT LEAST ONE AND AND A SERIES OF OTHER OIL TANKERS IN THAT REGION WITH

SANCTIONED OIL THAT THE U.S. HAD BEEN FOCUSED ON. THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN HEAVILY FOCUSED ON TARGETING DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM THAT COUNTRY, ACCUSING VENEZUELA OF BRINGING FENTANYL TO THE UNITED STATES. IN FACT, OUR LATIN AMERICAN EXPERT A SHORT TIME AGO SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE. FENTANYL DOES NOT COME FROM VENEZUELA TO THE US. IT THEY ARE, THOUGH, LARGELY ENGAGED IN PROVIDING OTHER DRUGS LIKE COCAINE, WHICH MOST OFTEN, ACCORDING TO OUR EXPERTS, GOES OVERSEAS TO EUROPE RIGHT NOW. BUT THE POINT YOU MAKE IS A GOOD ONE HERE, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO NICOLAS MADURO. WHERE IS

HE NOW, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND IN THE COUNTRY THAT HE HAS NOW JUST LEFT FROM? AND BEYOND THAT, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE US, THE MASSIVE ARMADA AND THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, THOSE 15,000 TROOPS OFF THE COAST THERE, OF COURSE, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THE UNITED STATES CAN DO FROM A DISTANCE. BUT MADURO DID NOT WORK ALONE. HE HAD A HIERARCHY WITHIN HIS GOVERNMENT OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN POSTING STATEMENTS, EVEN AS WE SPEAK, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS, IN DEFIANCE OF THE ACTIONS TAKING PLACE. EVEN BEFORE WE KNEW THAT

MADURO HAD BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT. THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT POSTING A SHORT TIME AGO THAT THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MILITARY ACT OF AGGRESSION, CONDEMNING THE UNITED STATES ACTIONS HERE. I WANT, IF WE CAN, TO TO BRING BACK INTO THIS CONVERSATION NBC'S GABE GUTIERREZ, OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT. OH, SORRY. HE'S GABE IS NOT WITH US FOR THE MOMENT AS WE GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO HIS TO HIS SOURCES THERE. SO LET'S GET TO RICHARD ENGEL THEN, IF WE CAN, FOR A SECOND. AND, RICHARD, WE'VE BEEN TALKING OVER THE COURSE OF THE EARLY

HOURS OF THIS MORNING. IT IS THE LATEST EFFORT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO SORT OF CAME TO POWER IN THE UNITED STATES WITH A DESIRE TO FOCUS ON DOMESTIC ISSUES, TO PULL THE U.S. OUT OF WARS. AND IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN HIM STRIKE IRAN, IRAQ, NIGERIA, SOMALIA, AND THE MOST RECENT STRIKE, THE CARIBBEAN PACIFIC, THE MOST RECENT STRIKE IN VENEZUELA. AND THIS ONE IS UNIQUE, UNLIKE ANY OF THE OTHERS, IN EFFECT, BECAUSE IT REMOVES THAT COUNTRY'S LEADER FROM POWER AND DOES CREATE THIS VACUUM ONE, OF COURSE, THE U.S. IS HOPING TO FILL

WITH A MORE STABLE, MORE DEMOCRATIC MINDED GOVERNMENT. >> PETER. EXTRAORDINARY DAY. THE U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP CARRIED OUT A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION OVERNIGHT IN VENEZUELA ON ONE OF THE FIRST DAYS OF THE YEAR. THIS IS HOW WE ARE BEGINNING. WE ARE NOW IN SOMEWHAT UNCHARTERED TERRITORY. WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO TAKE OVER. IT SEEMS FAIRLY CLEAR THAT TRUMP. CUSTODY. I WOULD ASSUME THAT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE IN A CONTROLLED LOCATION, POTENTIALLY A WARSHIP OR SOME OTHER THIRD COUNTRY. BUT HEADING TO THE UNITED STATES. CHARGES HAVE BEEN PREPARED AGAINST THEM, AND THIS IS SENDING A

MESSAGE ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO DOMINATE THIS REGION, THAT HE TAKES HIS THAT HIS HE WANTS HIS THREATS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HE SAID THAT NICOLAS MADURO'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. AND APPARENTLY NOW WE KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS BECAUSE HE, IT SEEMS, ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, IS NO LONGER IN POWER AND HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN AN OPERATION, THE KIND OF OPERATION THAT HAS THAT WE'VE SEEN BEEN CARRIED OUT IN THE PAST BY NAVY SEALS, DELTA FORCE, THE CIA. BEFORE YOU RESET AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR, I BRIEFLY MENTIONED OIL. YOU

TALKED ABOUT HOW VENEZUELA PRODUCES A GREAT AMOUNT OF OIL. THE REAL POTENTIAL FOR VENEZUELA IS, HOWEVER, THEIR OIL RESERVES, PARTICULARLY A KIND OF HEAVY OIL THAT THE U.S. INDUSTRIAL BASE IS VERY DEPENDENT ON. AND VENEZUELA HAS THE LARGEST KNOWN OIL RESERVES IN THE WORLD. SO THIS IS A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE CALCULATION. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TALKED ABOUT THE OIL. HE'S TALKED ABOUT HIS BIGGEST CRITICISM WITH REMOVING SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS THAT THE UNITED STATES NEVER GOT THE OIL. SO CLEARLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED REGIME CHANGE, WANTED MADURO GONE. HE WASN'T LEAVING. NOW HE'S BEEN ARRESTED. AND

THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL WANT ANOTHER, MORE U.S. FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT THAT CAN WORK OUT OIL DEALS WITH THE UNITED STATES. NOW, WHETHER THAT REALITY HAPPENS IS, IS THE OPEN QUESTION, WILL THERE BE CIVIL WAR? WILL THERE BE FACTIONS OF THE MILITARY THAT TRY AND FIGHT AGAINST A NEW LEADERSHIP? HOW DOES THIS NEXT PERIOD DEVELOP IS MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL THAT WE'VE SEEN IN LATIN AMERICA IN MANY DECADES, BECAUSE REMOVING A DICTATOR IS IS ONE THING. AND THE U.S. DID THAT OVERNIGHT WITH WITH PRECISION AND WITH A MILITARY DISPLAY DESTROY ATTACKING NUMEROUS MILITARY TARGETS. WITNESSES DESCRIBING

HELICOPTERS. SO A SPECIAL OPERATIONS TYPE MISSION TOOK PLACE. BUT NOW WHAT ABOUT THE STABILIZATION? WHAT ABOUT THE NEW TRANSITION? AND IF I CAN GO BACK HERE, SIMMONS, WHO IS WITH US A MOMENT AGO NOW? KEIR, YOU'VE INTERVIEWED VLADIMIR PUTIN. YOU KNOW RUSSIA. WELL, THE U.S. HAS. PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST ASSERTED HIS AUTHORITY IN LATIN AMERICA. YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WATCH FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN'S RESPONSE. DO YOU THINK PUTIN AND PRESIDENT XI OF CHINA WILL SEE WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID AND THINK THAT THEY NOW CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE? DOES

THIS UNDERCUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CLAIM THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN SHOULD NEVER HAVE INVADED UKRAINE WHEN HE GOES INTO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND ARREST THEIR LEADERS? DOES THIS SUPPORT CHINA'S CLAIM THAT IT CAN GO INTO TAIWAN AT A TIME AND PLACE OF ITS CHOOSING AND CHANGE THAT GOVERNMENT? HOW DO YOU THINK CHINA AND RUSSIA WILL SEE THIS, AND DO YOU THINK IT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE MORE ACTION, DIRECT ACTION, REGIME CHANGE LEVEL ACTION IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS? >> KEIR, DO YOU HEAR US? RICHARD? WELL. >> I'M NOT SURE. >> IF HE MAY NOT. HE MAY NOT HEAR US

AT THE MOMENT. >> I THINK HE WASN'T HERE. >> HE HEARS YOU. I WOULD SAY GO AHEAD. >> RICHARD, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> WE HEAR YOU. >> CAN HEAR YOU NOW. YES. YOU LEFT US WAITING. YOU BUILT SUSPENSE. >> YEAH. LISTEN, I WAS SAYING THAT I THINK YOU POSED THE QUESTION. WELL, RICHARD. AND THE QUESTION. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN ALL OF THIS IS, DOES THIS INDICATE TO OTHER POWERS AROUND THE WORLD IN WHAT IS RAPIDLY BECOMING WHAT EXPERTS DESCRIBE AS A MULTI-POLAR WORLD? DOES THIS INDICATE TO OTHER POWERS AROUND THE WORLD THAT IT

IS OKAY TO USE YOUR POWER TO INTERVENE IN IN NEIGHBORING REGIONS, IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE YOU FEEL YOU HAVE AN INTEREST, EVEN A VITAL INTEREST. NOW, OF COURSE, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN RUSSIA DO THAT IN UKRAINE, SO IT'S NOT AS IF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR PERMISSION FROM THE UNITED STATES IN MANY WAYS. AND CHINA, AS YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT, HAS A POLICY OF REUNIFICATION WITH TAIWAN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, I SHOULD SAY THAT CHINESE POLICY IS THAT IT HOPES THAT THAT HAPPENS PEACEFULLY. BUT WHAT I THINK THIS DOES DO TO IT IS

ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS. IS IT FURTHER, IT FURTHER PUSHES THOSE POWERS TOWARDS THE IDEA OF INFLUENCING YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THIS STRIKE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN VENEZUELA COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER IT ISSUED ITS NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, IN WHICH IT SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT STRATEGY, SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT U.S. INFLUENCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, EVEN. AND, RICHARD, YOU WILL YOU WILL KNOW THIS. WELL, IT EVEN REFERENCED A U.S. POLICY FROM THE 19TH CENTURY CALLED THE MONROE DOCTRINE, WHICH WAS A POLICY THAT THE US HAD A RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION AND INFLUENCE, PARTICULARLY COUNTRIES IN ITS REGION.

AND THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY AS A POLICY, THE UNITED STATES. NOW, LET'S JUST FRAME THIS IN TERMS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD VIEW IT. AND THAT IS THIS THE TRUMP THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MIGHT SAY, ACTUALLY, IT IS IN AMERICA'S VITAL INTERESTS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT THAT IT LIVES IN A REGION THAT IS NOT A THREAT TO IT AND WHICH IS ABLE TO AND THAT IT LIVES IN A REGION THAT THAT, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, IS STABLE AND DEMOCRATIC. OF COURSE, WHETHER OR NOT STRIKES LIKE THESE LEAD TO STABILITY

IS IS A POINT THAT YOU'VE BEEN MAKING, RICHARD, AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE. BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MIGHT SAY THAT DRUG TRAFFICKING IS A THREAT TO IT, AND IT HAS USED THAT AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STRIKES ON BOATS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT WEEKS. AND IT MIGHT SAY THAT VENEZUELA, WITH ITS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA, WITH ITS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN, WITH ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA, THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S ACCEPTABLE FOR THE UNITED STATES, SO CLOSE TO THE US MAINLAND. SO THERE ARE THIS IDEA OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE HAS MANY FACETS, AND

IT HAS A LOGIC TO IT. BUT AGAIN, ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE WILL BE RICHARD, WHETHER OR NOT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE DAYS TO COME, WEEKS TO COME, FRANKLY, GIVEN HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS IN THE MONTHS TO COME, WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO A MORE STABLE REGION, VERY OFTEN THE UNITED STATES HAS INTERVENED IN IN THIS MANNER IN COUNTRIES AND NOT MANAGED TO BRING ABOUT A MORE DEMOCRATIC, STABLE NEIGHBOR. SO THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT I THINK WILL BE GRAPPLED WITH

AS WE LOOK AHEAD. AND AGAIN, WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS STAGE WHAT THE NEXT COMING DAYS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE IN VENEZUELA AND WHAT IS GOING TO EMERGE FROM ALL OF THIS. >> RICHARD KEIR, WE APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU. I WANT YOU GENTLEMEN TO STAY WITH US FOR A SECOND. I JUST WANT TO UPDATE YOU WITH SOME OTHER INFORMATION WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING AS WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW. THE PRESIDENT POSTING HIS STATEMENT A SHORT TIME AGO THAT MADURO AND HIS MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED, THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FLOWN

OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE ARE HEARING FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE, WE DO KNOW THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF, MARCO RUBIO, WAS WITH THE PRESIDENT YESTERDAY AT HIS MAR A LAGO PROPERTY, MARCO RUBIO THERE. BUT THIS IS FROM CHRISTOPHER LANDAU, ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES, WHO SAID A NEW DAWN FOR VENEZUELA. REFERRING TO MADURO, HE SAID THE TYRANT IS GONE. HE WILL NOW FINALLY FACE JUSTICE FOR HIS CRIMES. WE ARE OUT TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY BETTER INDICATIONS. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, THE OPERATION WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ANY BETTER

DETAILS ABOUT WHERE MADURO IS BEING TAKEN, WHETHER HE WILL FACE CHARGES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND, IN EFFECT, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE SHOULD NOTE THAT IN MARCH OF 2020, IN THE WANING MONTHS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST TERM, THE U.S. DID, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SAY THAT IT WAS IMPOSING FILING CHARGES AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO, IN EFFECT IN ABSENTIA AT THE TIME, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME SAYING THAT MADURO AND OTHER HIGH RANKING VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS WERE BEING CHARGED WITH NARCO TERRORISM, CORRUPTION, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND OTHER CRIMINAL CHARGES. ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION HAS. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD

COME TO POWER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE TIME BETWEEN THAT? AND SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT IN EFFECT, IT WOULD LOOK LIKE WHETHER WE WOULD SEE NICOLAS MADURO IN A COURT OF LAW IN SOME FORM IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT RICHARD AND KEIR AND GABE GUTIERREZ, OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, WHO ARE ALL WITH US RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE LAST FEW HOURS WHILE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WAKING UP ACROSS THE U.S. AS AGAIN, WE SEE ON A LOOP NOW, THIS VIDEO OF FIERY EXPLOSIONS THROUGHOUT THE CAPITAL

CITY OF CARACAS. THERE WE WAIT TO GET BETTER DETAILS ON EXACTLY WHAT THE TARGETS WERE. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT HELICOPTERS FLYING, HOVERING AND FLYING JUST ABOVE THE BUILDINGS AND ABOVE THE GROUND THERE. CLEARLY, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY FOR ANY OPERATION OF THIS KIND TO SWEEP UP TO CAPTURE NICOLAS MADURO. WE ARE WAITING FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING IF THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED HANDOVER. IN EFFECT, IF MADURO HAD SPOKEN IN SOME FORM OF PRIVATE NEGOTIATION WITH THE U.S. PROMISING TO GIVE HIMSELF UP, OR IF HE WAS SEIZED, THE PRESIDENT SAYS CAPTURED, WHICH WOULD INDICATE IT WAS AGAINST

HIS WILL. BUT THIS IS A VERY DRAMATIC SITUATION TO TAKE PLACE. BEFORE WE SAID IT WAS A DRAMATIC ESCALATION OF AN EFFORT BY THE U.S. TO CRACK DOWN ON NICOLAS MADURO. THAT ESCALATION HAS NOW REACHED ITS CONCLUSION, WHICH IS THE DEPARTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO. GABE TALKED TO US, IF YOU CAN. OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, GABE GUTIERREZ, ABOUT HOW WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING TO THIS MOMENT UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO, YOU KNOW, A MATTER OF MONTHS AGO, IN OCTOBER SAID, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO USE HIS LANGUAGE, DON'T HE USED AN EXPLETIVE DON'T F WITH THE UNITED

STATES, WAS THE WARNING HE GAVE TO NICOLAS MADURO MORE RECENTLY SAYING THAT HIS DAYS COULD BE NUMBERED? >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT PETER, VERY STRONG WORDS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE SECOND ADMINISTRATION. AND AS YOU ALLUDED TO THROUGHOUT HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS IN JANUARY OF 2019 THAT THE U.S. FORMALLY RECOGNIZED JUAN GUAIDO AS THE OPPOSITION LEADER. THAT OPPOSITION FIZZLED DURING HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION. YOU MENTIONED THE CHARGES THAT THE DOJ BROUGHT AGAINST MADURO AND SEVERAL TOP AIDES BACK IN 2020. BUT REALLY, DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION AND UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO

BE THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS REALLY ZEROED IN ON NICOLAS MADURO AND VENEZUELA. NOW, THERE HAD BEEN EARLY ON IN THIS ADMINISTRATION NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MADURO GOVERNMENT. RIC GRENELL, AN ENVOY TO VENEZUELA, THERE WAS EVEN SOME COOPERATION WITH VENEZUELA, ACCEPTING SOME MIGRANT FLIGHTS AND EVEN HAVING A EXCHANGE, RELEASING SOME PRISONERS TO THE U.S. THAT WAS MONTHS AGO. THAT SEEMS LIKE AN ETERNITY AWAY, BECAUSE REALLY, OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, ESPECIALLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND TOP TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, INCLUDING STEPHEN MILLER, WHO YOU MENTIONED, BY THE WAY, PETER STEPHEN MILLER AT MAR

A LAGO LAST NIGHT, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AT MAR A LAGO LAST NIGHT. THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN RAMPING UP THE PRESSURE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. WE HAVE, SPEAKING AT NAUSEAM ABOUT THE INCREASED MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN. SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS BUILDING TOWARDS, AND IT NOW SEEMS TO BE THAT ALL ALONG, OR AT LEAST VERY RECENTLY, THINGS HAVE ESCALATED SO MUCH THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO GO IN AND, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, CAPTURE NICOLAS MADURO. WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR MORE FROM THE PRESIDENT LATER ON THIS MORNING

AT 11:00. HE SAYS HE WILL SPEAK TO THE PRESS AND PERHAPS ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS. CHIEF AMONG THEM, WHERE WILL NICOLAS MADURO BE TAKEN? WHAT BECOMES OF THAT $50 MILLION REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST? THAT THE FBI HAD INCREASED JUST SEVERAL MONTHS AGO? BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, PETER. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD BEEN SAYING THAT NICOLAS MADURO'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. HIS ADMINISTRATION HAD GIVEN CONFLICTING MESSAGES ON THE PURPOSE OF THOSE AIRSTRIKES ON THOSE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS. WAS IT TO COMBAT DRUGS COMING TO THE U.S. WAS IT TO RATTLE NICOLAS MADURO AND TRY TO FORCE HIM

FROM POWER? CHIEF OF STAFF SIOUXSIE WILES, IN A RECENT INTERVIEW SAID IT WAS TO MAKE MADURO CRY. UNCLE. WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF HE CRIED UNCLE OR WHETHER THIS WAS SOME NEGOTIATED EXIT, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THE END RESULT OF THIS IS NICOLAS MADURO IS OUT OF VENEZUELA. STAGGERING HEADLINE, HISTORIC NEWS FOR THAT COUNTRY. AND NOW WE WILL SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT. ALREADY, STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT OUTRAGED BY THIS. CUBA'S PRESIDENT AS WELL, OF COURSE, WITH ITS SIGNIFICANT TIES TO VENEZUELA'S GOVERNMENT. AND PETER, BY THE WAY, WHEN WE FIRST

HEARD ABOUT THESE EXPLOSIONS IN JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, AROUND 2:00 LOCAL CARACAS TIME, WE DID GET A STATEMENT FROM THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT JUST A SHORT TIME AFTER THAT. IT WAS AN INITIAL STATEMENT, UNCLEAR. IT WAS NOT SIGNED BY NICOLAS MADURO. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS. WE NOW KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THAT HE WAS CAPTURED, WHO IS LEADING VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. AND AS YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH RICHARD AND KEIR AND OUR OTHER ANALYSTS, A MAJOR QUESTION WILL BE, DOES THIS TURN INTO A POWER VACUUM?

DOES THE U.S. SUPPORT THE OPPOSITION LEADER AND SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, DOES SHE COME INTO POWER OR IS THERE SOME SORT OF FIGHTING BETWEEN DIFFERENT FACTIONS OF VENEZUELA'S GOVERNMENT, THE MILITARY? SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW THAT WE HOPE TO LEARN MORE FROM THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF IN JUST A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING. >> PETER GABE GUTIERREZ IS OUR SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT. HE HAS BEEN TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT OVER MUCH OF THIS HOLIDAY BREAK. HAS BEEN HAS BEEN A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MAR A LAGO, WATCHING AS THE PRESIDENT HAS MET WITH SOME OF HIS TOP ADVISERS

AND AIDES CELEBRATING SOME OF THE HOLIDAYS, ALSO LIKELY MEETING PRIVATELY ABOUT SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE WITNESSING NOW TAKING PLACE OVERSEAS. AGAIN, AS WE LOOK AT THESE PICTURES, THESE PICTURES FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING, AGAIN BEFORE DAWN AND AS IT APPROACHES 630 IN THE MORNING IN VENEZUELA, IT'S CERTAIN THAT DAWN WILL BREAK SOON AND THAT COUNTRY WILL WAKE UP TO A NEW DAWN, A COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG PERIOD THAT IS, IS GOVERNED. IT'S NOT CLEAR BY WHOM, CERTAINLY NOT GOVERNED BY ITS FORMER PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, WHO THE PRESIDENT OF THE

UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, A SHORT TIME AGO ANNOUNCED, HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY THE U.S. AND HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT RIGHT NOW TO RESET. STAY WITH US FOR THIS LIVE COVERAGE. >> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. >> GOOD DAY TO YOU. I'M PETER ALEXANDER HERE IN NEW YORK WITH A DRAMATIC DEVELOPING SITUATION TAKING PLACE ON THE GROUND IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SITUATION DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS, BRINGING YOU LIVE COVERAGE AFTER A LARGE SCALE STRIKE ON THE

GROUND THERE, WITH FIERY EXPLOSIONS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THEN FROM THE PRESIDENT, WE HEARD ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMP ON TRUTH SOCIAL, POSTING THE FOLLOWING IN A STUNNING AND DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT, SAYING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, WHO PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HAS BEEN, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, CAPTURED. HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THIS OPERATION WAS DONE, THE PRESIDENT SAYS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, HE SAYS. DETAILS TO FOLLOW. ANNOUNCING A

NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT 11:00 THIS MORNING, ROUGHLY 5.5 HOURS FROM NOW AT HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE. RIGHT NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LIVE PICTURE. THERE IS THE PRESIDENT'S POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT LET'S SHOW YOU AGAIN THAT LIVE PICTURE ON THE GROUND OF A MORE CALM, AT LEAST FROM THE SKY SITUATION IN VENEZUELA. NOW DAWN BREAKING ABOVE THE CAPITAL CITY THERE. AND IT IS A NEW DAWN FOR THAT COUNTRY WITHOUT MADURO, WHO THE U.S. HAD ACCUSED FOR MONTHS OF BEING AN ILLEGITIMATE LEADER, SAYING HE WAS THE HEAD OF A NARCO TERRORIST

REGIME, HE IS NO LONGER IN POWER. REAL QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHO IS GOVERNING THAT COUNTRY. WILL IT TAKE US ONE OF TWO DIFFERENT FORKS IN THE ROAD? WILL IT BE A COUNTRY THAT IS GOVERNED BY A NEW DEMOCRATIC LED GOVERNMENT, OR WILL IT BE ONE THAT CONTINUES TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF NICOLAS MADURO? WE HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE YET TO BE ANSWERED. WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THOSE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SOME ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHERE IS NICOLAS MADURO RIGHT NOW? WHERE IS HE

BEING TAKEN? WILL HE FACE JUSTICE, AS IT WERE, IN A U.S. COURT OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES? WAS THIS A NEGOTIATED EXIT? WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT JUST YET AS WELL. MADURO, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, HAD TOLD A SPANISH JOURNALIST THAT HE WAS OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON ENDING THE ILLEGAL FLOW OF DRUGS FROM VENEZUELA INTO THE U.S. THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT'S IT'S FENTANYL. EXPERTS IN THAT REGION SAY MOST OFTEN VENEZUELA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOW OF COCAINE,

NOTABLY TO EUROPE. BUT SOME OF IT GETS THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE, AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE OPERATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE ON THE GROUND. BUT AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE VIDEO FROM EARLIER IN THE DISTANCE, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE GLOWING LIGHTS, THE FIERY EXPLOSIONS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS REPORTED BY EYEWITNESSES ON THE GROUND AS WELL. THAT LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED TO BE A PART OF ANY OPERATION OF THIS KIND, NOT A KILL OPERATION LIKE THE

ONE INVOLVING OSAMA BIN LADEN MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. THIS A CAPTURE OPERATION THAT ULTIMATELY PICKED UP NICOLAS MADURO. WE ARE JOINED BY SOME OF OUR BEST IN THE BUSINESS, OUR COLLEAGUES, RICHARD ENGEL, COURTNEY KUBE AT THE PENTAGON, OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT KEIR SIMMONS, AND GABE GUTIERREZ, WHO COVERS THE WHITE HOUSE WITH ME AS WELL. LET'S BEGIN WITH RICHARD ENGEL, IF WE CAN, FOR A MOMENT. RICHARD, I JUST WANT TO RESET THE SITUATION. GET YOUR REACTION TO THE HEADLINE THIS MORNING AS YOU AND I WERE ON THE AIR. AS I READ THAT POST OUT LOUD,

BOTH OF US WERE STUNNED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MADURO HAD BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. >> SO THE FIRST INDICATION WE GOT THAT SOMETHING DRAMATIC HAD HAPPENED WAS SEVERAL HOURS AGO. WE'VE BEEN ON THE ON AIR FOR SEVERAL HOURS NOW. PETER, WHEN WE HEARD THESE VAGUE REPORTS, STILL UNCONFIRMED, OF EXPLOSIONS IN CARACAS AND IN POTENTIAL OTHER AREAS, AND THEN A KEY DETAIL EMERGED HELICOPTERS, PEOPLE, WITNESSES DESCRIBED HELICOPTERS ON THE GROUND, HOVERING SOUNDS OF AIRCRAFT EXPLOSIONS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. AS SOON AS YOU START HEARING HELICOPTERS HOVERING, YOU GET AN INDICATION THAT THIS IS

AN EXTRACTION OPERATION. YOU CAN'T OBVIOUSLY CAN'T, LAND FIXED WING AIRCRAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY. BUT WHAT WHO WAS THE TARGET, WHAT HAPPENED? WHO WAS CARRYING IT OUT? AND THEN A SHORT WHILE, WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING ALL OF THESE, THESE SCENARIOS, PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF, AND BY NO ACCIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF, THE PENTAGON HAS BEEN SILENT. SO UP UNTIL NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING OF A PATTERN WHERE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE MADE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP PERSONALLY ON TRUTH SOCIAL. PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE WHO HAD BEEN CAPTURED, AND THAT THEY WILL

FACE JUSTICE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THE QUESTION THAT EVERYONE IS ASKING RIGHT NOW IS, DID DID THE UNITED STATES, DID PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST CARRY OUT A SUCCESSFUL REGIME CHANGE BECAUSE REGIME CHANGE HAS JUST HAPPENED? AND WILL THIS OPEN THE DOOR TO A DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION, BETTER ECONOMIC RELATIONS, A WEAKENING OF ALLIANCE BACKED BY CUBAN INTELLIGENCE ALL ACROSS THE REGION, A NEW LATIN AMERICA WHERE THE U.S. HAS A MUCH STRONGER HAND OR DID TONIGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST SEND VENEZUELA INTO UNCERTAIN TERRITORY FOR SURE. BUT CIVIL WAR AND A POWER STRUGGLE THAT THE

UNITED STATES WILL HAVE TO EITHER WATCH FROM AFAR OR BE DRAWN INTO TRY AND CONTAIN. >> RICHARD, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY INTERRUPTION. I ONLY WANT TO SHARE SOME NEW INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED WHILE YOU WERE SPEAKING THERE. THIS IS COMING FROM THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR OF UTAH, MIKE LEE, WHO HAD SPOKEN ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS AGO AS WE SHARED DURING OUR LIVE COVERAGE, CRITICIZING THIS ACTING, ASKING HOW AND IN WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL ACT WAS TAKING PLACE WHERE THE CONGRESS HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS. MIKE LEE HAS NOW POSTED A NEW STATEMENT WHERE HE SAYS HE

JUST SPOKE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO. HE SAYS THAT RUBIO INFORMED HIM THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY U.S. PERSONNEL TO STAND TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT THE KINETIC ACTION, THE STRIKES THAT WE SAW TONIGHT, IN EFFECT, WAS DEPLOYED TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THOSE EXECUTING THE ARREST WARRANT SO THAT THIS WAS THE PRIMARY MISSION. THE STRIKES, IN THE WORDS OF MIKE LEE, DETAILING WHAT HE WAS TOLD BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, THAT THOSE STRIKES WERE BASICALLY TO HELP PROTECT THOSE WHO WERE EXECUTING THIS ARREST WARRANT.

THIS ACTION, LEE ADDS, LIKELY FALLS WITHIN THE PRESIDENT'S INHERENT AUTHORITY UNDER ARTICLE TWO OF THE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT U.S. PERSONNEL FROM AN ACTUAL OR IMMINENT ATTACK. NOW, THE LAWMAKERS WILL, OF COURSE, FIGHT OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEHIND THIS, HOW THIS IS BEING CONDUCTED. BUT LET'S FOCUS AGAIN ON WHAT WE KNOW IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, COURTNEY KUBE, WHO IS UP EARLY AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR TOGETHER. COURTNEY, AGAIN, THE MAJOR HEADLINE THERE, THE THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND THE SUCCESSFUL CARRYING OUT OF THIS LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA. WHAT

ARE YOUR SOURCES TELLING YOU? DO WE HAVE ANY BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND THIS EFFORT? OBVIOUSLY, IT REQUIRES SOME OF THE SPECIAL FORCES TYPE UNITS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A MISSION OF THIS KIND. >> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND HERE, PETER, IS THE U.S. MILITARY. WHEN IT'S COME TO SOME OF THESE RECENT ACTIONS IN IN THE REGION. SO SPECIFICALLY THE INTERDICTIONS OF THESE OIL TANKERS, THE MILITARY HAS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE, BASED OFF OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT POSTED THIS ON TRUTH

SOCIAL, HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, OF COURSE, THAT HE STARTED BASED ON THE WAY THAT HE HE WROTE ABOUT THIS. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THIS WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS IN THE LEAD HERE. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. THE U.S. MILITARY, THOUGH IT APPEARS, WAS INVOLVED IN SORT OF SHAPING THE LOCATIONS SO THAT THE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POTENTIALLY OTHER U.S. AGENCIES WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN. >> SORRY, COURTNEY, PLEASE CONTINUE. >> WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN AND, AND SORT OF CLEAR THE SPACE SO THAT THEY COULD GO IN

AND THEN ARREST NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE OR TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. SO THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW WE'RE HEARING WE'VE SEEN THE STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THE DETAIL THAT WE'RE GETTING. THE VIDEO DOES APPEAR TO SHOW TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS, CHINOOKS, BUT THERE ALSO APPEAR TO BE SOME SMALLER HELICOPTERS THERE. NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE. WE DON'T HAVE, BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE REGION RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A VERY ELITE AIR FORCE UNIT KNOWN AS THE

1/60 SPECIAL OPERATIONS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE INVOLVED IN TAKING THE NAVY SEALS INTO BIN LADEN'S COMPOUND IN MAY OF 2011. THEY HAVE ASSETS THERE, INCLUDING LITTLE BIRDS OR THESE TINY LITTLE HELICOPTERS THAT MOVE VERY FAST, FLY LOW TO THE GROUND. SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE SORTS OF ASSETS ARE IN THE AREA THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED HERE. BUT I ALSO FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY REFER TO THE STRIKES THAT OCCURRED AS SORT OF THE SHAPING OPERATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE US PERSONNEL GOING IN ON THE GROUND

THERE. HE DIDN'T NECESSARILY REFER TO THOSE AS AIRSTRIKES AND REMEMBER, SOME OTHER ASSETS THE US HAS HAS BUILT UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE MILITARY IS FLOODED THAT REGION WITH A TON OF AIR POWER AND POWER AT SEA. POWER AT SEA IS THE KEY HERE. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SHIPS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LAUNCH TOMAHAWK, TOMAHAWK T LANDS. THOSE ARE VERY PRECISE MISSILES. WE HAVE SEEN THE US MILITARY LAUNCH THEM IN RECENT YEARS IN MANY DIFFERENT CASES. SO MANY CASES LIBYA, SYRIA, OTHER TIMES WHERE THEY NEED TO HIT A SPECIFIC

TARGET AND THEY NEED WHAT'S KNOWN AS STANDOFF CAPABILITY. SO ESSENTIALLY THEY WANT TO BE FREE OR SAFE FROM ANY KIND OF AIR DEFENSES OR OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE AREA THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO TARGET. SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY MAY HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO ANY OF THIS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WERE GOING OR WHEN THESE STRIKES WERE OCCURRING. BUT REMEMBER, ANOTHER THING THAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN DOING IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS NOW,

AND THAT IS FLYING MISSIONS CLOSE TO THE AIRSPACE THAT WOULD BECOME VENEZUELAN AIRSPACE. SO RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER OF INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, INTERNATIONAL WATERS RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER OF VENEZUELA. A LOT OF TIMES THE MILITARY WILL DO THAT FOR A REASON. IT'S NOT JUST TESTING ROUTES, IT'S NOT JUST SEEING WHAT THEY CAN SEE. IT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE AIR DEFENSES IN A PLACE, HOW THEY RESPOND TO AN AIRCRAFT. SO IT'S KNOWN AS PAINTING AN AIRCRAFT. DOES THE THE AIR DEFENSES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY LINED UP ALONG THE BORDER THERE OF VENEZUELA, ARE

THEY LATCHING ON TO U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT WHEN THEY FLY UP CLOSE TO VENEZUELAN AIRSPACE? THIS WOULD GIVE THE MILITARY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WHEN WE'VE SEEN THEM DO THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, EVEN WITH THINGS LIKE LONG RANGE BOMBERS OR THE VENEZUELAN AIR DEFENSES PAINTING THOSE AIRCRAFT, HOW QUICKLY DO THEY RESPOND? THIS GIVES THE MILITARY, THE US MILITARY, ESSENTIALLY A PATTERN OF LIFE OF HOW THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY WOULD RESPOND TO AIRCRAFT FLYING IN. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN OCCUR OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS WITH THE

MILITARY, THE BUILDUP, THE EXERCISES, THE ROUTINES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FLYING, THAT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING. IT APPEARS THAT IT'S ALL BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS, PETER. BUT THE BIG QUESTION THAT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER TO IS BEYOND THE STRIKES AND BEYOND WHAT APPEARS TO BE PROVIDING A LIFT TO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS AS PART OF THIS PICKING UP MADURO AND HIS WIFE, WHAT OTHER COMPONENT, WHAT OTHER PART DID THE U.S. MILITARY PLAY IN THIS? WE JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT AT THIS POINT. >> PETER COURTNEY

KUBE COVERS THE PENTAGON FOR US RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO SHARE SOME OTHER INFORMATION WHILE YOU, COURTNEY, HAVE BEEN SPEAKING AGAIN, AS WE'RE MONITORING THE SITUATION THERE AS WE TRY TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF NICOLAS MADURO'S WHEREABOUTS AND THE EVOLVING SITUATION THERE. THE NEW YORK TIMES POSTING A SHORT TIME AGO THAT IT HAS SPOKEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP EARLY THIS MORNING WHERE, IN ITS WORDS, IT CELEBRATED THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION TO CAPTURE THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT. THEY QUOTE PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING A LOT OF GOOD PLANNING AND A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT TROOPS AND GREAT PEOPLE,

HE SAID. HE SAID IT WAS A BRILLIANT OPERATION, ACTUALLY. THE TIMES ASKED HIM IF HE HAD SOUGHT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE OPERATION OR WHAT IS NEXT FOR VENEZUELA, AND WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD ADDRESS THOSE MATTERS. DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT MAR A LAGO THIS MORNING, HIS PRIVATE CLUB THERE IN FLORIDA, THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCING EARLIER THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT ROUGHLY 11 A.M. EASTERN TIME. WE SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT VENEZUELA'S VICE PRESIDENT THERE HAS SPOKEN ON STATE RUN TELEVISION AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S POST THIS MORNING SAYING THAT NICOLAS

MADURO'S LOCATION WAS UNKNOWN AND THAT SHE WAS ASKING PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR PROOF OF LIFE. AGAIN, IT RAISES REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF THAT COUNTRY IN THIS TIME, WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES AS A MASSIVE ARMADA OF 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS, FORCES OFF THE COAST OF THAT COUNTRY. I WANT TO BRING IN NOW THE NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST, THE COLONEL STEVE WARREN, WHO IS JOINING US THIS MORNING. COLONEL WARREN, HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE ARE OFF TO THE RACES AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR AGAIN. THE PRESIDENT, WASTING NO TIME AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND

HIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. ULTIMATELY, AS HE SAID THIS MORNING, CAPTURING HIM AND HIS WIFE, TAKING THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UNCLEAR IF THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED EXIT, BUT AS THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, MIKE LEE SAID, THE STRIKES THAT WE SAW EARLY THIS MORNING WERE DONE IN EFFECT TO PROTECT THE EXECUTING OF THAT ARREST WARRANT THE EFFORT BY THOSE FORCES TO PICK HIM UP. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, IN WHAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE, BUT GIVE US A SENSE ABOUT HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE CONDUCTED, HOW CHALLENGING IT IS, AND WHAT CONSIDERATIONS WOULD

HAVE GONE INTO PLACE IN ADVANCE OF A DRAMATIC CAPTURE OPERATION LIKE THIS. >> PETER, OFTEN OUR MORE ELITE, WHAT WE CALL THE TIER ONE. SO THIS IS OUR MOST ELITE SPECIAL FORCES, OFTEN OUR TIER ONE SPECIAL FORCES WILL OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH MANY OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE CIA, AS WE MAY LIKELY HAVE SEEN IN THAT INITIAL POTENTIAL GROUND STRIKE, THAT FIRST GROUND STRIKE WE SAW SEVERAL DAYS AGO, OR OFTEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE TIER ONE SPECIAL OPERATORS TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. PARTICULARLY. WE DID THIS,

I THINK, FAIRLY REGULARLY DURING THE IRAQ AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT. SO OUR SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS AND OUR MORE ELITE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATORS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WORKING WITH EACH OTHER. NOW, AS FAR AS HOW AN OPERATION LIKE THIS COMES TOGETHER, IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AND COMPLICATED THING TO DO AND REAL PRAISE TO OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF. SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF U.S. CASUALTIES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING. AND AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO EXECUTED IT. BUT IT TAKES

SEVERAL. THERE'S SORT OF SEVERAL LAYERS. AND COURTNEY KUBE REFERENCED IT A LITTLE BIT JUST MOMENTS AGO. INITIALLY, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET US TO GET OUR AIRCRAFT INTO THE TARGET AREA WITHOUT BEING SHOT DOWN. SO WE HAVE TO EXECUTE WHAT WE CALL THE SUPPRESSION OF ENEMY AIR DEFENSES. SO THAT COULD BE SOME OF THE EARLY EXPLOSIONS THAT WE SAW, AS COURTNEY MENTIONED, AS OUR CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE MENTIONED, POSSIBLY THE USE OF TOMAHAWKS OR OTHER REMOTE CAPABILITIES TO DAMAGE OR DESTROY AIR DEFENSE RADARS AND AIR DEFENSE LAUNCHERS. RIGHT. SO THAT'S

THE INITIAL SORT OF THE INITIAL EXECUTION. THE NEXT THING WE LIKE TO TRY AND DO IS ISOLATE. SO ONCE WE'VE SUPPRESSED AIR DEFENSE, WE THEN TRY TO ISOLATE THE TARGET AREA AT THIS. IN THIS CASE, APPARENTLY WE SOMEHOW KNEW WHERE NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE WERE. IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THAT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD SPOKEN WITH THEM. WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE KNEW THIS, BUT SOMEHOW WE KNEW WHERE MADURO MAY WELL HAVE BEEN, AND WE ISOLATED THAT AREA THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN THROUGH REMOTE CAPABILITIES, OR IT COULD BE DONE WITH ACTUAL TROOPS ON THE GROUND

TO PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL SECURITY. AND THEN FINALLY, SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS ALONG MOST LIKELY WITH EITHER WITH SOME SORT OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S A MARSHAL OR OR FBI. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW. BUT AFTER SUPPRESSION OF AIR DEFENSE, ISOLATION OF THE OBJECTIVE AREA, FINALLY WE MOVE IN AND ARREST THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. >> COLONEL WARREN, I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME TROOPS TO TOUCH THE GROUND TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP NICOLAS MADURO IN THE FIRST PLACE. HERE, OBVIOUSLY, 15,000 TROOPS IS NOT

ENOUGH TO SECURE A COUNTRY LIKE THAT. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE NO INDICATION THAT GROUND TROOPS WILL BE GOING INTO VENEZUELA IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY RIGHT NOW. BUT WHAT SORT OF A CHALLENGE DOES THIS POSE FOR THE UNITED STATES? THIS ULTIMATELY BECOMES LESS A MILITARY ONE, BUT MORE A DIPLOMATIC ONE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THAT COUNTRY TO TAKE THE PREFERRED FORK IN THE ROAD, NOT TO RETURN TO A SORT OF AUTHORITARIAN TYPE REGIME OR LEADER, BUT TO FOCUS ON A MORE DEMOCRATIC LED GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, ULTIMATELY, THIS IS THESE ARE THE EARLY STEPS THAT

YOU WATCH MILITARILY. AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER REASONS, CHALLENGES THAT BEGIN. >> SOME WOULD SAY THAT THESE STEPS THAT WE'VE DONE UP UNTIL NOW, FRANKLY, ARE THE EASY STEPS, RIGHT? WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL SPECIAL OPERATORS, EXCEPTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATORS WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THESE TYPES OF MISSIONS, BUT THEY HAPPEN AT THE SPEED OF VIOLENCE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. A LOT OF PLANNING WENT INTO IT, BUT THE EXECUTION HAPPENS VERY, VERY QUICKLY. NOW COMES WHAT IS IN SOME PEOPLE'S OPINIONS WOULD BE THE VERY, VERY HARD PART. AND WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE SAW THIS IN AFGHANISTAN BEGINNING

AFTER 9/11. WE SAW THIS IN IRAQ WHEN A REGIME IS TOPPLED, WHEN A REGIME CHANGES, SUDDENLY THERE THERE'S A VACUUM. NOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A VACUUM. WHO'S IN CHARGE, WHO'S RUNNING THE COUNTRY? WE DON'T KNOW THIS. NEITHER DOES ANYONE IN VENEZUELA, IT WOULD APPEAR, KNOW THIS. SO THERE ARE, OF COURSE, AS IN ANY COUNTRY, THERE ARE OPPOSING FORCES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORCES WHO WANT TO BE IN POWER. WHERE IS THE MILITARY INTERNALLY GOING TO FALL ON THIS? WHERE ARE THE OTHER POWER CENTERS IN VENEZUELA GOING TO FALL ON THIS? WHERE ARE THE OTHER

LEGITIMATE AND SOMEWHAT POWERFUL DRUG CARTELS WHO ARE OPERATING IN THAT COUNTRY? AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT, THOSE CARTELS ARE STILL THERE, STILL FUNCTIONING. WE'VE YES, WE'VE WE'VE STRUCK SOME OF THEIR SOME OF THEIR BOATS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. SO THESE CARTELS ARE STILL THERE. THEY'RE STILL STRONG. THEY'RE STILL FUNCTIONING. THE MILITARY WE HAVE NOT UNLIKE WHAT WE DID IN AFGHANISTAN OR WHAT WE DID IN IRAQ. WE HAVE NOT, FRANKLY, INFLICTED ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY. SO WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW IS CERTAINLY A QUESTION, I THINK,

ON EVERYONE'S MIND. >> COLONEL STEVE WARREN IS AN NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST. COLONEL WARREN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT'S STILL EVOLVING ON THE GROUND THERE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AS, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT UP ANOTHER PICTURE TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS THE SITUATION. THERE IS A NEW DAY, A NEW DAWN IN MANY WAYS, AND IT'S ONE THAT BEGINS WITHOUT THE LONGTIME PRESIDENT OF THAT COUNTRY, THE AUTHORITARIAN LEADER NICOLAS MADURO, WHO HAS NOW BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT BY US FORCES.

I WANT TO GET TO OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL, WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING THIS NEWS DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW. RICHARD, AMONG THE QUESTIONS THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL SURELY BE ASKED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE ABOUT FIVE HOURS FROM NOW AT MAR A LAGO, IS WHETHER HE HAD HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MADURO IN RECENT DAYS. MADURO TOLD A SPANISH JOURNALIST ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT HE WAS OPEN TO, IN EFFECT, DISCUSSIONS, CONVERSATIONS, PERHAPS EVEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. WE WAIT FOR THOSE ANSWERS. WE WAIT TO LEARN WHERE MADURO IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT ALSO RAISES REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THAT COUNTRY AND WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO SORT OF CRACK DOWN THAT ON NARCO TERRORIST STATE WITH SO MUCH OF THE REGIME STILL IS EVIDENCED BY THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF THE COUNTRY REMAINING IN EFFECT, WHETHER IN POWER, CERTAINLY IN ITS POSITIONS, THOUGH IT'S UNCLEAR WHO REALLY IS IN POWER THERE. >> THIS IS A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION. THE THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DECAPITATED. THERE CLEARLY WAS A DEGREE OF COORDINATION UNCLEAR WITH MADURO HIMSELF NOT FULL COORDINATION WITH MADURO HIMSELF.

IF HE WANTED TO, HE COULD HAVE FLED THE COUNTRY. HE COULD HAVE GONE TO A FRIENDLY COUNTRY. HE HAS SOME GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF TURKEY. HE HAS DECENT RELATIONS WITH WITH RUSSIA. HE'S HAD GOOD RELATIONS WITH CUBA OR EVEN EVEN COLOMBIA. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IF HE HAD WANTED TO GO, HE COULD HAVE GONE. SO THIS CLEARLY WASN'T A SURRENDER. THIS WAS A CAPTURE. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THESE HELICOPTER, THIS HELICOPTER EXTRACTION WAS SUPPORTED BY A MILITARY OPERATION, WHETHER IT WAS TOMAHAWKS OR AIRSTRIKES OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. THEY WERE

SUPPRESSIVE FIRE USED TO PROTECT U.S. PERSONNEL DURING THIS EXTRACTION OPERATION. NOW, AS YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT, THIS MAY BE THE EASY PART. OF COURSE, IT'S NOT EASY. ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, PERHAPS ONLY THE UNITED STATES, HAS THIS KIND OF CAPABILITY. BUT NOW WHO IS GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY? WAS THIS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PERHAPS GREATEST MILITARY ACCOMPLISHMENT IN A BLOODLESS REGIME CHANGE OPERATION AGAINST AN ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR WHO RAN A MAFIA STATE? IF THERE IS A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND THE LEGITIMATE OPPOSITION WHICH WON THE LAST ELECTIONS, WHICH WAS STOLEN, WHICH WERE THEN STOLEN

FROM THEM, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO COME INTO POWER, WORK OUT A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXISTING VENEZUELAN MILITARY, THEN THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS. IF, HOWEVER, THE MILITARY DIVIDES A STRONGMAN, A NEW STRONGMAN WHO HAS POTENTIALLY ANTI UNITED STATES EMERGES IN POWER, THE COUNTRY DESCENDS INTO CIVIL WAR, THEN THIS WILL BE PERHAPS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GREATEST FAILURE. HE CLEARLY IS HOPING FOR THE LATTER. AND I KNOW A LOT OF OF BACK CHANNEL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF THE NEGOTIATORS WHO ARE WORKING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, AND THERE

ARE MANY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO HAVE INTERESTS HERE. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INTEREST, AS HE MADE CLEAR, WAS ALWAYS THE DRUGS TO STOP THE DRUG TRADE. AND HE'S INTERESTED IN VENEZUELA'S OIL. HE'S MADE THAT CLEAR. VENEZUELA HAS ENORMOUS OIL RESERVES, AND HE WAS CRITICAL WHEN THE UNITED STATES WENT INTO IRAQ THAT THE UNITED STATES DIDN'T WANT DIDN'T TAKE THE OIL. MARCO RUBIO HIMSELF, COMING UP IN LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS, ANTI-CUBAN PLATFORM HAS AN INTEREST IN REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA, WHICH HE HOPES WILL THEN WEAKEN AN ALLIANCE OF STATES THAT ARE ANTI-AMERICAN IN LATIN AMERICA, INCLUDING CUBA AND VENEZUELA

BEING THE LARGEST. YOU MENTIONED MILLER, WHO HAS AN IMMIGRATION AGENDA, WOULD WOULD WANT FEWER MIGRANTS COMING OUT OF VENEZUELA, POTENTIALLY VENEZUELA, BECOMING A PLACE WHERE MIGRANTS CAN GO. SO THIS IS A A NEW DAY FOR LATIN AMERICA. AND THE U.S. MILITARY CARRIED AN OPERATION. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT IT, HOW SUCCESSFUL IT WAS. BUT THIS IS A NEW DAY FOR THE U.S. RELATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA, WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP ASSERTING DOMINANCE AND GO AND DOING A SNATCH AND GRAB OPERATION. WILL THIS ENCOURAGE OTHER LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD TO DO THE SAME WITH THEIR ENEMIES?

AND WILL IT MAKE THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IN THEORY DEFENDS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, SEEM HYPOCRITICAL? >> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. RICHARD, YOU WERE TALKING WITH ME ABOUT THE OIL RESERVES IN VENEZUELA, THEIR RESERVES NUMBER ONE, THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, BELIEVED TO BE ROUGHLY 300 BILLION BARRELS BY SOME ASSESSMENTS, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROACHING 20% OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY THERE IN VENEZUELA. YOU'LL REMEMBER, AFTER THE U.S. RECENTLY SEIZED ONE OF THE SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS, AS THE WHITE HOUSE DESCRIBED IT, THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT IT WAS HIS BELIEF THAT THE U.S.

WOULD THEN SEIZE THAT OIL, WOULD KEEP THAT OIL. THAT TANKER WAS THEN ROUTED TO THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY TO TEXAS. KEIR SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S BEEN WATCHING THIS, DEVELOPING NEWS WITH US AS WELL. AND KEIR, QUICKLY TO YOU. I WANT TO SHARE A STATEMENT FROM THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY. VLADIMIR PUTIN'S THE KREMLIN NOW REACTING TO THIS, SAYING THAT THE UNITED STATES COMMITTED, IN ITS WORDS, AN ACT OF ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST VENEZUELA THAT IT SAID WAS BOTH DEEPLY CONCERNING AND CONDEMNABLE. THAT IS NOTABLE BECAUSE WHILE ON THE ONE HAND, THE U.S. HAS BEEN

FOCUSED HEAVILY IN THIS REGION ON VENEZUELA, THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM SIMULTANEOUSLY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TRYING TO BRING ABOUT AN END TO THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE. VLADIMIR PUTIN, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MONTHS, HAS BEEN DISINCLINED. IT APPEARS, TO TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION THERE. WE HAVE HEARD FROM VLADIMIR ZELENSKYY, WHO HAS ALSO BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP LAND IN THAT COUNTRY. BUT THIS DOES INFUSE A NEW WRINKLE INTO ANOTHER GLOBAL HOTSPOT, WHICH IS RUSSIA AS WELL. >> YEAH, I'VE BEEN READING THAT STATEMENT TO PETER, AND I'VE

BEEN REFLECTING THAT THIS IS WHY RICHARD ENGEL DESCRIBES THIS AS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE OVERNIGHT? IS THE US STRIKING A RUSSIAN PARTNER? MADURO WAS, YOU KNOW, AN A DE FACTO ALLY OF PRESIDENT PUTIN. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS JUST TAKEN HIM OUT. SO YOU HAVE THAT ASPECT. AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE PRESIDENT PUTIN NOW OFFERING HIS DIPLOMACY. IF YOU LIKE TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION EFFECTIVELY, YOU HAVE PRESIDENT PUTIN SAYING, OKAY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN YOUR REGION. MR. TRUMP, LET ME HELP YOU TO SOLVE THAT. SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

AND IT IS THEREFORE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IT GIVES THE RUSSIANS THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SAY, WELL, LOOK, YOU SEE, THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER TO SOLVE IT. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE ARE MULTIPLE MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS TO THIS AND THE AND THE IMPLICATIONS AND THE IMPACT OF IT. WE WILL ONLY KNOW IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS TOO, PETER. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY FASCINATING. AND PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN AS WE LOOK AHEAD. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS VERY FAMILIAR, WHICH IS THE

US INTERVENING IN A ANOTHER COUNTRY TO POTENTIALLY BRING ABOUT, MIGHT EVEN SAY IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ISN'T SAYING THIS CLEARLY. AND THERE'S A REASON WHY PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT QUITE SAYING IT THIS WAY, BUT MAYBE EVEN TO TRY AND BRING ABOUT DEMOCRACY, BUT CERTAINLY INTERVENING. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE FROM THE US. AND RICHARD HAS BEEN VERY CAREFULLY NAVIGATING THOSE QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER IT REALLY WORKS. AND THERE IS PLENTY OF HISTORY SUGGESTS TO SUGGEST THAT IT DOES NOT. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF OF MOMENTS WHEN IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING. WHILE THERE ARE PROTESTS IN IRAN EFFECTIVELY LOOKING TO OVERTHROW THE REGIME THERE, AND THOSE PROTESTS ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SINCE SOME YEARS AGO, THE UPRISING OVER THE KILLING OF A OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN IRAN. SO THERE TOO, THERE IS A THREAT TO THAT REGIME. AND OF COURSE, IRAN IS A CLOSE PARTNER TO VENEZUELA. SO SO THIS IS THERE ARE MOVING PARTS HERE AND THERE IS NO DOUBT OF THIS SIGNIFICANCE. >> YOU'RE RIGHT, KIERAN, THE PRESIDENT'S VICTORY SPEECH UPON WINNING THE LAST ELECTION, HE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO START

WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP WARS. WE'RE NOW HEARING SOME OF THE CRITICISM COMING IN FROM SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL OPPONENTS. AMONG THEM, WE'RE HEARING FROM ONE OF THE TOP NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS WHO SERVED BENEATH PRESIDENT OBAMA DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE. THAT'S BEN RHODES, WHO SAYS IN SIMPLE TERMS, HE SAYS A REGIME CHANGE WAR IN LATIN AMERICA BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALES ABOUT DRUG TRAFFICKING, NO EXPLANATION OF GOALS AND COUNTER TO EVERYTHING TRUMP PROMISED CAMPAIGNING AND WERE NOT EVEN A FULL YEAR INTO TRUMP'S TERM. YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE THE DOMESTIC CRITICISM WILL BE OF

THE ACTIONS TAKING PLACE. RICHARD ENGEL, QUICKLY TO YOU. THERE ARE STILL, EVEN AS WE WATCH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CAPTURE OPERATION, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS IN THE DAYS, HOURS, DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. >> HUGE COMPLICATIONS DOING IT, SUCCESSFUL MILITARY EXTRACTION, LIKE A SUCCESSFUL COUNTERTERRORISM STRIKE, IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL TALK ABOUT. HE WILL PRAISE THE BRAVERY OF THE SOLDIERS. HE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW IT WAS CARRIED OUT WITH GREAT EXPERTISE AND PRECISION AND COORDINATION. AND IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS. BUT WHO WILL GOVERN THE COUNTRY? HOW WILL IT

RUN? WILL THE PEOPLE ACCEPT IT ALL? ALL VERY OPEN QUESTIONS, AND I WANTED TO GO BACK FOR A SECOND TO ASK HER A QUESTION, IF I MAY, BECAUSE YOU HEARD THAT STATEMENT. I HEARD IT LIVE ON ON THIS CONVERSATION FROM THE KREMLIN. AND ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME IS IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THAT STRONG. I'VE HEARD THE KREMLIN, WHEN IT WANTS TO CONTEMPT THEM, INVASION OF IRAQ. PUTIN WILL KNOW THAT THIS THIS IS NOW UNPREDICTABLE, AND HE IS THE MASTER OF TACTICS, AND HE WILL BE WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHATEVER

TAKES PLACE IN THE COMING MONTHS. >> BECAUSE, AS YOU MENTIONED HIS, HE MAY BE TRYING TO MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS. HE DIDN'T ISSUE A VERY STRONG CONDEMNATION, BUT AS YOU SAY, HE'S LOST AN ALLY IN NICOLAS MADURO. HE HAS LOST SYRIA ENTIRELY, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MILITARY OUTPOST FOR RUSSIA. HE IS CONTINUING TO FIGHT A WAR IN UKRAINE. YES, HE'S MAKING SOME BATTLEFIELD GROUNDS, BUT HE IS ALSO LOSING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OF OF MEN AND RESOURCES IN THIS WAR. AND HE'S BECOME MORE AND MORE DEPENDENT ON CHINA AND THE IRANIAN REGIME, WHICH

YOU MENTIONED IS FACING ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH PROTESTS THAT HAVE JUST TURNED DEADLY. AND AND IRAN PROVIDES A LOT OF THE WEAPONRY, PARTICULARLY A LOT OF THE DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO RUSSIA. SO HE IS NOT AS STRONG A POSITION AS HE TENDS TO PROJECT. AND HE IS NOW JUST LOST ANOTHER ALLY. BUT IT STRUCK ME THAT HIS CONDEMNATION SEEMED A BIT A BIT HALF HEARTED, BUT PERHAPS THAT IS THE BEST HE CAN DEAL WITH AT THE AT THE MOMENT, CONSIDERING THE THE HAND OF CARDS THAT HE'S HOLDING. >> YEAH, I THINK

THAT'S RIGHT RICHARD. AND I THINK TO AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE IN THE HOURS NOW THAT HAVE PLAYED OUT SINCE THIS STRIKE TOOK PLACE. THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE TO THIS TOO, ISN'T THERE. AND THAT IS ABOUT THE IDEA THAT POWERS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE THE POWER TO INTERVENE IN THEIR REGIONS, IN WHAT RUSSIA WOULD DESCRIBE AS ITS NEAR ABROAD. AND I THINK THAT WE CAN'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, INDICATING AN INTEREST IN WHAT MIGHT BE BEING THOUGHT ABOUT IN BEIJING BY PRESIDENT XI AND WHAT HIS AMBITIONS FOR HIS REGION BE, FRANKLY, PART

OF THE WORLD, THAT IN THIS CENTURY IT WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORLD. HOW WILL HE VIEW ACTIONS LIKE THIS BY THE UNITED STATES, AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR HIM AND ONE OTHER PLAYER AROUND THE WORLD WITH AMBITIONS THAT ARE NOT IN AMERICA'S INTERESTS? KIM JONG UN OF NORTH KOREA. HOW WILL HE BE SEEING THIS, AND WHAT WILL HE THINK THIS MEANS FOR HIM? AND AGAIN, THIS IS A MULTI-LAYERED BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IN PYONGYANG, IN NORTH KOREA, THEY MAY BE SAYING, LET'S BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES ISN'T MESSING

AROUND. BUT ALTERNATIVELY, THEY MAY ALSO BE SAYING, WELL, YOU'RE ALLOWED. YOU'RE ALLOWED TO INTERVENE IN PLACES NEXT DOOR TO YOU BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT AMERICA IS DOING. >> PETER KEIR SIMMONS, OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. GENTLEMEN, STAY WITH US RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, I'M PETER ALEXANDER, JUST AFTER 6:00 ON THE EAST COAST, SHORTLY AFTER 7 A.M. IN VENEZUELA. THOSE ARE PICTURES FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING BEFORE DAWN. GIANT EXPLOSIONS, FIERY EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY. THERE YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE RAINING DOWN ON THAT CITY. THE PRESIDENT A SHORT

TIME AGO, ANNOUNCING THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS, IN HIS WORDS, SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, ADDING THAT MADURO HAS BEEN, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENT SAYING THE OPERATION WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT. HE SAYS THERE ARE MORE DETAILS TO COME, SAYING THERE WILL BE A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT HE WILL ADDRESS THE COUNTRY AT ROUGHLY 11:00 THIS MORNING, FIVE HOURS FROM NOW, FROM HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE. CLEARLY, THE MAJOR HEADLINE HERE,

THE DRAMATIC NEWS IS THAT NICOLAS MADURO, AFTER A MONTHS LONG PRESSURE CAMPAIGN BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THAT COUNTRY. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR IF THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED EXIT. WE ARE TOLD BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR MIKE LEE OF UTAH, WHO SAYS HE HAS SPOKEN WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, THAT THE EXPLOSIONS, THE KINETIC ACTION, AS HE DESCRIBES IT, THE MILITARY STRIKES THERE WERE DONE TO PROTECT THE EFFORTS ON THE GROUND TO EXECUTE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAYS WAS AN ARREST WARRANT TO PICK UP MADURO AND ULTIMATELY HIS WIFE WHEN

THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON AND AND, FRANKLY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHERE MADURO IS RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT CAPTURE OPERATION THAT WE HAVE NOW LEARNED ABOUT BETTER EXPLAINS WHAT FLYING HELICOPTERS HOVERING ON THE GROUND IN AND AROUND CARACAS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, A JOURNALIST ON THE GROUND IN VENEZUELA, WHO WAS EFFECTIVELY STUNNED INTO SILENCE WHEN SHE HEARD THIS NEWS. YOU COULD ALMOST SEE HER SHAKING DURING A LIVE CONVERSATION WE HAD HERE EARLIER.

RICHARD ENGEL, AGAIN, IS OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. RICHARD, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS NEW PICTURE, A LIVE PICTURE AT WHAT IS ROUGHLY 7:00 IN THE MORNING IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SITUATION HAS NOW CALMED DOWN, AT LEAST AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SKY HERE, THOUGH, IT'S VERY UNCLEAR ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND THERE RIGHT NOW. WHO IN EFFECT IS FILLING THAT POWER VACUUM? MARCO RUBIO, WE ARE TOLD, ACCORDING TO MIKE LEE, AGAIN, THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM UTAH, SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER ACTION IN VENEZUELA EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE TODAY.

SO IT APPEARS THAT THE STRIKES WE SAW OVERNIGHT ARE, AT LEAST FOR NOW, THE LAST ONES. THERE ARE ROUGHLY 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS, SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WHO HAVE BEEN STATIONED IN WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DESCRIBED AS A MASSIVE ARMADA OFF THE COAST THERE IN THE CARIBBEAN, OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA AS PART OF THIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN, THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, SAID THAT THAT BASICALLY MADURO'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. WE KNOW THAT HE AND MADURO, THE PRESIDENT MADURO, HAD SPOKEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NO BETTER INDICATIONS WHETHER HE AND MADURO HAD SPOKEN MORE

RECENTLY THAN THAT, OR IF THERE WERE SOME PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE BEHIND THE SCENES, AS EVIDENCED BY THIS BEING A CAPTURE OPERATION, IT APPEARS THAT THAT NOTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FORMALIZED IF IT STILL REQUIRED HIS CAPTURE. AMONG THE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT A SHORT TIME FROM NOW, WE HAVE HEARD ON THE GROUND FROM MEMBERS OF THAT NARCO TERRORIST REGIME IS THE WHITE HOUSE DESCRIBES IT, WHAT WAS FORMERLY THE MADURO REGIME ASKING FOR PROOF OF LIFE OF MADURO, MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT THERE SAYING BACK, SAYING IN EFFECT THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO

FIGHT BACK WITH FORCE IF U.S. TROOPS WERE ON THE GROUND IN THAT COUNTRY. NO INDICATION THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ANY PLANS TO DO SUCH A THING. AND THEN, OF COURSE, POLITICALLY, THERE IS A LOT OF THE BACK AND FORTH TAKING PLACE, EVEN IF THIS EARLY MORNING HOUR, ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S MISSION WAS, THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH HE WAS ACTING IN DOING THIS RIGHT NOW, AMID WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY BROAD CRITICISM, FRANKLY, SOME OF IT FROM REPUBLICANS AS WELL, CERTAINLY FROM DEMOCRATS, ABOUT WHAT HAVE INCLUDED A SERIES OF BOAT STRIKES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND

IN THE PACIFIC, FOCUSED LARGELY ON WHAT THE U.S. ALLEGES. ARE DRUG BOATS BRINGING DRUGS TO THE UNITED STATES? OUR TEAM IS IN THE CONTROL ROOM, KEEPING US HONEST ON WHO WE CAN SPEAK TO RIGHT NOW. RICHARD ENGEL HAS BEEN JOINING US. KEIR SIMMONS HAS BEEN JOINING US AS WELL. I WANT TO GET BACK TO COURTNEY KUBE, WHO IS COVERS THE PENTAGON FOR US AND IS AN EXPERT IN ALL OF THESE MATTERS. COURTNEY, IF YOU HEAR ME RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF OF WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT WHAT MORE WE MAY KNOW

ABOUT WHAT WENT INTO THIS CAPTURE OPERATION THIS MORNING UNDER THE VEIL OF DARKNESS. IT HAPPENED QUICKLY. IT APPEARS IN ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS TIME BEFORE. BEFORE THE FIRST REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS. AND THEN US LEARNING THAT MADURO HIMSELF HAD BEEN CAPTURED ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. >> YEAH. I MEAN, PETER, THERE'S A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS OPERATION THAT, FRANKLY, ARE JUST CONFOUNDING TO ME SO FAR, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE GET MORE DETAILS, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE THIS, THIS EVENT DOWN AT MAR A LAGO WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND POTENTIALLY OTHER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. HOPEFULLY

THEY'LL TAKE SOME QUESTIONS AND GIVE US SOME ACTUAL DETAIL. YOU KNOW, THE REAL FACTS OF WHAT WHAT WENT ON HERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SURPRISING TO ME IS THE US MILITARY WOULD RARELY CARRY OUT AN OPERATION LIKE THIS ON A NIGHT WITH A FULL MOON OR WITH A LARGE MOON, THEY LIKE TO DO THINGS AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THINGS LIKE THE BIN LADEN RAID OR OR SOME OF THESE WELL-KNOWN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN RECENT. THEY LIKE TO DO IT UNDER THE COVER OF AS MUCH DARKNESS AS POSSIBLE. THERE'S A PRETTY FULL MOON OUT THERE,

SO THAT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING. I KNOW THAT THIS SOUNDS THIS SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT THINGS LIKE WEATHER REALLY DO FACTOR INTO THE PLANNING OF THESE SORTS OF OPERATIONS. SO NOT JUST THAT THE THE TWEET FROM SENATOR MIKE LEE THAT YOU READ A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT HOW SECRETARY OF STATE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MARCO RUBIO CALLED HIM AND EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESIDENT CARRIED THIS OUT UNDER HIS ARTICLE TWO AUTHORITIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. WELL, THAT IS HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND AND SENATOR LEE SPECIFICALLY SAYING THAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT

WAS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SO IT APPEARS, BASED OFF OF THAT TWEET FROM SENATOR LEE, THAT IN FACT, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION THAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN USING FOR THE STRIKES AGAINST THE DRUG BOATS, AND THAT IS THAT THE THE DRUGS ON THOSE BOATS PRESENT A DIRECT THREAT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, THERE IS A LEGAL OR A LAWFUL REASON TO CARRY OUT A MILITARY ATTACK ON THOSE BOATS. NOW, OF COURSE, THAT HAS BEEN UP FOR DISPUTE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK OF THAT OVER RECENT

WEEKS AND MONTHS. THE BIG DIFFERENCE HERE, THOUGH, IS IF THEY ARE USING THAT SAME JUSTIFICATION, NOT ONLY FOR CARRYING OUT THESE STRIKES INSIDE OF CARACAS, INSIDE VENEZUELA, TARGETING WHAT APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF VENEZUELAN MILITARY LOCATIONS, BUT ALSO USING THAT AS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR POTENTIALLY USING THE US MILITARY TO DETAIN NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE. I MEAN, THAT IS PRETTY ASTONISHING. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I'M REALLY HOPING TO GET MORE, MORE ANSWERS TO. AND THEN AND THEN MORE THAN THAT, WE ARE ALREADY ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME DETAIL ABOUT SOME OF

THE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THAT WERE STRUCK BY THE US MILITARY. HERE. AGAIN, THEY APPEAR TO BE AT LEAST ONE PORT, SOME MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. WHY DID THEY TARGET THOSE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS NOW? MOST LIKELY WHEN WE TALKED IN THE LAST HOUR ABOUT SHAPING, AND THAT WOULD BE IN ADVANCE OF ESPECIALLY ANY KIND OF AN OPERATION WHERE YOU MAY HAVE US MILITARY ON THE GROUND OR ANY KIND OF U.S. OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHATEVER IT IS ON THE GROUND, YOU WOULD WANT TO SORT OF SHAPE THE BATTLEFIELD. SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE TAKING OUT ANY KIND OF POTENTIAL

AIR DEFENSES, MAYBE JAMMING POTENTIAL AIR DEFENSES, EVEN. WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CAPABILITIES IN THE REGION RECENTLY THAT COULD DO THAT, COULD ACTUALLY CARRY THAT OUT, BUT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE THE MISSION GO SMOOTHLY. SO TAKE OUT ANY POTENTIAL BARRIERS OR THREATS TO THE US PERSONNEL WHO ARE ON THE GROUND THERE. IS THAT WHY THEY THEY THEY STRUCK THOSE LOCATIONS, OR WERE THERE OTHER STRATEGIC REASONS FOR WHY THEY STRUCK THOSE LOCATIONS? THESE ARE ALL THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO GET ANSWERS TO. AND THEN ALSO, THERE'S JUST

THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THE LEGALITY OF THIS. NICOLAS MADURO, OF COURSE, HAD WAS INDICTED FIVE PLUS YEARS AGO NOW IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ALLEGATIONS OF RIGHT ALLEGATIONS OF BEING INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING, NARCO TRAFFICKING. WE HAVE HEARD FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO, FROM OTHERS SAYING THAT HE IS THE ILLEGITIMATE, ILLEGITIMATE LEADER HERE. BUT BUT WHAT WAS THE REAL LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR DOING THIS? AND UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES DID THEY DO? SO ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY GOING TO BE ASKING ABOUT IN THE COMING DAYS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING

A WHOLE LOT OF FIDELITY ON MILITARY OPERATIONS IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT ONE THING I WILL REALLY BE ASKING ABOUT IS UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES WERE THE US MILITARY THERE? SO IN OTHER WORDS, WERE THEY THERE UNDER A TITLE 50 AUTHORITY, MEANING WERE THEY UNDER US INTELLIGENCE UMBRELLA WHEN THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THESE OPERATIONS? THESE ARE ALL THE KINDS OF WONKY, I'LL ADMIT IT, QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT I THINK THAT WILL ULTIMATELY PAINT A REAL PICTURE OF EXACTLY HOW LONG THE PLANNING HAS GONE INTO THIS, WHAT THE JUSTIFICATION WAS HERE, AND THEN WHAT

ULTIMATELY THE THE LONGER TERM GOAL MAY BE FOR, FOR REMOVING NICOLAS MADURO FROM POWER. >> YEAH, NOT WONKY, BUT SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE PRESIDENT LIKELY TO BE THE FIRST TO FACE THOSE QUESTIONS IN A MATTER OF HOURS FROM NOW, AS HE ADDRESSES REPORTERS AND THE COUNTRY, FRANKLY, THE WORLD. AT ROUGHLY 11:00 TODAY, COURTNEY, AGAIN, TO THE POINT YOU WERE MAKING ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN EARLY THIS MORNING, THE MILITARY STRIKES FROM THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, MIKE LEE OF UTAH, WHO IS OUR BEST SOURCE, BECAUSE HE MADE IT PUBLIC AND HE

SAYS HE SPOKE TO MARCO RUBIO. HE SAID THAT THE STRIKES WE SAW OVERNIGHT WERE DEPLOYED TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THOSE EXECUTING THIS ARREST WARRANT, AS HE SAYS, MADURO WAS ARRESTED, ACCORDING TO RUBIO, BY US PERSONNEL, TO STAND TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE UNITED STATES, PRESUMABLY BASED ON THAT INDICTMENT THAT DATES BACK TO MARCH OF 2020. I WANT TO GET TO COLONEL STEVE WARREN, OUR NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST, WHO'S BEEN WATCHING THIS WITH ME AS WELL. AND, COLONEL, I'M STRUCK BY A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, BY WHAT WE HAVE WITNESSED THIS MORNING, THE DRAMATIC AND

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE, AND TWO, BY WHERE THIS FITS INTO HISTORY. IT WAS ON THIS DAY, JANUARY 3RD OF 1990, THAT PANAMA'S GENERAL MANUEL NORIEGA, AFTER HOLING UP FOR TEN DAYS IN THE IN THE VATICAN EMBASSY, I THINK IT WAS IN PANAMA CITY, SURRENDERED TO US MILITARY TROOPS TO FACE CHARGES OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AS WELL. 36 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE THAT TOOK PLACE. AND NOW IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES HISTORY LOOK LIKE FROM HERE? WHAT DOES THE US DO ABOUT IT IN THESE DAYS AND WEEKS

AHEAD? BUT SPECIFIC TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THESE OVERNIGHT HOURS? TALK TO US ABOUT THOSE CHALLENGES THAT THE AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES WOULD HAVE FACED IN THIS CAPTURE OPERATION. AND OF COURSE, WHAT ALL WOULD AGREE IS GOOD NEWS IS THAT AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES ON THE US SIDE, AT LEAST THOSE THAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT IN THE CARRYING OUT OF THIS ACTION. >> WELL, IT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS THAT UP UNTIL NOW, WE'VE RECEIVED NO REPORTS OF AMERICAN CASUALTIES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR. IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY

OPERATION. OPERATIONS LIKE THIS ARE MUCH MORE COMPLEX, I THINK, THAN THEY LOOK, AND THAT'S WHAT GREAT PROFESSIONALS DO. THEY MAKE IT LOOK EASY. AND THESE ARE REALLY THE WORLD'S MOST ELITE COMMANDOS. THE TIER ONE SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OUT OF THE JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND, OFTEN CALLED JSOC. WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS DELTA FORCE OR SEAL TEAM SIX, SO WE CAN REFER TO IT SIMPLY AS THE TIER ONE SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS EXCEPTIONAL MISSION, SUPPORTED BY AIR AIR DEFENSE SUPPRESSION, SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS, AND THEN OF COURSE, SOME LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THIS

ARREST. SO IT'S AN EXCEPTIONAL MISSION, SO MANY COMPLICATIONS. COURTNEY KUBE, OUR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT, TOUCHED ON SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO SHAPE THE BATTLEFIELD AHEAD OF PENETRATING INTO THE TARGET AREA WITH THE FORCES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY CONDUCT THE ARREST. I THINK SOME OF THESE EXPLOSIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN VARIOUS SPOTS, I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHILE WE WANTED TO SUPPRESS THE ENEMY'S AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES, WHAT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IS PREVENT ANY QUICK REACTION FORCES FROM MOVING IN AS THE HELICOPTERS ARRIVE. SO MY MY INSTINCT IS THAT MANY OF THESE STRIKES

WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE ABILITY FOR THE VENEZUELAN FORCES TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. SO SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION NODE AND THEN THE ABILITY FOR THE VENEZUELAN FORCES TO RESPOND. SO IF THERE ARE VENEZUELAN QUICK REACTION FORCES, THEY MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN TARGETED. IF THERE WERE VENEZUELAN POLICE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY RESPOND, THEY MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN TARGETED. SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. NORMALLY WE SUPPRESS AIR DEFENSE. WE ISOLATE THE TARGET AREA, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, CUT OFF ANY ROUTES IN THAT RESPONDERS CAN USE. THEN WE SECURE THE AREA.

SO THAT'S THE MOST IMMEDIATE AREA, THE BUILDING OR THE CAR OR WHEREVER MADURO WAS AT THE TIME. THAT'S THAT CLOSE IN SECURITY, JUST REALLY A CIRCLE AROUND THAT, THAT THAT SPOT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO CONDUCT THE ARREST AND THEN THE EXFILTRATION. >> COLONEL WARREN, JUST FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS WAS SOME FORM OF A NEGOTIATED EXIT, HOW ALL OF THIS PLAYED OUT. IT APPEARS BY THE PRESIDENT'S LANGUAGE THAT THIS WAS, IN EFFECT, A CAPTURE OPERATION, THAT THIS WAS NOT AGREED TO BY MADURO. BUT

WE'LL WAIT TO SEE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT. WOULD THERE BE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, ANY FORM OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE US FORCES THERE AND ANY OF THE REGIME, THE LEADERSHIP ON THE GROUND AS THIS IS TAKING PLACE, OR DO THEY JUST IS IT JUST A WHIRLWIND THEY WHISK IN AND THEN AND THEN DEPART? >> EITHER ONE IS POSSIBLE. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SECURITY FORCES THERE AND TELL THEM, HEY, LISTEN, DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE YOU'LL REGRET, RIGHT? THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. BUT I HAVE TO TELL

YOU, THE WAY THIS OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED AND GIVEN OUR HISTORY WITH THE VENEZUELANS, MY INSTINCT IS THIS WAS PROBABLY, AS YOU DESCRIBED, REALLY SORT OF A SURPRISE WHIRLWIND ASSAULT. IF IT WERE NEGOTIATED. IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FIRE AND FLAME AND, AND EXPLOSIONS FOR A NEGOTIATION TO ME. SO I FEEL LIKE THIS ONE, MY INSTINCT TELLS ME THAT THIS ONE IS PROBABLY MUCH MORE OF A OF A SURPRISE ATTACK, A VERY, YOU KNOW, PRECISE SHELL SHOCK ATTACK OR RAID. REALLY, IT'S MORE DOCTRINALLY WE'D CALL THIS A RAID BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST IN AND OUT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. >> AND IT DOES RAISE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IF THIS WAS NOT A NEGOTIATED EXIT, HOW THE US KNEW EXACTLY WHERE NICOLAS MADURO AND IN THIS CASE, HIS WIFE WERE AT THE TIME, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THEY WERE COLLECTED FROM WHERE THEY WERE PICKED UP FROM. AGAIN, AMONG THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING JUST 620 IN THE MORNING AND IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE WELL INTO 2026. THIS IS A STORYLINE AND AN OPERATION THAT IS THAT IS GOING TO DRIVE A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON,

AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND NOT JUST THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, BUT THE WORLD FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. COLONEL STEVE WARREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU. MY COLLEAGUE JULIE TSIRKIN IS ON THE GROUND FOR US IN WEST PALM BEACH THIS MORNING. SHE HAS BEEN TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT, HAS BEEN THERE FOR MUCH OF THIS HOLIDAY BREAK FOR HIM. BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT IN BETWEEN, SOME OF THE FESTIVITIES ARE SEEING HIM AROUND CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S. AT THE PRESIDENT, WHO WAS TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS YESTERDAY WITH STEPHEN MILLER, MARCO RUBIO, AMONG OTHERS, HAS BEEN PRIVATELY VERY FOCUSED ON THIS

RIGHT NOW. JULIE, WE KNOW THAT NEWS CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11:00 THIS MORNING A MATTER OF HOURS FROM NOW. PULL BACK THE CURTAIN FOR US ON WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT AND HOW WE'VE SORT OF BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS MOMENT. >> WELL, HE'S BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS MOMENT, PETER, IN THE WAY THAT RICHARD AND KEIR AND COURTNEY HAVE LAID OUT OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, RAMPING UP PRESSURE, HIS CABINET RAMPING UP MILITARY PRESSURE IN THE SEIZURE OF THOSE OIL TANKERS THIS WEEK. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WE SAW ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

ON THAT OIL TAKING PLACE BY THE ADMINISTRATION. DIFFERENT BOAT SEIZURES AS WELL THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING CLOSELY EVEN DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK. AND JUST TO PEEL BACK THE CURTAIN EVEN FURTHER AND PUT MY CAPITOL HILL HAT ON WHEN I COVERED MARCO RUBIO AS A SENATOR, VENEZUELA WAS A TOP FOCUS OF HIS. EVEN THEN, HE HAD OFTEN SPOKEN OUT AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. HE HAD BEEN VERY PRESENT TIP OF THE SPEAR ON MATTERS WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR, WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE U.S. HAD AN AGGRESSIVE POLICY AND POSTURE ON ROOTING

OUT THE NARCO STATE, AS HE CALLED IT, THERE IN VENEZUELA. AND THEN NOW TRANSITIONING TO SECRETARY OF STATE. WHEN I TALKED TO OFFICIALS CLOSE TO HIM AND CLOSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF HIS NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT'S, BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SINCE THIS ADMINISTRATION. THE SECOND TERM TOOK SHAPE EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RUBIO, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HE WAS GIVING COMMENTS AND REMARKS IN HIS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, AND HE WAS ASKED IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME KIND OF

NEGOTIATION, A DEAL WITH MADURO TO AVOID THIS KIND OF ACTION, PERHAPS ON LIMITING THE FLOW OF DRUGS THAT WE'VE SEEN THE ADMINISTRATION USE AS THEIR EXCUSES, THEIR CUDGEL TO PURSUE THIS MILITARY ACTION. AND RUBIO SAID EVEN THEN THAT MADURO CANNOT BE TRUSTED, THAT HE HAS FALLEN THROUGH AND BROKEN DEALS AND PROMISES IN THE PAST, AND THEY CANNOT MAKE THAT KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH HIM. AND THAT BRINGS US TO, IN MANY WAYS, THIS MOMENT THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW. AND WHEN YOU HEARD FROM COURTNEY LAYING OUT WHAT SHE CALLED THOSE WONKY QUESTIONS, WHAT WE HAVE CALLED

THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE ASKING, THE VERY BASICS OF THIS IS THAT ARTICLE ONE GIVES CONGRESS THE THE AUTHORITY, THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT, TO DECLARE WAR, TO HAVE THAT POWER, THE WAR POWERS ACT, THAT YOU HEARD MIKE LEE THERE, THE REPUBLICAN WHO, BY THE WAY, IS A CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER HIMSELF, HE'S OFTEN BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THESE MATTERS. AND THEN ARTICLE TWO GIVES THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO ACT IF THERE IS A DIRECT OR IMMINENT THREAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD, APPARENTLY, FROM MIKE LEE AS HE LAID OUT

THE JUSTIFICATION AFTER HE HEARD FROM MARCO RUBIO. SO WHERE DOES THIS GO FROM HERE? I WAS STRUCK, PETER AS WELL, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN CONGRESS RECEIVED THEIR BRIEFING FROM ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. PETE HEGSETH WAS THERE. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, MARCO RUBIO, WAS THERE. AND THE ONE QUESTION THAT LAWMAKERS, EVEN REPUBLICAN ALLIES OF THE PRESIDENT'S LIKE LINDSEY GRAHAM, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD ASKED THE OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR MADURO? YOU ARE GOING AFTER THESE OIL TANKERS. YOU'RE INTERCEPTING THESE DRUG BOATS THAT YOU SAY ARE CARRYING DRUGS THAT COULD

HARM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. BUT WHAT ABOUT NICOLAS MADURO? AND IT IS EVEN IN THAT ROOM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, PETER, THAT LAWMAKERS IN A CLASSIFIED SETTING COULDN'T GET ANSWERS. LINDSEY GRAHAM TOLD ME, FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER THAT BRIEFING, PETER, THAT HE ASKED POINT BLANK, IS IT REGIME CHANGE THAT YOU ARE PURSUING? DO YOU WANT TO TAKE MADURO DOWN? TO BE CLEAR, GRAHAM AND OTHER REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD TAKE THIS STEP, BUT IT IS NOT AN ANSWER, PETER, THAT THEY RECEIVED IN THAT ROOM. AND NOW, AS CONGRESS HEADS BACK TO WASHINGTON AFTER THIS HOLIDAY

BREAK, THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT DEMOCRATS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE ASKING. BUT SO FAR, FOR MOST REPUBLICANS PRAISE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENT, WHAT'S NEXT? HE WILL DELIVER THAT NEWS CONFERENCE IN A COUPLE OF HOURS FROM NOW, HE SAID TO IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT HE PLANS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT AUTHORITY THE ADMINISTRATION HAD AND WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE NEXT FOR MADURO. >> PETER JULIE TSIRKIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION ON THE HILL AS IT

RELATES TO THOSE LAWMAKERS. I WANT TO ADD ONE THING TO THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS IS ALREADY DEVELOPING EVEN BEFORE DAWN HERE. OR I'M STUCK IN A BUILDING SO CAN'T EVEN TELL. I GUESS IT IS NOW DAWN IN THE UNITED STATES. WE'VE BEEN COVERING THIS SINCE THE PRE-DAWN HOURS EARLY THIS MORNING. THE CRITICISM FOCUSES ON A VARIETY OF THINGS. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE CLEAR THAT HIS HIS CONCERN, HIS FOCUS ON VENEZUELA, THE ILLEGITIMATE LEADER, AS THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES IT, FOCUSES ON MADURO'S DRUG TRAFFICKING, HIS ROLE

IN THAT EFFORT. BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICISM THAT A MATTER OF WEEKS AGO, JUST OVER A MONTH AGO, THE PRESIDENT PARDONED THE FORMER HONDURAN PRESIDENT, JUAN HERNANDEZ JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES. SO YOU CAN SEE EVEN AT THIS EARLY MORNING HOUR, HOW SOME OF THE CRITICISM IS DEVELOPING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THE PRESIDENT WAS ACTING, QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICS, MANY OF THEM DEMOCRATS, VIEW AS SORT OF A DISCONNECT IN TERMS OF THE EFFORTS TAKING PLACE. BUT THE PRESIDENT IS TOUTING THE SUCCESS OF WHAT

HAS HAPPENED AS WE BEGIN A NEW DAWN AND TRULY A NEW DAY IN THAT COUNTRY OF VENEZUELA. THE PRESIDENT, SPEAKING, AS YOU NOTED TO THE NEW YORK TIMES EARLY THIS MORNING, SAYING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN A QUICK PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THE TIMES REPORTS THAT QUOTE, A LOT OF GOOD PLANNING AND A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT TROOPS AND GREAT PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THIS, HE SAYS. IT WAS A BRILLIANT OPERATION, ACTUALLY. WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM AGAIN SHORTLY. IT OBVIOUSLY COMES WITH A RIPPLE EFFECT. THE FALLOUT, NOT UNIQUE, NOT UNIQUE TO VENEZUELA, BUT TO THE REGION

AROUND IT AS WELL. WE ARE NOW HEARING FROM THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT IN NEIGHBORING COLOMBIA, PRESIDENT PETRO, THERE, SAYING THAT ITS FORCES WILL BE DEPLOYED TO THE VENEZUELAN BORDER AND THAT THEY ARE PREPARING FOR REFUGEES. THIS WAS IN THE FORM OF A POST. SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF OUR EXPERTS OVERNIGHT TELLING US THAT AS MANY AS 8 MILLION VENEZUELANS HAVE FLED THAT COUNTRY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SERIES OF YEARS AMID THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT, CONCERNS ABOUT INFLATION AND BROAD HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS THAT HAVE EXISTED THERE AS WELL.

WE ARE, THOUGH, HEARING FROM THE VENEZUELAN REGIME OR MEMBERS OF WHAT NOW APPEARS TO BE THE DECAPITATED REGIME. THE COUNTRY'S VICE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING ON STATE RUN TELEVISION SAYING AFTER THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NICOLAS MADURO'S LOCATION REMAINED UNKNOWN TO HER AND ASKED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PROVIDE PROOF OF LIFE. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE MADURO IS AT THIS TIME. WE DO KNOW, ACCORDING TO LAWMAKERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO MARCO RUBIO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT HE IS EXPECTED TO FACE JUSTICE, AS THEY DESCRIBE IT, FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM. GOOD

MORNING TO YOU. IT IS APPROACHING 630 IN THE MORNING ON THE EAST COAST HERE. AND AGAIN, WE ARE WATCHING A HISTORIC AND DEVELOPING SITUATION TAKING PLACE IN VENEZUELA, ONE THAT THE GOVERNMENT THERE DESCRIBES AS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS ACT OF MILITARY AGGRESSION. THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT THE U.S. WAS BEHIND A SERIES OF LARGE SCALE STRIKES AGAINST VENEZUELA, STRIKES THAT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER 1:00 IN THE MORNING. OUR TIME ROUGHLY TWO IN THE MORNING. THEY ARE AN HOUR AHEAD IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AN HOUR AHEAD OF THE EAST COAST. THE PRESIDENT ALSO POSTING THAT NICOLAS MADURO, WHO YOU SEE

THERE ON YOUR SCREEN IN RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS, THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS ENGAGED IN THIS OPERATION AS WELL. CLEARLY, THIS CAPTURE OPERATION, ONE OF US WITH SUCH HIGH STAKES AND SUCH POTENTIAL DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH IT, WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIAL FORCES TYPE OPERATIONS. WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHO SPECIFICALLY WAS INVOLVED IN IT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE GOOD NEWS AS IT RELATES TO THE U.S. MILITARY IS THAT IT APPEARS THAT THEIR ACTIONS WERE A SUCCESS. AND WE HAVE HEARD, AT

LEAST AT THIS TIME, NO INDICATIONS OF ANY CASUALTIES RELATED TO ANY OF THE AMERICANS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION THAT TOOK PLACE OVERNIGHT. NBC'S INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT IS KEIR SIMMONS. HE'S BEEN UP WITH US EARLY THIS MORNING ON A SATURDAY MORNING. KEIR, AS MANY PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO THIS DRAMATIC HEADLINE RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT FROM MARCO RUBIO VIA THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, MIKE LEE, IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL MILITARY ACTION EXPECTED IN VENEZUELA TODAY, ASSUMING THE SITUATION STAYS AS IT HAS RIGHT NOW. BUT AS WE SEE YOU NOW ON CAMERA, WE

GOT YOU OFF THE PHONE AND FINALLY WE'RE ABLE TO SPEAK, SEEING ONE ANOTHER FACE TO FACE. THIS THIS CHANGES A LOT. AND THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN CALLING ON, IN THE WORDS OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, SIOUXSIE WILES, FOR MADURO TO TO CRY UNCLE WHILE HE NEVER CRIED UNCLE. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID ENOUGH AND HE'S NOW BEEN CAPTURED. >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE QUESTION NOW, PETER, IS, IS THAT THE EXTENT OF THIS OPERATION? WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGH THE MORNING ABOUT VENEZUELA ON THE BRINK, THE UNKNOWN FUTURE NOW JUST DAYS AHEAD, WHAT WILL HAPPEN

IN THAT COUNTRY? BUT EQUALLY ALSO, WE SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT NOTHING HAPPENS EFFECTIVELY, THAT MADURO IS GONE, BUT THAT RIGHT NOW MEMBERS OF HIS REGIME ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY AS CALM. THE ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTS SAYING OF THE U.S. OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHAT THEY TRIED TO ACHIEVE WITH BOMBS AND MISSILES THEY LAUNCHED, THEY ONLY PARTIALLY SUCCEEDED IN DOING WHAT WE HAVE SEEN GLOBALLY IS CONDEMNATION, WORDS OF CONDEMNATION FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE AMERICAN ADVERSARIES AND PARTNERS OF VENEZUELA, RUSSIA, FOR EXAMPLE, IMMEDIATELY ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE THIS OPERATION IS

CONDEMNABLE, BUT ALSO OFFERING PRESIDENT PUTIN AND THE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AS A KIND OF DIPLOMAT, AS A TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU LIKE, TO TRY TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN HELP YOU BRING ABOUT STABILITY. THERE'S CONDEMNATION, OF COURSE, FROM COUNTRIES LIKE CUBA, FROM COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN. IRAN IS A HAS BEEN A CLOSE ALLY OF VENEZUELA. AND FOR IRAN, THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY RIGHT NOW HAVE PROTESTS IN THE STREETS OF IRAN. AND JUST IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, PRESIDENT TRUMP PROPOSING SUGGESTING THAT THE U.S. COULD USE KINETIC FORCE TO ATTACK THE IRANIAN REGIME IF

IT ATTACKED THOSE PROTESTERS. SO SOME OF THE SURPRISE THIS MORNING, PETER, IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TALKING ABOUT IRAN JUST JUST IN THE PAST HOURS. AND NOW WE HAVE THIS ACTION IN VENEZUELA. I THINK, I THINK SOME OF THE CONCLUSIONS THAT WILL BE BEING DRAWN BY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD IS, IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW IT FROM 2025, THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ISN'T MESSING AROUND. I THINK THERE ARE ALSO REAL RISKS THAT GOVERNMENTS LIKE RUSSIA, LIKE NORTH KOREA, LIKE CHINA SEES, SEE THIS AS FURTHER CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS OKAY, IF YOU LIKE, FOR COUNTRIES TO

INTERVENE IN NEIGHBORING NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES IN THEIR THEIR LOCAL REGIONS. I THINK IT'S ALSO CONFIRMATION OF WHAT WE SAW WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, PUBLISHED JUST AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THAT THE US VIEWS THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. IT'S ITS AREA, ITS REGION, IF YOU LIKE, AS A CRUCIAL, A CRUCIAL PLACE FOR ITS FOCUS AND THAT IT IS DETERMINED TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT A SAFER REGION FOR THE UNITED STATES. BECAUSE REMEMBER, AGAIN, AS I AS I MENTIONED, VENEZUELA HAD THESE HAS HAD THESE LINKS, THE MADURO REGIME HAS HAD THESE LINKS TO RUSSIA, HAS

HAD THESE LINKS TO IRAN. THAT COULD BE THAT THAT HAS BEEN VIEWED VERY NEGATIVELY HERE IN WASHINGTON. SO THERE ARE ALL OF THOSE ISSUES PLAYING AND THOSE IT WILL TAKE TIME, PETER, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN VENEZUELA HERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. COURTNEY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU. COURTNEY, OF COURSE, LEADS OUR COVERAGE FROM THE PENTAGON THIS MORNING AS WELL AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE MILITARY SITUATION THERE, BECAUSE IN THE IMMEDIATE HOURS AFTER THIS, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE 15,000 AMERICANS WHO ARE ON SHIPS AS

PART OF THE LARGEST CARRIER STRIKE GROUP, THE FORD STRIKE GROUP THAT IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW? WE KNOW THEY WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE OPERATIONS THAT JUST TOOK PLACE RIGHT NOW. CAN YOU SORT OF HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BUILD UP THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED WITH THIS ULTIMATELY APPEARING TO BE THE PUNCTUATION MARK OF IT, BUT IT DOESN'T CONCLUDE THE OPERATIONS THERE. WHAT HAVE WE WITNESSED TAKING PLACE, NOT JUST WITH THE DRONE STRIKES ON THOSE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS, BUT ALSO WITH THE FLIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN FLYING OVERHEAD IN AND AROUND THAT AREA OVER THE

COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS EVEN. >> YEAH, REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL SHIPS NOW, ABOUT A DOZEN THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, FRANKLY, BECAUSE THERE COULD BE EVEN MORE IN THE FORM OF SUBMARINES. BUT THE DOZEN OR SO SHIPS, THE MORE THAN 15,000 TROOPS THAT'S ON LAND AND AT SEA, THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE REGION TO BE PART OF THIS OPERATION. SOUTHERN SPEAR. NOW, THIS IS THIS MILITARY OPERATION THAT STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT HAS PRIMARILY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TARGETING AND STRIKING OF ALLEGED DRUG

BOATS, NOW ABOUT 30 OF THEM OVER THE SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD THE U.S. MILITARY WOULD DRAW DOWN THE PRESENCE BECAUSE THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO STOP WITH THOSE STRIKES. BUT THE REALITY IS, PETER, THEY HAVE WAY MORE MILITARY CAPABILITY IN THE REGION THAN THEY NEED FOR THE FOR STRIKING A COUPLE OF OF DRUG ALLEGED DRUG BOATS EVERY FEW DAYS OR SO. SO WE COULD SEE SOME OF THE LARGER PRESENCE THERE. YOU MENTIONED THE USS GERALD R FORD. IT'S THE U.S. NAVY'S LARGEST

AIRCRAFT CARRIER. THE NAVY DOESN'T HAVE AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. THEY ARE NEEDED ALL OVER THE WORLD. WHEN ONE IS SORT OF PARKED IN ONE LOCATION FOR A WHILE ON ONE MISSION, IT CAN SORT OF BACK UP THE DEPLOYMENTS OF OTHERS. IT CAN CAUSE A READINESS ISSUE IN OTHER REGIONS. SO WE COULD SEE THAT AND SOME OF THE OTHER FORCES GOING HOME. BUT I DON'T EXPECT THAT WE WILL SEE, EVEN WITH THE MILITARY OPERATION AND THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION THAT OCCURRED IN VENEZUELA TODAY, I DON'T SEE A HUGE DECREASE COMING IN THE MILITARY PRESENCE

THERE BECAUSE THE PENTAGON HAS PUT SUCH A PRIORITY ON THAT REGION UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THEY THEY HAVE THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT TO GO AFTER THE WHO THEY CALL THE NARCO TRAFFICKERS. THEY OFTEN REFER TO THEM NOW AS TERRORISTS. SO I WILL I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE MILITARY PRESENCE THERE. NOW, THE QUESTION IS, IN RECENT DAYS, EVEN THE MORE CONVENTIONAL FORCES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE. SO THE CARRIER, SOME OF THE AIRCRAFT THAT ARE ON LAND NEARBY, THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPLEMENTED OR AUGMENTED WITH MORE SPECIAL FORCES. WE HEARD COLONEL

STEVE WARREN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THAT EARLIER. WILL SOME OF THOSE FORCES HEAD BACK TO THE UNITED STATES? WE COULD SEE THAT PRESUMABLY THEY WERE BROUGHT IN SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS MISSION HERE. THE ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS, OF COURSE, IS WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY SPOKE WITH SENATOR, EXCUSE ME, WITH SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO, WHO ARE INDICATING THAT THIS WAS SORT OF THIS WAS THE OPERATION THAT THEY WERE THERE TO CONDUCT. BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WE DON'T KNOW. WILL VENEZUELA SOMEHOW RESPOND? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS

US COMPONENT, THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF A RESPONSE THAT WILL REQUIRE MORE U.S. MILITARY? AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE OR NOT, BUT I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE A LARGE DECREASE IN THE PRESENCE IMMEDIATELY. >> PETER COURTNEY KUBE, OUR SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT. COURTNEY, THANK YOU. COLONEL STEVE WARREN, OUR MILITARY ANALYST, IS JOINING US AS WELL. COLONEL WARREN, I WANT TO PICK UP WHERE COURTNEY JUST LEFT US. AND SHE RAISES A VERY GOOD QUESTION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY RESPONSE HERE. AGAIN, AS WE WAIT FOR BETTER DETAILS ABOUT WHETHER THIS WAS,

IN SOME FORM, A NEGOTIATED EXIT, THE IDEA OF A CAPTURING A CAPTURE OPERATION WOULD MAKE IT SEEM OTHERWISE. AS YOU NOTED TO US EARLIER, YOU WOULDN'T REQUIRE THESE TYPES OF FIERY EXPLOSIONS IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS AGREED TO BY NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS REGIME RIGHT NOW. BUT WHAT, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT TYPES OF CAPABILITIES DOES A COUNTRY LIKE VENEZUELA HAVE MILITARILY, AS WE ANTICIPATE THE DAYS, THE DAYS AHEAD? >> THESE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. THE THE THE NUMBER ONE CAPABILITY, I THINK THAT THE VENEZUELAN FORCES HAS OF COURSE, IS GROUND, RIGHT. THEY

THE VENEZUELANS DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TO REALLY WHAT WE CALL PROJECT POWER. RIGHT. SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF VENEZUELA. SO THEIR GROUND FORCES, I THINK, ARE PROBABLY THE MOST CAPABLE. THEIR SEA AND AIR FORCES ARE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF VENEZUELAN TERRITORY. SO, YOU KNOW, RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, FRANKLY, ARE LIMITED. THE VENEZUELAN NAVY IS ONLY A HANDFUL OF OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL BLUE WATER CAPABLE VESSELS. SO SHIPS THAT CAN OPERATE IN DEEP WATER OUT AT SEA, IT'S PRIMARILY THE VENEZUELAN NAVY IS

PRIMARILY A COASTAL DEFENSE FORCE, A COAST GUARD, IF YOU WILL, AND THEIR AIR FORCE IS ALSO VERY LIMITED AND FRANKLY, NO MATCH FOR OUR MUCH MORE SOPHISTICATED AIR CAPABILITIES THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AND AND STATIONED ON LAND NEARBY. SO THE SHORT ANSWER, THAT WAS A LONG RESPONSE. BUT THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THE VENEZUELANS HAVE A VERY LIMITED CAPABILITY TO STRIKE BACK ON AMERICAN FORCES AS WE ARE CURRENTLY ARRAYED. >> HELPS GIVE US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. AND, COLONEL WARREN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP. AND

THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR HEADLINES WE'VE BEEN COVERING, I'VE AS WELL FROM MY POST ON THE NORTH LAWN AT THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MANY MONTHS, I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROXIMITY, HOW THIS ALL RELATES. VENEZUELA IS BASICALLY YOU FLY STRAIGHT SOUTH FROM PUERTO RICO. PUERTO RICO AND HIT CARACAS THERE. IT'S IT'S NOT TOO FAR SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MISSION, OBVIOUSLY, THAT APPEARS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE STRIKE GROUP IN THAT REGION IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA. BUT THIS IS

THOUGH IT FEELS FAR AWAY IN MANY WAYS. THIS IS A REGION THAT REALLY DOES IMPACT, AS WE HAVE WITNESSED IN TERMS OF THE THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. IT DOES REALLY IMPACT AMERICANS IN MANY WAYS, WITH A FLOOD OF VENEZUELANS AND OTHERS HAVING COME TO THE COUNTRY. AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE SOURCE OF A LOT OF THE BACK AND FORTH. THE DISPUTE OVER WHAT IS TO HAPPEN WITH VENEZUELANS WHO HAVE FLED THAT COUNTRY, MANY OF WHOM THE PRESIDENT SAYS HAVE BEEN PARTS OF GANGS AND A PART OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THIS COUNTRY. >> WELL,

THAT'S RIGHT, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A COMPLICATED, A COMPLEX GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION. SO WE HAVE THIS NATION, VENEZUELA, ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN SIGNIFICANT DRUG TRAFFICKING, ALLEGEDLY SENDING IMMIGRANTS AND MIGRANTS OR A SOURCE OF OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION INTO THE NATION. ADDITIONALLY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED EARLIER, VENEZUELA HAS CONTACTS AND CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIONS THAT WE CONSIDER UNFRIENDLY TO US IRAN, RUSSIA, MAYBE, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT RUSSIA. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT AT 11:00 EASTERN TIME WHEN HE CONDUCTS. HE SAID

HE WILL CONDUCT A PRESS CONFERENCE. IS WHAT'S NEXT FOR VENEZUELA? WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET WHAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE WAS. OKAY, SO WE'VE DECAPITATED THIS PARTICULAR REGIME. WE'VE TAKEN AWAY ONE PERSON. AND, YOU KNOW, NEXT? AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN. WE HAVE WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT IS THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE. WE STRUCK SOME DRUG BOATS. OKAY, MAYBE THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE FLOW OF DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY. REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S HAPPENED. OKAY. WE'VE NOW DECAPITATED THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA BY

CAPTURING THEIR PRESIDENT. BUT WHAT DOES IT WHAT'S IT ALL FOR? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO HOW IS AMERICA SAFER TODAY WITH MADURO GONE THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY? THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET. >> COLONEL STEVE WARREN, AN NBC NEWS COLONEL STEVE WARREN AND NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST COLONEL GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO RESET IN A MOMENT. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE TODAY SHOW A SHORT TIME FROM NOW TO PICK UP OUR LIVE COVERAGE. BUT KEIR SIMMONS, I WANT TO GET TO YOU JUST FOR ONE FINAL THOUGHT ON THIS BEFORE WE REORGANIZE AND HELP UPDATE

OUR AUDIENCES ON WHAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE HERE ABOUT JUST THE DRAMATIC CHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE. THERE HAD BEEN AN ESCALATION OVER MONTHS, AND NOW, OBVIOUSLY IT CULMINATES IN THIS DRAMATIC ACTION OVERNIGHT WITH THE BEFORE DAWN IN VENEZUELA. THERE, THE FIERY AIRSTRIKES, LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS, THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND NOW REALLY A QUESTION MARK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. >> ABSOLUTELY A QUESTION MARK. AND AS YOU HAVE BEEN SAYING, A QUESTION MARK OVER WHAT THE AMBITION IS HERE, BUT SOMETHING OF A QUESTION MARK, BECAUSE PERHAPS THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO SAY, DO

WHAT WE SAY, OR WE WILL INTERVENE KINETICALLY AND REMOVE YOU. THAT IS A MESSAGE. CLEARLY, MADURO HAS NOW RECEIVED THAT MESSAGE, BUT OTHER LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD MAY WELL BE LISTENING. WELL, THEY WILL BE LISTENING. AND ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS TOO, PETER, WE WE KNOW WHAT THE US TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY IS BECAUSE IT WAS SET OUT IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY JUST AT THE END OF OF LAST YEAR. AND IT IDENTIFIES KEY THREATS, DRUGS, MIGRATION, CRIME AND CHINA IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRYING TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF CHINA. ALL OF THOSE THINGS MAY WELL BE

ASPECTS OF WHAT WAS DECIDED HERE. >> KEIR, WE'RE GOING TO REGROUP. I APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING ALL OVER THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR THIS NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. IT DOESN'T END OUR COVERAGE. WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE U.S. STRIKES ON VENEZUELA, THE CAPTURE OF THE VENEZUELAN LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO. TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING ON THE TODAY SHOW. >> IS CAPTURED. NOW, TO ME, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE CAPTURED, BUT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL DELTA FORCE WOULD HAVE GOT TO HIM WITHOUT A GUNFIGHT. UNLESS UNLESS IT WAS ARRANGED.

BECAUSE THERE'S A 50 MILLION BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD. 200 DELTA FORCE, YOU KNOW, AMONG THE TOP OPERATIVES IN THE WORLD. BUT WHERE'S THE PRESIDENTIAL BODYGUARD? SO A LOT HINGES ON JUST HOW HOW MUCH THIS THIS IS AGREED THAT HE AGREES TO BE CAPTURED. THE REGIME AGREED TO KICK UP A BIG FUSS ABOUT IT, BUT THEN THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL. THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SCENARIO TO ME. SO IF IF THIS WASN'T AGREED WITH THE WHOLE REGIME, THEN I THINK THEY'VE GOT PRETTY LIMITED OPTIONS INSIDE THE PEOPLE WITH THE HANDS ON THE TRIGGERS INSIDE THE

COUNTRY ARE STILL THE REGIME. >> YEAH. AND PRESUMABLY TRUMP WON'T WANT TO SEND FORCES IN AT ALL. THERE'S ONE OTHER INTERESTING POINT HERE, TIM, WHICH WHICH IS PLAYING OUT RIGHT NOW WITH THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNING ALL THIS AND ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT THEIR CONDEMNATION OF IT. YOU'VE GOT TRUMP TRYING TO WOO PUTIN OVER UKRAINE, TRYING TO PUSH PUTIN TOWARDS SOME SORT OF DEAL OVER UKRAINE. AND YET NOW WE HAVE THIS WE HAVE VENEZUELA SUPPORTED BY RUSSIA. YOU'VE GOT THE FOREIGN MINISTER ISSUING THESE THESE STATEMENTS CONCERNED BY REPORTS FORCIBLY REMOVED, AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES.

YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE WHOLE TRUMP PUTIN, UKRAINE THING. >> IN THE SAME PLACE AS IT WAS? I WOULD SAY, OKAY, YOU'VE MADE TWO POINTS THERE. ONE IS ABOUT AMERICAN DOMESTIC OPINION. I AGREE ABSOLUTELY WITH YOU THAT HE WAS ELECTED ON ENDING THE ENDLESS WARS, THE FOREVER WARS, ON MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AND CONCENTRATING. BUT, YOU KNOW, 200 DELTA FORCE GUYS, NO CASUALTIES. THERE'LL BE A FILM ABOUT IT WITHIN TWO YEARS. I DON'T THINK EVEN THE MAGA BASE IS GOING TO GET TOO UPSET ABOUT THAT. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. AN INVASION LIKE PANAMA IN

89. NO. NO WAY. ON THE SECOND POINT ABOUT RUSSIA, IT WAS PRICED IN. YOU KNOW, THE RUSSIANS CAN HARDLY SAY, OKAY, WE DON'T CARE. I MEAN, ALL AMERICA'S FOES AND AND SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS WILL CONDEMN THIS, BUT THAT'S PRICED IN FROM THE BEGINNING. AND THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL AND PERHAPS DEPRESSING POINT, I THINK, AND MORE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT ALTHOUGH I YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO ASK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ABOUT REACTION AND ALL THE REST OF IT, THAT'S THE PREVIOUS DECADE. THIS IS A NEW TIME. THIS IS A NEW TIME WHERE INTERNATIONAL LAW IS BEING

RELEGATED YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND THE UN AND THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND THEY'RE BEING RELEGATED YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT'S A NEW TIME AND IT IS A TIME OF HARD, HARD POWER. >> YEAH. AND IT'S A DANGEROUS TIME, TIM. JUST STAY WITH US BECAUSE THERE'S ALL SORTS OF REACTION. AND I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY OFF THE BACK OF THIS, BECAUSE ALL SORTS OF REACTION FROM THE EU SAYING MONITORING SITUATIONS AND AND CARING FOR THEIR NATIONALS THERE AND TRYING TO WORK OUT WHETHER THEY NEED TO EVACUATE THEM AND SO FORTH.

BUT DOMESTICALLY, REFORM UK LEADER NIGEL FARAGE HAS JUST TWEETED THIS. THE AMERICAN ACTIONS IN VENEZUELA OVERNIGHT ARE UNORTHODOX AND CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW. BUT IF THEY MAKE CHINA AND RUSSIA THINK TWICE, IT MAY BE A GOOD THING. I HOPE THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE CAN NOW TURN A NEW LEAF WITHOUT MADURO. THAT'S NIGEL FARAGE, WHO CLEARLY HAS BEEN CLOSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND TO TRUMP. SIR ED DAVEY, LEADER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, HAS ALSO TWEETED KEIR STARMER SHOULD CONDEMN TRUMP'S ILLEGAL ACTION IN VENEZUELA. MADURO IS A BRUTAL AND ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR, BUT UNLAWFUL ATTACKS LIKE THIS MAKE

US ALL LESS SAFE. TRUMP IS GIVING A GREEN LIGHT TO THE LIKES OF PUTIN AND XI TO ATTACK OTHER COUNTRIES WITH IMPUNITY. LET'S GO BACK TO TIM. AND THIS REALLY FOLLOWS ON FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, THAT THERE IS THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FLOUTING OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. WE'VE SEEN IT IN UKRAINE. WE'VE SEEN IT AGAIN. NOW, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT WHAT WHAT HAPPENS. AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT MANY COUNTRIES DON'T SEEM QUITE SURE HOW TO REACT TO THIS. >> NO THEY DON'T. AGAIN, THAT'S THAT'S THE TRUMP EFFECT AND

THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN THESE NEW TIMES. THE FIRST THING YOU SAID WAS ABOUT THE EU. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE TIMES WE'RE IN, I'M REMINDED OF STALIN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE POPE'S CONDEMNATION OF SOMETHING. HOW MANY DIVISIONS HAS THE POPE GOT? HOW MANY DIVISIONS OF THE EU GOT? NONE. AND SO I'M NOT SAYING IT'S IRRELEVANT THESE REACTIONS, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF A DISCOURSE AND HOW SOCIETIES ARGUE THE EVENTS AND THEN ARRIVE AT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THINGS. SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IRRELEVANT IN THAT SENSE, BUT IT'S IRRELEVANT IN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

ON THE GROUND. ON MR. FARAGE'S POINT. WELL, BUY HIS ARGUMENT. IF THE PRESIDENT XI OF CHINA PUTS FORWARD A SCENARIO THAT THE PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN IS ILLEGAL AND HAS DONE SOMETHING WRONG, THEREFORE, WHEN THE CHINESE SPECIAL FORCES FLY INTO TAIWAN AND SEIZE THE PRESIDENT, IT'S THE SAME AS THIS. WHICH IS WHY THESE ARE DANGEROUS TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CAN JUST DO THAT. OH, BY THE WAY, I JUST REMINDED ABOUT WHERE THE MADURO IS. I WAS LOOKING AT A MAP. IT'S ABOUT 30 MINUTES FLIGHT TIME TO THE COAST HELICOPTER, AND I LOOKED AT WHERE THE

US AIRCRAFT CARRIER IS. IT'S ONLY ABOUT ANOTHER 40 MILES AWAY, SO HE MAY WELL BE THERE. SORRY. DIVERSION. AND LASTLY ON ON THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER SAID YES, HE'S RIGHT AND IT'S PART OF THE DEBATE. IT'S IRRELEVANT TO WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. >> YEAH. AND JUST VERY QUICKLY, I MEAN WHAT'S YOUR INSTINCT. WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS IS. WELL, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION. I MEAN, BUT WHERE DO YOU THINK IT IS HEADING. >> FOR TROUBLE. BUT I SUSPECT THIS IS NOT YET REGIME CHANGE. >> TIM MARSHALL, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

VERY MUCH INDEED. WELL, THE EVENTS OVERNIGHT HAVE CERTAINLY LEFT VENEZUELA'S FUTURE IN SOME DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY. AS TIM MARSHALL WAS SAYING THERE, WITH THE COMING HOURS AND DAYS CRITICAL, WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE THE MILITARY DOES IN VENEZUELA, WHAT THE SECURITY SERVICES DO IN VENEZUELA. THE COUNTRY'S INTERIOR MINISTER HAS BEEN SEEN OUT AND ABOUT. HE'S MADE A STATEMENT SURROUNDED BY ARMED MEN, PARTS OF THE MILITARY, HE SAID PARTS OF THE POLICE. AND HE'S BEEN TRYING TO REASSURE THE VENEZUELAN POPULATION. >> I CALL ON OUR PEOPLE TO REMAIN CALM, TRUST IN OUR LEADERSHIP, TRUST IN

THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY HIGH COMMAND TO HANDLE THE SITUATION WE ARE FACING. REMAIN CALM. DO NOT GIVE IN TO DESPAIR. DO NOT MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR THE INVADING ENEMY. THE TERRORIST ENEMY THAT COWARDLY ATTACKED US. DO NOT MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR THEM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST STRUGGLE. IT IS NOT THE FIRST BATTLE THAT SOME HAVE WAGED AGAINST THIS PEOPLE, BELIEVING THAT THEY WILL DEFEAT US. >> SO THIS IS INTERESTING. CLEARLY THAT IS AN IMAGE DESIGNED TO PERSUADE THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE THAT THERE IS STILL A GOVERNMENT, THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AND THAT IT HAS THE

SUPPORT OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE SECURITY FORCES. SO INTERESTING WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT IS COMING OUT OF VENEZUELA. A SHORT TIME AGO, I SPOKE TO OUR DEFENSE AND SECURITY ANALYST, PROFESSOR MICHAEL CLARKE. >> WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE AIR STRIKES BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP SAID ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING A GROUND OPERATIONS STRIKES ON THE GROUND. AND THE THOUGHT THEN IS THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOING FOR WHAT THEY WOULD REGARD AS NARCO CENTERS OR CENTERS OF THE NARCOTICS BUSINESS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'D BE QUITE HARD TO TO TRACE AND

WELL ENOUGH TO TO BOMB IT. AND THE SENSE ALWAYS WAS THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO EDGE MADURO OUT. AND RICHARD GRENELL, WHO WAS THE ENVOY ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT 19 2025, RICHARD GRENELL, TRUMP'S ENVOY IN VENEZUELA, WAS CHARGED WITH NEGOTIATING MADURO'S REMOVAL. AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, IT SOUNDED AS IF THAT WAS PLAUSIBLE, BUT THEN IT WENT OFF THE TABLE. THE AMERICANS WEREN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT MADURO SAID HE WANTED AS PRICE FOR STEPPING DOWN. SO I THINK THAT THIS AS WE'RE PRECIPITATE ACTION TO GET RID OF MADURO, APPARENTLY. APPARENTLY, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, IN

SOME SORT OF VOLUNTARY ARRANGEMENT, THAT HAS BEEN A SURPRISE. AND IT LOOKS SO FAR AS IF IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY REPORTS AS YET, ALTHOUGH IT'S EARLY DAYS, OF COURSE, OF CASUALTIES OR OF EXTENSIVE FIGHTING, IT LOOKS AS IF THERE'S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION. BUT I WOULD GUESS THAT A LOT OF THOSE ATTACKS, THOSE AIR ATTACKS BY EITHER AIRCRAFT AND OR MISSILES FROM THE MISSILE CARRYING CRUISERS THAT THE AMERICANS HAVE GOT JUST OFF THE COAST, WERE PROBABLY CONDUCTED ON AIR DEFENSE CENTERS. I MEAN, THE VENEZUELANS DO HAVE S-300 RUSSIAN

AIR DEFENSES, QUITE A LOT OF THEM. SO THEY MAY WELL HAVE TAKEN THOSE OUT AS A WAY OF NEUTRALIZING THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ACCIDENTS HAPPEN TO THEIR TROOPS GOING IN. AND IT LOOKS AS IF THEY'VE CONDUCTED SOME SORT OF SPECIAL FORCE OPERATIONS AND LIFTED MADURO AND CILIA FLORES, HIS WIFE. LITERALLY ONLY THOSE TWO, APPARENTLY WITH SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT. THEY'VE TAKEN THEM OUT AND HAVE TAKEN THEM SOMEWHERE, PRESUMABLY TOWARD THE UNITED STATES. WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT LOOKS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. I IMAGINE DONALD TRUMP WILL BE PROBABLY A HOOP WHEN HE CONDUCTS HIS PRESS

CONFERENCE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS AS IF THIS HAS BEEN A TEXTBOOK AND WELL-PLANNED OPERATION. >> GEIST SHOULD TELL YOU, MICHAEL, THAT WE'RE GETTING WORD THAT TANKS HAVE NOW BEEN SEEN CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, AND ALSO THAT THE VENEZUELAN DEFENSE MINISTER HAS ISSUED A WHAT HE'S CALLING A FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER THESE U.S. STRIKES. I GUESS ON THE FACE OF IT, THIS IS UNSURPRISING, GIVEN THAT THE MILITARY TEND TO TO MOVE AFTER THESE, THESE THINGS. BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? >> YEAH, VLADIMIR LOPEZ IS THE MAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK,

WHO'S THE THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND THE CHIEF OF THE MILITARY. ALSO, HIS HIS DEPUTY IS DOMINGO LAREZ. AND HE WILL BE PRETTY IMPORTANT TOO, IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SO I THINK, I MEAN, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT PICTURE ON THE SCREEN AS YOU PUT IT. I MEAN, THAT'S CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT A US VEHICLE. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S A VENEZUELAN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER OR ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLE. AND AND IF LOPEZ HAS ORDERED THEM OUT TO THE STREET AROUND THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, I MEAN, THAT'S ENTIRELY LOGICAL BECAUSE HE'D BE FRIGHTENED OF CIVIL DISORDER AS AS

DAWN ARRIVES IN VENEZUELA, THEY'LL BE WORRIED THAT PEOPLE CONVERGE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND SORT OF TRY TO RANSACK THE PLACE. SO I IMAGINE THAT THAT'S THE SORT OF POLICING RESPONSE, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THE VENEZUELAN ARMY WILL REACT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS OUR PREVIOUS GUEST WAS SAYING, PROFESSOR DE ALBA FROM W.A.S, YOU KNOW, THE THE REACTION OF THE ARMY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IN THESE CASES. I MEAN, IF THE ARMY IS IS DECIDED TO SIT ON ITS HANDS AND ALLOW WHATEVER'S GOING TO HAPPEN, TO HAPPEN, THEN THAT GIVES YOU ONE SET

OF OF OUTCOMES. AND IF THE ARMY IS PROACTIVE, GETS OUT ON THE STREETS AND TRIES TO MAINTAIN THE REGIME WITHOUT MADURO, I.E. MADURO REGIME, BUT WITHOUT THE CHIEF, THEN I THINK THE THE PUBLIC REACTION MIGHT BE REALLY QUITE DIFFERENT. AND I THINK MIGHT BE THERE MAY WELL BE VIOLENCE. SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHETHER THE MADURO REGIME IS REALLY OVER OR WHETHER THE OPPOSITION CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THESE OPPOSITION GROUPINGS. I MEAN, ONE OF THEM, THE DEMOCRATIC UNITY ROUNDTABLE, AS IT'S CALLED, WHICH AND IT'S IT'S ITS ACRONYM IS MUD. MUD,

WHICH I'M AFRAID IS IS RATHER APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S SIMPLY UNITED BY THEIR HATRED OF MADURO. AND THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT THAT DIVIDES THEM OTHER THAN THE UNITY AROUND HATING HIM. THERE'S A BETTER UNIT CALLED A UNITARY PLATFORM, WHICH IS A VERSION OF THE MUD GROUPING, AND THAT'S A BIT MORE COHERENT. BUT IT ISN'T CLEAR FOR ALL THAT PEOPLE RESPECT. MARIA MACHADO, WHO WON THE NOBEL PRIZE AND THE PERSON WHO RAN WHEN SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO RUN HER DEPUTY. IN A SENSE, EDMUNDO, PEOPLE RESPECT THEM AND LIKE THEM. BUT THAT'S

NOT THE SAME AS SAYING THAT THERE IS AN OPPOSITION REALLY READY TO GO. MARIA MACHADO SAYS. THERE IS. SHE SAYS THAT THE OPPOSITION ARE READY TO TAKE OVER AS AND WHEN. WELL, IF SO, THEN THIS IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY. BUT HOW THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS WOULD BE CRITICAL, AND IT COMES BACK FULL CIRCLE TO WHAT THE ARMY DOES. SO VLADIMIR LOPEZ, THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE, AND POSSIBLY DELCY RODRIGUEZ, THE VICE PRESIDENT, IF HE IS STILL VICE PRESIDENT, IN THEORY, HE STILL IS. WE'LL SEE IF HE IS BY THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT LOPEZ AND RODRIGUEZ ARE PROBABLY THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN VENEZUELA FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WHEN WE TRY TO GAUGE WHAT REACTION THERE MIGHT BE ON THE STREETS. >> MICHAEL CLARK SPEAKING TO ME A LITTLE EARLIER, MORE REACTION COMING IN. THE CUBANS HAVE DENOUNCED THIS AS AMERICAN ACTION, AS AN ATTACK, CRIMINAL US ATTACK ON VENEZUELA. SO GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS SKY NEWS AT MIDDAY. AND OUR BREAKING NEWS COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE MILITARY HAS FLOODED THAT REGION WITH THOSE ARE VERY PRECISE MISSILES. WE HAVE SEEN THE U.S. MILITARY LAUNCH THEM IN RECENT YEARS IN

MANY CASES. SO MANY CASES LIBYA, SYRIA, OTHER TIMES WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO TARGET. SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT EXACE VENEZUELAN MILITARY MAY HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO WEEKS AND MONTHS NOW. AND THAT IS FLYING MISSIONS CLOSE TO AIRSPACE THAT WOULD BECOME VENEZUELAN AIRSPACE. SO RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER, EXACTLY WHAT THE AIR DEFENSES IN A PLACE, HOW THEY RESPOND TO AN AIRCRAFTN AIRCRAFT. DOES THE THE AIR DEFENSES THAT ARE LINING THEM DO THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, EVEN WITH THINGS LIKE LONG BOMBE VENEZUELAN AIR DEFENSES PAINTING THOSE IN MONTHS WITH THE MILITARY, THE

EXERCISES, THE ROUTINES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FLYING, THAT WHAT THEY LIFT TO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS. AS PART OF THIS, PICKING UP MADURO AND HIS WIFE, WHAT COMPONENT, WHAT OTHER PART DID THE U.S. MILITARY PLAY? WE JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. >> WHEREABOUTS AND THE EVOLVING SITUATION THERE. THE NEW YORK TIMES POSTING A SHORT TIME AGO THAT IT SPOKEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP EARLY THIS MORNING WHERE, IN ITS WORDS, IT CELEBRATED OPERATION. ACTUALLY, THE TIMES ASKED HIM IF HE HAD SOUGHT CONGRESSIONAL THE OPERATS NEXT FOR VENEZUELA. AND WHEN ASKED AT 11 A.M. EASTERN

TIME, WE SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT VENEZUELA'S VICE PRESIDENT THERE SPOKEN ON STATE RUN TELEVISION AFTER REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF THAT COUNTRY IN THIS TIME, WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES AS A MASSIVE. 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS, FORCES OFF THE CAR, OFF TO THE RACES. AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT, WASTING NO TIME AT THE START OF. PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. ULTIMATELY, AS HE SAID THIS MORNING, IN FACT, TO PROTECT THE EXECUTING OF THAT ARREST, WARRANT THE EFFORT BY THOSE FORCES TO. UP. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, IN SENSE

OF A DRAMATIC CAPTURE OPERATION LIKE THIS. >> PETER, OFTEN OUR MORE ELITE, MANY OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE CIA, AS WE MAY LIKELY HAVE SEEN IN THAT POTENTIAL GROUND STRIKE, THAT FIRST GROUND STRIKE, PARTICULARLY, WE DID THIS, I THINK, FAIRLY REGULARLY IRAQ AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT. SO COMES TOGETHER. IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AND COMPLICATED THING TO DO. ANR SOLDIERS. AND AND COURTNEY KUBE REFERENCED IT A LITTLE BIT MOMENTS AGO. INITIALLY, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE EXPLOSIONS THAT WE SAW, AS MENTR CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE MENTIONED, TO TRY AND DO IS ISOLATE. SO SUPPRESSED AIR

DEFENSE, WE THEN TRY TO ISOLATE THE TARGET. WELL, HAVE BEEN AND WE AREA THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN THROUGH REMOTE CAPABILITIES. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S A MARSHAL OR OR FBI, AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW. BUT AFTER AIR DEFENSE, ISOLATION OF THE OBJECTIVE AREA, FINALLY. >> NICOLAS MADURO IN THE FIRST PLACE HERE, OBVIOUSLY 15,000 TROOPS IS NOT TO SECURE A COUNTRY LIKE THAT. THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE NO INDICATION THAT GROUND TROOPS DIPLOMATIC ONE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THAT COUNTRY TO PREE ROAD, NOT TO RETURN TO A SORT OF. >> THAT WE'VE DONE

UP UNTIL NOW, RIGHT? WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL SPECIAL OPERATIONS. WHAT IN SOME PEOPLE'S OPINIONS WOULD BE THE VERY, VERY PART. AND WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE SAW THIS IN AFGHANISTAN BEGIN. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A VACUUM. WHO'S IN CHARGE, WHO'S RUNNING THE COUNTRY. WE DON'T KNOW THIS. NEITHER DOES ANYONE IN WOULD APPEAR, KNOW THIS. SO THERE ARE, OF COURSE, AS ARE THE OTHER LEGITIMATE AND SOMEWHAT POWERFUL DRUG CARTELS WHO ARE OPERATING IN THAT COUNTRY. SO THESE CARTELS ARE STILL THERE. THEY'RE STILL STRONG. THEY'RE STILL FUNCTIONING. THE MILITARY WE HAVE NOT UNLIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE

DID IN AFGHANI ANALYST. COLONEL WARREN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT'S EVOLVING ON THE GROUND THERE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AS AGAINST MADURO, WHO HAS NOW BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY PRESIDENT, BY US FORCES. I WANT TO GET TO HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH RECENT DA SPANISH JOURNALIST ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT HE WAS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT COUNTRY AND WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO SORT OF IN ITS POSITIONS, THOUGH, IT'S UNCLEAR WHO REALLY IS IN POWER THERE. >> THIS IS A

OPERATION. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DECAPITATED. HE HAS SOME GOOD PERSONAL THE PRESIDENT OF TURKEY. HE HAS DECENT RELATIONS WITH CLEARLY WASN'T A SURRENDER. THIS WAS A CAPTURE. AND AS WE ABOUT EARLIER, THESE HELICOPTER, THIS HELICOPTER PERSONNEL DURING THIS EXTRACTION OPERATION. NOW AS YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THIS MAY BE THE EASY PART, PERHAPS GREATEST MILITARY ACCOMPLISHMENT IN A BLOODLESS REGIME CHANGE OPERATION AGAINST AN ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR, WHICH WERE THEN STOLEN FROM THEM. IF THEY ARE ABLE TO COME INTO POWER, WORK WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXISTING UNITED STATES EMERGES IN POWER. THE COUNTRY DESCENDS INTO CIVIL WAR. THEN

THIS WILL BE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GREATEST FAILURE. HE CLEARLY IS HOPING FOR THE LATTER. AND THERE ARE MANY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO HAVE INTERESTS HERE. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INTEREST, AS MADE CLEAR, WAS ALWAYS THE DRUGS TO STOP RUBIO HIMSELF COMING UP IN LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS, ANTI-CUBAN PLATFORMS, INCLUDING CUBA AND VENEZUELA BEING THE LARGEST. YOU MILLER, WHO HAS AN IMMIGRATION AGENDA THE U.S. MILITARY CARRIED ON GOR A LOT ABOUT IT, HOW SUCCESSFUL IT WAS, BUT WHICH IN THEORY DEFENDS HUMAN RIGHTS SEEM HYPOCRITICAL. >> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO RICHARD ENGEL, OUR BILLION BARRELS, BY SOME ASSESSMENTS, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROACHING

20% OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY THERE IN VENEZUELA. YOU'LL REMEMBER AFTER THE U.S. RECENTLY, THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY TO TEXAS. KEIR SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S REACTING TO THIS, SAYING THAT THE UNITED STATES COMMITTED, IN ITS WORDS, AN ACT OF ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST VENEZUELA THAT IT SAID WAS BOTH DEEPLY CONCERNING AND AINSLEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TRYING TO BRING ABOUT AN END TO THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA UKRAINE. VLADIMIR PUTIN, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS IN THAT COUNTRY. BUT THIS DOES INFUSE A NEW WRINKLE INTO GLOBAL HOT SPOT, WHICH IS RUSSIA AS WELL. >> WE

HAVE OVERNIGHT. IS THE US STRIKING A RUSSIAN PARTNER? MADURO WAS IN NOW OFFERING HIS. IF YOU LIKE TO TRY TO SITUATIONU HAVE PRESIDENT PUTIN SAYING, OKAY, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IT GIVES THE RUSSIANS THE. OF SAY, WELL, LOOK, YOU SEE, THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE AND WE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS TOO, PETER. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY FASCINATING. PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN POTENTIALLY BRING ABOUT MIGHT EVEN SAY IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ISN'T SAYING THIS CLEARLY. AND THERE'S A WHYT QUITE SAYING IT THIS WAY, BUT MAYBE EVEN

TO TRY AND BRING UP WHETHER IT REALLY WORKS. AND THERE IS MANY, PLENTY OF HISTORY SUGGESTS TO SUGGEST THAT IT DOES NOT. AND. SOME EXAF MOMENTS WHEN IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SINCE SOME YEARS AGO. THE UPRISING. THE KILLING OF A OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN IRAN. THERE ARE MOVING PARTS HERE AND THERE IS NO DOUBT OF THIS SIGNIFICANCE. >> YOU'RE RIGHT, KIERAN, THE PRESIDENT'S VICTORY UPON WINNING THE LAST ELECTION, HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP PRESIDENT OBAMA DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE. THAT'S BEN RHODES,

WHO SAYS IN SIMPLE TERMS, HE SAYS LATIN AMERICA BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALE.. IS AN NBC NEWS SPECL REPORT. >> ON THE GROUND IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SITUATION DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST. HOU LIVE COVERAGE AFTER A LARGE ON TRUTH SOCIAL POSTING THE FOLLOWING IN A STUNNING AND DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT, SAYING THE UNITED AMERICA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE. THE PRESIDENT SAYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, HE SAYS DETAILS TO FOLLOW. ANNOUNCING A PICTURE. THERE IS THE PRESIDENT'S POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT LET'S SHOW YOU AGAIN THAT LIVE PICTURE ON

THE GROUND MORE CALM, AT LEAST FROM THE SKY SITUATION IN LEADERS SAYING HE WAS THE HEAD OF A NARCO TERRORIST REGIME, HE IS NO LONGER IN POWER. REAL QUESTIONS NOW ABOUT WHO IS GOVERNING THAT COUNTRY HAVE YET TO BE ANSWERED. WE HAVE TO E WHITE HOUSE, THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SOME ANSWERS TO THOSE NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT JUST YET MADURO, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, HAD TOLD A SPANISH JOURNALIST THAT OF DRUGS FROM VENEZUELA INTO THE U.S. THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT'S IT'S FENTANYL. THAT REGION SAY MOST OFTEN VENEZUELA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

FLOW. LOOK AT SOME OF THE VIDEO FROM EARLIER. IN THE DISTANCE, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE GLOWING LIGHTS, THE FIERY HN PLACE. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE LOW FLYING DECADE AGO. THIS A CAPTURE ULTIMATELY PICKED UP NICOLAS MADURO. WE ARE JOINED BY RICHARD ENGEL, IF WE CAN, FOR A MOMENT, RICHARD, I JUST WANT TO RESET THE SITUATION, GET YOUR REACTION TO THE HEADLINE THIS MORNING. >> IT WAS SEVERAL HOURS AGO. WE'VE BEEN. AIR FOR SEVERAL HOURS NOW. PETER, WHEN WE HEARD THESE VAGUE WITNESSES DESCRIBED HELICOPTERS ON THE GROUND HOVERING SOUNDS OF AIRCRAFT EXPLOSIONS IN

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. AS SOON AS YOU START HEARING WHO WAS CARRYING IT OUT. AND THEN A SHORT WHILE, WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING ALL OF THESE, THESE SCENARIOS, PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF AND BY ON TRUTH SOCIAL, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE WHO HAD. CAPTURED AND THAT THEY WILL FACE JUSTICE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FULL REGIME CHANGE, BECAUSE REGIME CHANGE HAS JUST HAPPENED. AND WILL THIS OPEN THE DOOR DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION? BETTER ECONOMIC RELATIONS DID TONIGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST SEND N TERRITORY? FOR SURE. >> BUT SENATOR OF UTAH MIKE LEE, WHO HAD SPOKEN

OF HOURS AGO AS WE SHARED DURING OUR LIVE COVERAGE, CRITICIZING NEW STATEMENT WHERE HE SAYS HE JUST SPOKE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO SAYS D HIM THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAS THE ARREST WARRANT WAS THE PRIMARY MISSION. THE STRIKES IN THE WORDS ARREST WARRANT. THIS ACTION, LEE ADDS, LIKELY FALLS WITHIN THE PRESIDENT'S INHERENT AUTHORITY E CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT U.S. PERSONNEL FROM AN WHO IS UP EARLY AS BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR TOGETHER. COURTNEY, AGAIN, THE MAJOR HEADLINE THERE, SOME OF THE SPECIAL FORCES TYPE TO BH A MISSION OF THIS KIND. >> SPECIFICALLY THE INTERDICTIONS OF THESE

OIL TANKERS. THE MILITARY HAS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF ENFORCEMENT HERE. BASED OFF OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT POSTED THIS ON TRUTH SOCIAL, HIS OWN THAT THE U.S. MILITARY, THOUGH IT APPEARS, WAS INVOLVED IN SORT OF W ENFORCEMENT AND POTENTIALLY SO THE KINDS OF. SEEING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, WERE TO BE SOME SMALLER HELICOPTERS THERE. NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE. WE DON'T HAVE, BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT NOW. THERE IS A VERY ELITE AIR FORCE UNIT THERE, INCLUDING LITTLE BIRDS OR THESE TINY LITTLE HELICOPTERS THAT MOVE VERY FAST, FLY

LOW TO THE GROUND. SO WE KNOW SORTS OF ASSETS ARE IN THE AREA THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED HERE. HE DIDN'T NECESSARILY REFER TO THOSE AS AIRSTRIKES. REMEMBER, SOME OTHER ASSETS THE U.S. HAS HAS BUILT UP OVER THE HAS FLOODED THAT REGION WITH A TON OF IN THE U.S. MILITARY, LAUNCHED THEM IN RECENT YEARS IN MANY DIFFERENT CASES. SO MANY CASES LIBYA, SYRIA, OTHER TIMES WHERE THEY NEED TO HIT A SPECIFIC TARGET THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO TARGET. SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE MILITARY MAY HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO ANY

OF THIS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATION THAT IS FLYING MISSIONS CLOSE TO THE THE AIRSPACE THAT WOULD VENEZUELAN AIRSPACE. SO RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER OF INTERNATIONAL IN A PLACE HOW THEY RESPOND TO AN AIRCRAFT. SO IT'S KNOWN AS PAINTING AN THE TR DEFENSES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY LINED UP. I'VE SEEN THEM DO THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, EVEN WITH THINGS LIKE LONG RANGE BOMBERS OR THE VENEZUELAN AIR DEFENSES PAINTING THOSE AIRCRAFT. HOW QUICKLY IS THAT? WE HAVE SEEN OCCUR OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS WITH THE MILITARY, THE BUILD UP, THE EXERCISES, ROUTINES

THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FLYING, THAT THAT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS, AS PART OF THIS, PICKING UP MADURO AND HIS WIFE, WHAT OTHER COMPONENT, WHAT THE U.S. MILITARY PLAY IN THIS? WE JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT AT THIS POINT. >> PETER COURTNEY, IT HAS SPOKEN TO MORNING WHERE, IN ITS WORDS, IT CELEBRATED THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION, THE NATIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE. NEXR VENEZUELA. AND WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION, THE PRESIDENT SAID, EASTERN TIME, WE SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT VENEZUELA'S VICE PRESIDENT THERE HAS SPOKEN ON STATE

RUN TELEVISION AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S POST. THE SENTENCE OF THAT COUNTRY IN THIS TIME, WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES AS A MASSIVE ARMADA OF AMERICAN TROOPS, FORCES OFF THE COAST OF THAT COUNTRY. I'M AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND IS PRESSURE MADURO. ULTIMATELY, AS HE SAID THIS MORNING, CAPTURING HIM AND HIS ARREST WARRANT, THE EFFORT BY THOSE FORCES TO PICK HIM UP. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, IN WHAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE, BUT. >> PETER, OFTEN OUR MORE ELITE, WHAT WE CALL THE TIER ONE INITIAL POTENTIAL STRIKE. THAT FIRST GROUND STRIKE, WE SAW SEVERAL LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY WE DID THIS, I THINK, FAIRLY REGULARLY DURING THE IRAQ AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT. SO OUR SPECIAL FORCES, IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AND COMPLICATED THING TO DO. AND AND REAL PRAISE TO OUR SOLDIERS AND AND SAILORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, SORT OF SEVERAL LAYERS. AND COURTNEY KUBE REFERENCED IT A LITTLE BIT JUST MOMENTS AGO. INITIALLY, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE SOME OF THE EARLY EXPLOSIONS THAT WE SAW. AS COURTNEY MENTIONED, OUR CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE MENTIONED, POSSIBLY THE USE OF SORT OF THE INITIAL EXECUTION. THE NEXT THING WE LIKE TO TRY

AND DO IS ISOLATE. SO ONCE WE'VE SUPPRESSED AIR THEN TRY TE TARGET AREA AND WE ISOLATED THAT AREA THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN THROUGH REMOTE CAPABILITIES. OR IT COULD BE DONE WITH ACTUAL OR OR FBI. AT THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW. BUT AFTER SUPPRESSION OF AIR DEFENSE, OBJECTIVE AREA, FINALLY WE MOVE IN. >> ENOUGH TO SECURE A COUNTRY LIKE THAT.. PRESIDENT HAS MADE NO INDICATION THAT GROUND TROOPS WILL BE GOING INTO MORE A DIPLOMATIC ONE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THAT COUNTRY TO TAKE THE PREFERRED FORK IN ROAD, NOT TO RETURN TO A SORT

OF AUTHORITARIAN TYPE. >> SOME WOULD SAY THAT THESE STEPS THAT WE'VE DONE UP UNTIL NOW, FRANKLY, ARE THE EASY STEPS. RIGHT? EXCEPTIONAL SPECIAL OPERATORS, EXCEPTIONAL LAW COMES WHAT IN SOME PEOPLE'S OPINIONS WOULD BE THE VERY, VERY HARD PART. AND WE'VE SEEN THIS WE SAW THIS IN AFGHANISTAN BEGINNING AFTER 9/11. WE SAW WHO'S RUNNING THE COUNTRY. WE DON'T KNOW THIS. NEITHER DOES ANYONE IN VENEZUELA. IT WOULD APPEAR TF COURSE, AS IN ANY COUNTRY, THERE ARE OPPOSING FORCES ON THIS. WHERE ARE THE OTHER LEGITIMATE AND SOMEWHAT POWERFUL DRUG CARTELS WHO ARE OPERATING IN THAT COUNTRY? AS WE'VE

TALKED ABOUT, AS THE STRONG THEY'RE STILL FUNCTIONING. THE MILITARY WE HAVE NOT UNLIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID IN >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT'S STILL EVOLVING ON THE GROUND IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AS, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT UP ANOTHER PICTURE TO LEADER NICOLAS MADURO, WHO'S NOW BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT BY U.S. FORCES. I WANT TO GET TO OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT IS WHETHER HE HAD HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MADURO IN RECENT DAYS,. SPANISH JOURNALIST ONLY A COUPLE

OF DAYS AGO THAT HE WAS OPEN TO NOW. BUT IT ALSO RAISES REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THAT COUNTRY AND WHAT IT TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO SORT OF CRACK DOWN ON THAT. >> THIS IS A REGIME CHANGE OPERATION. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DECAPITATED. THERE CLEARLY WAS GONE TO A FRIENDLY COUNTRY. HE HAS SOME GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF HAS DECENT RELATIONS WITH WITH RUSSIA. HE'S RENDER. THIS WAS A CAPTURE. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER,. HELICOPTER THIS HELICOPTER EXTRACTION WAS SUPPORT PERSONNEL DURING THIS EXTRACTION OPERATION. NOW AS YOU TALKED

EARLIER ABOUT THIS MAY BE THE EASY PART. OF COURSE IT'S NOT EASY. ONLY LISTS REGIME CHANGE AGAINST AN ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR WHO RAN A POWER WORKOUT, A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXISTING VENEZUELAN MILITARY THAT EMERGES IN POWER. THE COUNTRY DESCENDS INTO CIVIL WAR. THEN THIS WILL BE PERHAPS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FAILURE. HE CLEARLY IS HOPING FOR THE LATTER. AND I KNOW A LOT OF OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO HAVE INTERESTS HERE. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INTEREST, AS HE MADE CLEAR, WAS. THE DRUGS TO STOP THE DRUG TRADE. AND HE'S INTERESTED. MARCO RUBIO HIMSELF, COMING UP IN LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS,

ANTI-CUBAN PLATFORM HAS YOU MENTIONED MILLER,. IMMIGRATION AGENDA AS WOULD WOULD PAY FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE U.S. MILITARY CARRIED OUT AN OPERATION. WE'RE GOING TO HOW SUCCESSFUL IT WAS. BUT THIS IS A NEW DAY. AND WILL IT MAKE THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IN THEORY DEFENDS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, HYPOCRITICAL? >> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, ACCOUNTING FOR APPROACHING 20% OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY THERE IN VENEZUELA. YOU'LL REMEMBER, AFTER THE U.S. RECENTLY SEIZED ONE OF THAT TANKER, WAS THEN ROUTED TO THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY TO TEXAS. KEIR SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S BEEN WATCHING THIS COMMITTED, IN ITS WORDS, AN ACT OF ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST VENEZUELA THAT IT SAID WAS BOTH DEEPLY CONCERNING AND CONDEMNABLE. GEIST ON TRYING TO BRING ABOUT AN END TO THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, FORY OF REASONS OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MONTHS HAS BEEN COUNTRY. BUT THIS DOES INFUSE A NEW WRINKLE INTO ANOTHER GLOBAL HOT. >> YEAH, A RUSSIAN MADURO WAS, YOU KNOW, AN OFFERING, HIS DIPLOMACY, IF YOU LIKE TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION EFFECTIVELY, YOU HAVE PRESIDENT PUTIN SAYING, OKAY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN EUROPE. IT GIVES

THE RUSSIANS THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SAY, WELL, YOU SEE, THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER TO SOLVE IT. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS, TOO, PETER. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY FASCINATING. AND WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN AS WE LOOK AHEAD. AND THERE'S A REASON WHY PERHAPS SAT THIS WAY, BUT MAYBE EVEN TO TRY AND BRING ABOUT DEMOCRACY THAT IT DOES NOT. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MOMENTS WHEN IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND ALL OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SINCE SOME YEARS AGO, THE UPRISING OVER THE A OF A YOUNG

WOMAN IN IRAN. >> SO PRESIDENT'S VICTORY SPEECH, UPON WINNING THE LAST IT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP WARS. WE'RE NOW HEARING DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE, THAT'S BEN RHODES, WHO SAYS, IN SIMPLE TERMS, HE SAYS A REGIME BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALES ABOUT DRUG TRAFFICKING. >> NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. >> GOOD DAY TO YOU. I'M PETER ALEXANDER HERE IN NEW YORK HOURS BRINGING YOU LIVE COVERAGE AFTER A LARGE SCALE STRIKE. GROUND THERE WITH FIERY EXPLOSIONS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY, STATES OF AMERICA HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND LES MADURO,

WHO PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT. HE SAYS DETAILS TO FOLLOW ANNOUNCING A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT 11:00 THIS MORNING, ROUGHLY FIVE AND A HALF EZUELA NOW, DAWN. ABOVE THE CAPITAL CITY THERE. AND IT IS A NEW DAWN FOR THAT COUNTRY RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHO IS GOVERNING THAT COUNTRY. WILL IT TAKE TWO DIFFERENT FORKS IN THE ROAD? WILL IT BE A COUNTRY THAT IS GOVERNED BY A MOVEMENT? FOR SOME ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHERE IS MADURO RIGHT NOW? WHERE IS HE BEING TAKEN? WILL HE FACE? HE WAS OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS WITH THE

UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS SAID THAT REGION SAY MOST OFTEN VENEZUELA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOW OF COCAINE, NOTABLY TO SOME OF IT GETS THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE, AS WELL THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS REPORTED BY EYEWITNESSES THE GROUND AS WELL. THAT LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED TO BE A PART. AND THAT ULTIMATELY PICKED UP NICOLAS MADURO. WE ARE JOINED BY SOME OF OUR BEST IN THE BUSINESS, OUR COLLEAGUES, RICHARD ENGEL, COURTNEY KUBE AT THE PENTAGON, OUR CHIEF SITUATION. GET YOUR REACTION TO THE HEADLINE THIS MORNING

AS YOU AND I WERE ON THE AIR, AS IH OF US WERE STUNNED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT. >> WHEN WE HEARD THESE VAGUE REPORTS, STILL UNCONFIRMED, OF EXPLOSIONS IN CARACAS AND IN POTENTIAL OTHER AREAS, EXPLOSIONS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AS SOON AS YOU START HEARING HELICOPTERS HOVERING, YOU INDICATION THAT THIS IS AN EXTRACTION OPERATION. YOU CAN'T OBVIOUSLY CAN'T LAND PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF. AND BY NO ACCIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF. THE HAS BEEN SILENT. SO UP UNTIL NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING CAPTURED AND THAT THEY WILL FACE JUSTICE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THE IS

ASKING RIGHW IS, DID DID A WEAKENING OF ALLIANCE BACKED BY CUBAN INTELLIGENCE ALL ACROSS THE REGION, WAR AND A POWER STRUGGLE THAT THE STATES WILL HAVE TO EITHER WATCH FROM AFAR OR BE DRAWN INTO? >> HOURS AGO, AS WE SHARED DURING OUR LIVE COVERAGE, CRITICIZING THIS ACTING, ASKING. HE SAYS THAT RUBIO INFORMED HIM THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY U.S. PERSONNEL STAND TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS WAS THE PRIMARY MISSION. THE STRIKES, IN THE WORDS OF MIKE LEIGH, DETAILING WHAT HE WAS TH, MARCO RUBIO, THAT THOSE ARE IMMINENT ATTACK. NOW,

LAWMAKERS WILL, OF COURSE, FIGHT OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR TOGETHER. COURTNEY, AGAIN, THE MAJOR HEADLINE THERE, THE THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS. SUCCESSFUL CARRYING OUT OF THIS LARGE SCALE STRIKE AGAINST TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A MISSION OF THIS KIND. >> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE. MIND HERE, PETER, IS THE US MILITARY. WHEN IT'S COME LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE, BASED OFF OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT POSTED THIS ON TRUTH SOCIAL, HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, OF COURSE, THAT HE T HE HE WROTE ABOUT THIS. AGENCIES WOULD BE GO IN. >> SORRY, COURTNEY, PLEASE

CONTINUE. >> WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN. AND WE'VE SEEN THE STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT. BUT REALLY ALL THE DETAIL THAT WE'RE GETTING. THE VIDEO DOES APPEAR NOW. THERE IS A VERY ELITE AIR FORCE UNIT KNOWN AS THE 1/60 SPECIAL MAY HAVE HEARDM BECAUSE THEY WERE INVOLVED IN TAKING THE NAVY SEALS IN USED HERE. BUT I ALSO FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING. SPECIFICALLY REFER TO THE STRIKES THAT OCCURRED AS SORT OF THE MILITARY IS FLOODED THAT REGION WITH A TON OF AIR POWER AND POWER AT SEA. SEA IS THE KEY HERE. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF

DIFFERENT SHIPS WHO HAVE THE SYRIA, OTHER TIMES WHERE THEY NEED TO HIT A SPECIFIC TARGET, AND THEY NEED WHAT'S KNOWN AS STANDOFF ESSENTY THEY WANT TO BE FREE OR SAFE FROM ANY OF THIS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND RESPONSE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WERE GOING OR WHEN THESE STRIKES WERE OCCURRING IN AIRSPACE. SO RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER OF INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, INTERNATIONAL WATERS, RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER OF. TIMES THE MILL DO THAT FOR A REASON. IT'S NOT JUST TESTING ROUTES. IT'S NOT JUST DOES THE THE AIR DEFENSES THAT ARE

POTENTIALLY LINED UP ALONG THE BORDER THERE OF VENEZUELA, THEY LATCHING ON TO U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT WHEN THEY FLY UP AIR DEFENSES, PAINTING THOSE AIRCRAFT, HOW QUICKLY DO THEY RESPOND? THIS GIVES THE U.S. MILITARY, ESSENTIALLY A PATTERN OF LIFE OF HOW THE EVENTS THAT IT'S ALL BEEN BUILDING UP TO. WT HAVE A GOOD ANSWER TO IS BEYOND THE STRIKES, THE U.S. MILITARY PLANES, WE JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT AT THIS POINT. >> PETER COURTNEY KUBE COVERS THE PENTAGON FOR INFORMATION WHILE YOU, COURTNEY, HAVE BEEN SPEAKING AGAIN, AS WE'RE MONITORING THIS EARLY THIS MORNING, WE'RE

IN ITS WORDS, IT CELEBRATED THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION TO CAPTURE THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT.. TRUMP SAYING, A LOT OF GOOD PLANNING AND A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT OR WHAT IS NEXT FOR VENEZUELA. AND WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD ADDRESS THOSE MATTERS. DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT MAR A LAGO THIS MORNING. HIS PRIVATE CLUB THERE. IN FICTION. AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S POST THIS MORNING SAYING THAT NICOLAS WAS UNKNOWNT SHE WAS ASKING PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR I WANT TO BRING IN NOW THE E COLONEL STEVE WARREN, WHO IS JOINING US, THIS TAKING

THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UNCLEAR IF , BUT AS THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR, MIKE LEE SAID, THIS OBVIOUSLY IN WHAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE. BUT GIVE US A SENSE ABOUT HOW SOMETHING LIKE WOULD BE CONDUCTED, HOW CHALLENGING IT IS, AND. >> OFTEN OUR MORE ELITE, WHAT WE CALL THE TIER ONE. SO THIS IS OUR MOST SPECIAL FORCES, OFTEN OUR TIER ONE SPECIAL STRIKE. THAT FIRST GROUND STRIKE WE SAW SEVERAL DAYS AGO, OR OFTEN LAW AGENCIESS NOT UNCOMMON FOR OPERATIONS AND OUR MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATORS ARE FAMILIAR WITH WORKING WITH WHO ARE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF. SO.

RECEIVED ANYS OF U.S. CASUALTIES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS INITIALLY, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO GET AIRCRAFT INTO THE TARGET AREA WITHOUT BEING SHOT DOWN. SO I'M A HAWKS OR OTHER REMOTE CAPABILITIES TO DAMAGE OR DESTROY FENCE. WE THEN TRY TO ISOLATE THE TARGET AREA AT THIS. IN THIS CASE, APPARENTLY SOMEHOW KNEW WHERE NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, AGAIN THROUGH REMOTE CAPABILITIES. OR IT COULD BE DONE WITH ACTUAL TROOPS ON THE GROUND TO PROVIDE WHAT SECURITY. AND THEN FINALLY, SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIVE AREA. FINALLY, WE MOVE IN AND ARREST

THE WE'RE LOG FOR. >> COLONEL WARREN, I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TO VENEZUELA AND MEANINGFUL WAY RIGHT NOW. BUT WHAT SORT OF A CHALLENGE DOES AUTHORITARIAN TYPE, REGIME OR LEADER. BUT TO FOCUS ON A DEMOCRATIC LED GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, ULTIMATELY THIS IS THESE ARE THE. >> EXCEPTIONAL SPECIAL OPERATORS, EXCEPTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATORS WHO UNDERSTAND THESE TYPES OF MISSIONS, BUT THEY HAPPEN AT THE SPEED OF VIOLENCE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. I SAW THIS IN AFGHANISTAN BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, AFTER 9/11. WE SAW THIS IN IRAQ. WHEN A REGIME IS TOPPLED, WHEN REGIME CHANGES, SUCH AS IN

ANY COUNTRY, THERE ARE OPPOSING FORCES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORCES WHO TO BE IN POWER. WHERE IS THE MILITARY INTERNALLY GOING TO FOLLOW? THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT THOSE ARE STILL THERE, STILL FUNCTIONING. YES. WE'VE WE'VE STRUCK GHANISTAN OR WHAT WE DID IN IRAQ. WE HAVE NOT, FRANKLY, INFLICTED ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. VENEZUELAN MILITARY. SO WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW? >> IS GROUND THERE IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, AS AGAIN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT UP ANOTHER PICTURE TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS THE IS IS AW DAY, A NEW DAWN IN MANY WAYS. AND IT'S ONE CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL,

WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING THIS DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW. RICHARD, AMONG THE QUESTIONS THAT THE PRESIDENT TOLD A SPANISH JOURNALIST ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT HE WAS OPEN TO, IN EFFECT, DISCUSSIONS, PERHAPS EVEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES TERRORIST STATE WITH SO MUCH OF REGIME STILL IS EVIDENCED BY THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF THE COUNTRY. >> THERE CLEARLY WAS A DEGREE OF UNCLEAR WITH MADURO HIMSELF. TURKEY HAS DECENT RELATIONS WITH WITH RUSSIA. HE'S HAD GOOD RELATIONS WITH CUBA EVEN EVEN COLOMBIA. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THESE HELICOPTER. THIS HELICOPTER EXTRACTION WAS SUPPORTED BY A MILITARY

WAS TOMAHAWKS OR AIRSTRIKES OR ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, PERHAPS. STATES HAS THIS KIND OF CAPABILITY. BUT NOW, WHO IS GOING AGAINST AN ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR WHO RAN A MAFIA STATE? THERE IS A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION, AND THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS. IF, HOWEVER, THE MILITARY DIVIDES, A STRONG MAN IS HOPING FOR THE LATTER. AND I KNOW A LOT OF BACK CHANNEL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN THIS. I'O SOME OF THE NEGOTIATORS WHO WAS ALWAYS THE DRUGS TO STOP THE DRUG TRADE, AND HE'S INTERESTED IN VENEZUELA'S OIL. HE'S MADE THAT CLEAR. VENEZUELA HAS ENORMOUS OIL

RESERVES AND HIS POLITICS ANTI-CUBAN PLATFORM HAS AN INTEREST IN REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA, WHICH HE HOPES WILL THEN WEAKEN, AS WOULD WOULD WANT FEWER MIGRANTS COMING OUT OF POTENTIALLY VENEZUELA, BECOMING FOR THE U.S. RELATIONS IN LATINP ASSERTING DOMINANCE AND GOING AND DOING A SNATCH. >> FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RICHARD, YOU WERE TALKING WITH ME ABOUT. RESERVES IN VENEZUELA, THEIR RESERVES NUMBER ONE IN VENEZUELA. YOU'LL REMEMBER, AFTER THE US RECENTLY SEIZED ONE OF THE SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS AS THE WHITE HOUSE DESCRIBED IT, THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S BEEN WATCHING THIS DEVELOPING NEWS

WITH US AS WELL. AND KEIR, TO YOU. I WANT TO SHARE A STATEMENT FROM THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, DEEPLY CONCERNING AND CONDEMNABLE, THAT IS. BECAUSE WHILE ON THE ONE HAND, THE US HAS BEEN FOCUSED HEAVILY IN THIS REGION, PUTIN, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MONTHS HAS BEEN DISINCLINED. IT APPEARS TO TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION THERE, WHICH IS RUSSIA AS WELL. >> YEAH, I'VE BEEN READING THAT STATEMENT TO PETER, AND I'VE BEEN REFLECTING THAT THIS IS WHY RICHARD, YOU KNOW, IN A DE FACTO ALLY OF PUTIN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS JUST

TAKEN HIM OUT REGION. MR. LET ME HELP YOU TO SOLVE THAT. SOUNDS FAMILIAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. AND WE HELP EACH OTHER TO SOLVE IT. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS TO THIS AND THE AND THE IMPLICATIONS AND THE AS WE LOOK AHEAD. IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS VERY FAMILIAR, WHICH IS THE US INTERVENING CERTAINLY INTERVENING. AND THAT IS THAT WN BEFORE FROM THE US. AND RICHARD HAS BEEN VERY HAPPENING. WHILE THERE ARE IN IRAN EFFECTIVELY LOOKING TO OVERTHROW OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN IRAN. SO THERE TOO, THERE IS A F COURSE,

IRAN IS A CLOSE PARTNER TO. >> YOU SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP WARS. WE'RE NOW HEARING SOME OF THE CRITICISM COMING IN. THE PRS POLITICAL OPPONENTS. AMONG THEM, WE'RE HEARING FROM ONE OF THE TOP WAR IN LATIN AMERICA BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALES ABOUT DRUG TRAFFICKING, NO EXPLANATION OF GOALS AND COUNTER TO TRUMP PROMISED CAMPAIGNING AND WERE NOT EVEN A FULL YEAR SUCCESSFUL CAPTURE OPERATION. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS DAYS, HOURS, DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. >> HE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW IT WAS CARRIED OUT WITH GREAT PRECD

COORDINATION, AND IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS. I HEARD IT LIVE ON ON THIS CONVERSATION FROM THE KREMLIN. AND ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME IS HE I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT? DO YOU THINK IN A WAY THAT THIS KIND OF OPERATION USED TO BE CALLED THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. COLD WE UNITED STATES CONTROLS ITS. >> YEAH. RICHARD. YEAH. YOU I THINK YOU ASK A GREAT QUESTION. HE IS TRYING TO POSITION HIMSELF TO BE THE DIPLOMAT THAT HE IS NOT IN MANY WAYS A FULL CONDEMNATION OR THIS IS A PARTNER OF RUSSIA, A CLOSE ALLY, IF

YOU LIKE. YOU'VE SEEN IN THE YEARS SINCE, THE FULL SCALE MAY LOOK BACK ON THIS AND SEE IT AS THE SLOW WEAKENING OF RUSSIA'S POWER, DESPITE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT PUTIN. THE PERSONAL THAT THAT YOU AND KNOWS JUST SAY THAT PUTIN HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR LONG ENOUGH, IS NOW UNPREDICTABLE, AND HE IS THE MASTER OF TACTICS, AND HE WILL BE WAITING FOR THE. ADVANTAGE OR TAKES PLACE IN THE COMING MONTHS. >> AN ALLY IN NICOLAS MADURO, HE HAS LOST SYRIA ENTIRELY, WHICH WAS A VERY. MILITARY OUTPOST FOR RUSSIA. HE IS AND

RESOURCES IN THIS WAR, AND HE'S BECOME MORE AND MORE DEPENDENT ON AND THE IRANIAN REGIME, WHICH YOU MENTIONED IS FACING. SO HE IS NOT IN AS STRONG A POSITION AS HE TENDS TO PROJECT, AND HE IS NOW JUST LOST ALLY. BUT IT STRUCK ME THAT HIS CONDEMNATION SEEMED. >> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, RICHARD. AND I THINK TO AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE, IN THE HOURS NOW THAT PLAYED OUT SINCE THIS STRIKE TOOK PLACE. THEY CAN'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT YOU KNOW, INDICATING AN INTEREST IN WHAT CENTURY IT WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF

THE WORLD. HOW WILL HE ACTIONS LIKE THIS BY THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN THIS? AND WHAT WILL HE THINK THIS MEANS FOR HIM? AND AGAIN, THIS IS A MULTILAYERED BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IN PYONGYANG, IN NORTH KOREA, IN PLACES NEXT DOOR TO YOU, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT AMERICA IS DOING. >> PETER KEIR SIMMONS, OUR CORRESPONDENT, RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. GENTLEMEN, GIANT EXPLOSIONS, FIERY EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY.E RAINING DOWN ON THAT CITY. THE PRESIDENT WITH HIS WIFE AND THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS CAPTURED AND E PRESIDENT SAYING THE

OPERATION WAS DONE IN THIS MORNING, FIVE HOURS FROM NOW, FROM HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE. CLEARLY, THE MAJOR HEADLINE HERE, THE DRAMATIC NEWS IS THAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR MIKE LEE UTAH, WHO SAYS HE HAS SPOKEN WITH SECRETARY OF STATE, PICK UP MADURO AND ULTIMATELY HIS WIFE WHEN THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE BETTER EXPLAINS WHY THERE WERE LOW FLYING HELICOPTERS HOVERING ON THE AROS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. TODAY WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAIN IS OUR CHIEF FOREIGN RICHARD, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS NEW UNCLEAR ABOUT THE SITUATION

ON THE GROUND THERE NOW, WHO IN EFFECT IS FILLING THAT POWER VACUUM APPEARS AT THE STRIKES WE SAW OVERNIGHT ARE, AT LEAST FOR NOW, THE LAST ONES. THERE ARE 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS, SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CAMPAIGN THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, SAID THAT Y MADURO'S DAYS WERE NUMBERED. WE KNOW THAT HE IT APPEARS THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORMALIZED IF IT STILL REQUIRED HIS CAPTURE FOR PROOF OF LIFE OF MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT THERE TO DO SUCH A THING. AND THEN, OF COURSE, POLITICALLY, THERE IS A LOT OF THE BACK AND

FORTH TAKING PLACE, EVEN IF THIS EARLY ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S MISSION WAS. THE AUTHORITY INCLUDED A SERIES OF BOAT STRIKES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND IN THE PACIFIC, FOCUSED LARGELY ON WHAT THE US ALLEGES. ARE DRUG BOATS BRINGING DRUGS TO THE UNITED, THE PENTAGON? FOR US, AND AS AN EXPERT IN ALL OF THESE MATTERS, COURTNEY, IF YOU HEAR ME RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO OFT YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT WHAT MORE WE MAY KNOW ABOUT WHAT LEARNING THAT MADURO HIMSELF HAD BEEN ONF HOURS LATER. >> YEAH. I MEAN, PETER, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL TAKE SOME QUESTIONS

AND GIVE US SOME ACTUAL DETAIL. YOU KNOW, THE REAL FACTS OF WENT ON HERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SURPRISING TO ME IS THE US MILITARY WOULD RARELY UNDER THE COVER OF AS MUCH DARKNESS AS POSSIBLE. THERE'S A PRETTY FULL. THERE, SO THAT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING. I KNOW THAT THIS SOUNDS THIS SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT THINGS LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MARCO RUBIO CALLED HIM AND EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESIDENT HIS ARTICLE TWO AUTHORITIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. WELL, THAT WAS BASED OFF OF THAT TWEET FROM SENATOR LEE THAT IN FACT, THIS IS SIMILAR

TO THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION THAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN USING FOR THIS A LAWFUL REASON TO CARRY OUT A MILITARY ATTACK ON THOSE BOATS. NOW, OF COURSE, THAT. FOR DISPUN A LOT OF TALK OF THAT OVER RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF VENEZUELAN MILITARY LOCATIONS, BUT ALSO USING THAT JUSTIFICATION FOR POTENTIALLY USING THE US MILITARY TO ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME DETAIL ABOUT SOME OF THE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THAT WERE STRUCK BY THE. MILITARY. HERE. AGAIN, THEY APPEAR TO BE AT LEAST ONE PORT, SOME IN ADVANCE OF ESPECIALLY ANY KIND OF

AN OPERATION WHERE YOU MAY HAVE US MILITARY ON THE GROUND OR ANY KIND OF U.S. WHATEVER IT IS ON THE GROUND, YOU WOULD WANT TO SHAPE CAPABILITIES IN THE REGION RECENTLY THAT COULD DO THAT, COULD ACTUALLY CARRY THAT OUT, BUT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO E MISSION GO SMOOTHLY. SO TAKE OUT ANY POTENTIAL BARRIERS, ALL THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO GET ANSWERS TO. AND THEN ALSO, THERE'S JUST THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. LEGALITY OF THIS. NICOLAS MADURO, OF COURSE, HAD WAS HEARD FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO FROM OTHERS,

SAYING THAT HE IS THE ILLEGITIMATE, ILLEGITIMATE LEADER HERE. BUT BUT. REAL LEGAN FOR DOING THIS? AND UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY ABOUT IS UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES WHERE THE US MILITARY THERE. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, WERE THEY THERE UNDER A TITLE 50 AUTHORITY, MEANING WERE THEY UNDER US INTELLIGENCE UMBRELLA, FORMERLY THE THE LONGER GOAL MAY BE FOR FOR REMOVING NICOLAS MADURO FROM POWER. >> ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN EARLY THIS MORNING, THE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR MIKE LEE OF UTAH, WHO IS OUR BEST SOURCE, STAND TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES, PRESUMABLY BASED ON THAT INDICTMENT THAT DATES

BACK TO MARCH THIS THIS MORNING, THE DRAMATIC AND HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE. AND TWO, BY WHERE THIS FITS INTO HISTORY. IT WAS DAY, JANUARY 3RD OF 1990, THAT PANAMA WELL, 36 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE THAT PLACE. AND NOW IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, THIS CAPTURE OPERATION. AND OF. WOULE IS GOOD NEWS, IS THAT AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE NO. >> STEVE, NO REPORTS. >> OF AMERICAN CASUALTIES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR. IT'S AN OPERA. OPERATIONS LIKE THIS ARE ELITE COMMANDOS. THE TIER ONE

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OUT OF THE OPS COMMAND, OFTEN CALLED JSOC. WE DON'T BUY AIR, AIR DEFENSE SUPPRESSION, SPECIAL OPERATORS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, SOME LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS TO SHAPE THE BATTLEFIELD AHEAD OF PENETRATING INTO THE TARGET AREA WITH THE FORCES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY CONDUCT ENEMY'S AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES. WHAT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IS PREVENT ANY QUICK FORCES FROM MOVING IN AS THE HELICOPTERS ARRIVE. SO AND THEN THE ABILITY FOR THE VENEZUELAN FORCES TO RESPOND. SO IF THERE ARE VENEZUELAN QUICK. FORCES, THEY MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN TARGETED IF THERE WERE VENEZUELANS. WHAT I

WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT CUT OFF ANY ROUTES IN THAT RESPONDERS CAN S. SO THAT'S THE MOST IMMEDIATE AREA, THE BUILDING OR THE CAR. >> COLONEL WARREN, JUST FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS WAS SOME FORM OF. ALL OF THIS PLAYET APPEARS BY THE PRESIDENT'S LANGUAGE THAT THIS WAS IN EFFECT BETWEEN THE US FORCES THERE AND ANY OF THE REGIME, THE LEADERSHIP ON THE GROUND AS THIS IS TAKING. THEY JUST IS IT JUST A WHIRLWIND THEY WHISK IN AND THEN AND THEN. >> THERE AND TELL THEM,

HEY, LISTEN, DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE YOU'LL REGRET, RIGHT? THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE WAY THIS OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED AND GIVEN OUR EXPLOSIONS FOR A NEGOTIATION TO ME. SO I FEEL LIKE THIS ONE, MY INSTINCT TELLS ME THAT THIS ONE IS PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST IN AND OUT. BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. >> AND IT DOES RAISE REAL QUESTIONS. WAS NOT A NEGOTIATED EXIT, HOW THE US KNEW EXACTLY WHERE NICOLAS MADURO'S LIKE WE ARE WELL INTO 2026. THIS IS A STORYLINE AND AN OPERATION THAT IS THAT IS.

LE CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON, AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN PALM BEACH THIS MORNING. SHE HAS BEEN TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT, HAS BEEN THERE FOR MUCH OF THIS HOLIDAY BREAK HIM. BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT IN BETWEEN SOME OF THE FESTIVITIES ARE SEEING NOW, JULIE, WE KNOW THAT NEWS CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11:00 THIS MORNING A MATTER OF HOURS FROM NOW. PULL BACK FOR US ON WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT AND HOW WE'VE SORT OF BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS MOMENT. >> RAMPING UP MILITARY PRESSURE IN THE SEIZURE OF THOSE OIL TANKERS THIS WEEK. A COUPLE

OF DAYS AGO, WE SAW ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THAT OIL TAKING PLACE. MARCO RUBIO AS A SENATOR, VENEZUELA WAS A TOP FOCUS OF HIS. EVEN HAD OFTEN SPOKEN OUT AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. HE HAD NOW TRANSITIONING TO SECRETARY OF TO OFFICIALS CLOSE TO HIM AND CLOSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THIS HAS HE WAS GIVING COMMENTS AND REMARKS IN HIS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE BEFORE THE END OF ANF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME KIND OF THIS MILITARY ACTION. AND RUBIO SAID EVEN THEN THAT MADURO CANNOT BE TRUSTED, THAT HE HAS FALLEN DEALS AND PROMISEN THE PAST, AND THEY CANNOT

MAKE THAT KIND OF. THIS IS THAT ARTICLE ONE GIVES CONGRESS THE AUTHORITY, THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT, TO DECLARE WAR, TO GIVES THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO ACT IF THERE IS A DIRECT OR IMMINENT THREAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD, FROM MIKE LEE AS HE LAID OUT THE JUSTIFICATION AFTER HE HEARD FROM MARCO RUBIO. RUBIO WAS THERE. AND THE ONE QUESTION THAT LAWMAKERS, EVEN REPUBLICAN ALLIES OF THE PRESIDENT'S LIKE LINDSEY GRAHAM, FOR HAD ASKED THE OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WHAT DOES THIS EVEN IN THAT ROOM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, PETER, THAT

LAWMAKERS IN A CLASSIFIED SETTING COULDN'T GET LINDSEY GRAHAM TOLD ME, FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER THAT BRIEFING, PETER, THAT HE ASKED POINT. NOW, AS CONGRESS HEADS BACK TO WASHINGTON AFTER THIS HOLIDAY BREAK, IS THE QUESTION THAT DEMOCRATS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE ASKING. BUT TIMES EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT HE PLANS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT AUTHORITY THE ADMINISTRATION HAD AND PLANS ARR MADURO. >> PETER JULIE TSIRKIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR DAWN HERE. I'M STUCK IN A BUILDING SO CAN'T EVEN TELL. I GUESS IT IS NOW DAWN IN PRE-DAWN HOURS EARLS MORNING. THE CRITICISM

FOCUSES ON A DRUG TRAFFICKING, HIS ROLE IN THAT EFFORT. BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICISM. , JUST OVER A MONTH AGO, THE PRESIDENT PARDONED THE FORMER HONDURAN PRESIDENT, WARNS ABOUT THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THE PRESIDENT WAS ACTING, QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICS, THEM DEMOCRATS, VIEW AS SORT OF A DISCONNECT IN TERMS CONVERSATION THAT THE TIMES F GOOD PLANNING AND A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT NOW HEARING FROM THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT IN NEIGHBORING COLOMBIA, PRESIDENT PETRO THERE, SAYING THAT IT'S FORCING US THAT AS MANY AS 8 MILLION VENEZUELANS HAVE FLED THAT COUNTRY OVER THE COURSE

OF THE SERIES OF YEARS AMID THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE AUTHORITY, APPEARS TO BE THE DECAPITATED REGIME. THE COUNTRY'S VICE PRESIDENT THIS. TELEVISION SAYING AFTER THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ANNOUNCEMENT, DO NOT KNOW WHERE MADURO IS AT THIS TIME. WE DO KNOW, ACCORDING TO LAWMAKERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO MARCO RUBIO, THE GOOD QUESTION. WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE MADURO IS AT THIS TIME. >> WE SEE NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. >> DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS, BRINGING YOU LIVE COVERAGE AFTER LARGE SCALE STRIKE ON THE GROUND THERE. DEVELOPMENT SAYING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS

SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A SCALE STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER WAS DONE, THE PRESIDENT SAYS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, HE SAYS. DETAILS TO ANNOUNCING A NEWS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE AT 11:00. THIS AT LEAST FROM THE SKY. IN VENEZUELA. NOW DAWN BREAKING ABOVE THE TEAM, HE IS NO LONGER IN POWER. REAL QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHO IS GOVERNING COUNTRY. WILL IT TAKE US ONE OF TWO DIFFERENT WHITE HOUSE, THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT FOR. TO THOSE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHERE IS NICOLAS MADURO RIGHT NOW? WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT JUST YET AS WELL.

MADURO, ONLY A MATTER OF DAYS AGO, HAD TOLD A SPANISH JOURNALIST THAT HE WAS OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS WITH ITS FENTANYL. EXPERTS IN THAT REGION SAY MOST OFTEN VENEZUELA IS. FLOW OF COC, NOTABLY TO EUROPE. BUT SOME OF IT GETS SOME OF THE GLOWING LIGHTS, THE FIERY EXPLOSIONS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. WE KNOW THAT THERE HELICOPTERS REPORTED BY EYEWITNESSES ON THE GROUND AS MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, THIS CAPTURE OPERATION THAT ULTIMATELY PICKED UP NICOLAS MADURO. WE ARE BY SOME OF OUR BEST IN THE BUSINESS, OUR COLLEAGUES. RICHARD, I JUST WANT TO RESET THE SITUATION. GET

YOUR REACTION TO THE HEADLINE AS YOU AND I WERE ON THE AIR, AS I READ THAT POST OUT LOUD, BOTH..L UNCONFIRMED, OF EXPLOSIONS IN HOVERING SOUNDS, OF AIRCRAFT EXPLOSIONS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AS SOON AS YOU. HEARING HELICOPTERS HOVERING, YOU GET AN INDICATION THAT THIS IS A SHORT WHILE. WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING ALL OF THESE THESE SCENARIOS, PRESIDENT TRUMP. BY , PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF, THE PENTAGON HAS BEEN SILENT. NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, WHO HAD BEEN CAPTURED, AND THAT THEY WILL FACE JUSTICE. ATTENTIN TO THIS MATTER. THE QUESTION THAT EVERYONE IS ASKING. AND WILL THIS OPEN

THE DOOR TO A DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION, BETTER ECONOMIC RELATIONS, A WEAKENING OF AN ALLIANCE AND TRUMP JUST SEND VENEZUELA INTO UNCERTAIN TERRITORY FOR BUT CIVIL WAR AND A POWER STRUGGLE THAT THE UNITED STATES. >> THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR OF UTAH, MIKE LEE, WHO HAD SPOKEN ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS AGO AS WE SHARED DURING OUR LIVE COVERAGE, CRITICIZING THIS ACTING, ASKING HOW, AND JUST SPOKE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO. HE SAYS THAT RUBIO INFORMED HIM THAT NICOLAS. BEENY U.S. PERSONNEL TO STAND TRIAL, THE ARREST WARRANT, SO THAT THIS WAS THE PRIMARY MISSION. THE STRIKES, IN.

WORDS OF MIKE LEE, DETAILING WHAT HE WAS TOLD BY LIKELY FALLS WITHIN THE PRESIDENT'S INHERENT AUTHORITY UNDER ARTICLE TWO OF THE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT U.S.. AR IMMINENT ATTACK. NOW, THE LAWMAKERS WILL CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE, WHO IS UP EARLY AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR TOGETHER. COURTNEY, AGAIN, THE MAJOR THERE, THE THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND THE SUCCESSORS, SOME OF THE SPECIAL FORCES TYPE UNITS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A MISSION OF THIS KIND. >> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND HERE, TANKERS, THE MILITARY HAS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF

LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE, BASED OFF OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT POSTED THIS ON SOCIAL, HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, OF COURSE, THAT HE STARTED THE LOCATIONS SO THAT THE LAW POTENTIALLY OTHER U.S. AGENCIES WOULD BE ABLE TO GO IN AND TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. SO THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, VIDEO,. WE KG WE'VE SEEN THE STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THOSE ARE WE DON'T HAVE. BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE REGION RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A VERY ELITE. FORCE UNIT KNOWN AS THE 1/60 SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

YOU MAY VERY FAST FLY LOW TO THE GROUND. SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE SORTS OF ASSETS ARE IN THE AREA THAT COULD HAVEO FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T. SOME OTHER ASSETS THE U.S. HAS HAS BUILT UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE MILITARY HAS FLOODED THAT REGION WITH A. OF AIR POWER AND POWER AT SEA POWER IN YEARS, IN MANY DIFFERENT CASES. SO MANY CASES LIBYA, SYRIA, OTHER TIMES WHERE THEY NEED TO HIT A. TARGET AND THEY NEED WHAT'S KNOWN AS STANDOFF CAPABILITY. SO IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY

MAY HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO ANY OFY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF IMMEDIATE CLOSE TO THE THE AIRSPACE THAT WOULD BECOME VENEZUELAN AIRSPACE. SO RIGHT UP TO THE BORDER INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, INTERNATIONAL WATERS, RIGHT TO THE BORDER OF VENEZUELA, A LOT OF THE AIR DEFENSES THAT ARE. UE BORDER THERE OF VENEZUELA, ARE THEY EVEN WITH THINGS LIKE LONG RANGE BOMBERS OR THE VENEZUELAN AIR DEFENSES PAINTING THOSE QUIY RESPOND? THIS GIVES THE MILITARY, THE U.S. MILITARY, THE BUILD UP, THE EXERCISES, THE ROUTINES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FLYING, THAT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN IT APPEARS THAT

IT'S ALL BEEN BUILDING UP TO THIS, PETER. BUT THE BIG QUESTION THAT WE STYF WHAT OTHER COMPONENT, WHAT OTHER PART DID THE U.S. MILITARY PLAY, SINCE WE JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER COURTNEY KUBE COVERS THE PENTAGON FOR US RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO SHARE SOME OTHER INFORMATION A SHORT TIME AGO THAT IT HAS SPOKEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP EARLY THIS MORNING, WHERE, IN ITS WORDS, IT CELEBRATED. MIO CAPTURE THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT. THEY QUOTE PRESIDENT TRUMP, IF HE HAD SOUGHT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE OPERATION OR WHAT IS NEXT FOR VENEZUELA. AND WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION, SAID HE

WOULD ADDRESS THOSE MATTERS. DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE ON STATE RUN TELEVISION AFTER THE.G SAYING THAT NICOLAS MADURO'S LOCATION, WHAT THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES AS A MASSIVE ARMADA OF 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS, FORCES OFF THE COAST. COUNTRY. I WANT TO BRING IN NOW THE NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST, WASTING NO TIME AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND HIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. ULTIMATELY, AS HE SAID THIS MORNING, HIM AND HIS WIFE, TAKING THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, UNCLEAR IF THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED TO PICK HIM UP. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, IN WHAT'S THERE, BUTA

SENSE ABOUT HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS. >> OUR MORE ELITE, WHAT TIER ONR MOST ELITE SPECIAL. THAT FIRST GROUND STRIKE WE SAW SEVERAL DAYS AGO, OR OFTEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, I THINK FAIRLY REGULARLY DURING THE IRAQ AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT. SO S AND OUR MORE ELITE SOLDIERS AND, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF. SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED COURTNEY KUBE REFERENCED IT A LITTLE BIT JUST MOMENTS AGO. INITIALLY, YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE. ABILITY TO GET TO GET OUR AIRCRAFT EXPLOSIONS THAT WE SAW, AS COURTNEY MENTIONED, AS OUR CORRESPONDENT COURTNEY KUBE

MENTIONED, THE USE OF TOMAHAWKS OR OTHER REMOTE CAPABILITIES ISOLATE. SO ONCE WE'VE SUPPRESSED AIR DEFENSE, WE THEN TRY TO ISOLATE THE AREAS CASE, APPARENTLY WE SOMEHOW BE DONE AGAIN THROUGH REMOTE MEAN? >> IT'S A FIRST STEP FOR VENEZUELANS TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO TO VENEZUELA. BUT WE NEED MORE. WE NEED MORE, MORE SECURITY. THE PEOPLE IS NOT GOING TO BE SAFE UNTIL THE PEOPLE THAT HAS THE POWER, THE NARCO TERRORISM IN VENEZUELA HAVE THE POWER. SO MADURO IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THEY NEED TO TAKE MORE OF THEM. WE NEED PEOPLE INSIDE VENEZUELA

TO TAKE CHARGE OF IT. LET PEOPLE, GOOD PEOPLE THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, BRING THE FREEDOM THAT WE NEED IN ORDER FOR VENEZUELANS TO GO BACK. SO DON'T WORRY, VENEZUELANS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK BACK TOMORROW. BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO VENEZUELA SOON. >> I MEAN, WE'RE HEARING THAT U.S. OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THAT MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED, AND HE'S ON HIS WAY TO THE U.S. JUST HEARING THAT. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? >> OH MY GOODNESS, LIKE A MIRACLE. YOU KNOW, WE WERE WAITING FOR THE FOR THE REAL NEWS. AND WHEN WE SAW THE TIKTOK

FROM THE PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE SAID, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT IT IS RIGHT. IT IS THE FREEDOM. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END. SO WE WE WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR TONIGHT. I MEAN, THIS MORNING AT 11, HE'S GOING TO TALK FROM MAR-A-LAGO. SO WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT, FOR THAT THAT MOMENT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, THE NEXT, THE NEXT STEPS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE. >> AND YOU WERE. >> YOU WERE TELLING ME HOW YOU'RE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN VENEZUELA. WHAT ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS LIKE? HOW ARE THEY FEELING?

WHAT'S THE MOOD THERE? >> THEY ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXPECTATION, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. EVERYTHING IS INSIDE HOME, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE, PRAYING, YOU KNOW, TAKING EVERYTHING SO SLOW BECAUSE THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE CAPTURED. YEAH. SO UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >> VENEZUELANS RIGHT NOW LIVING IN A BIG FEAR. SO THEY ARE HAPPY, BUT THEY ARE WITH FEAR. THEY CANNOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES LIKE A GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND CELEBRATE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE KILLED. YOU KNOW. >> WHAT'S AN IDEAL SITUATION? WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS IN THE NEXT DAY,

HOUR? FEW DAYS? >> WE NEED MORE INTERVENTION OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SURE. WE NEED PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE TO HELP PEOPLE INSIDE, GOOD PEOPLE INSIDE THAT CAN, THAT CAN DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO DO AND ALSO BRING THE REAL PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, EDMUNDO, TO THE COUNTRY. >> DID YOU EVER DOUBT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, OR WERE YOU ALWAYS KIND OF CONFIDENT AND HOPEFUL? >> I TRUST IN PRESIDENT TRUMP. I, I KNEW THAT ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVEMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN WAS NOT FOR FREE. YOU KNOW. >> I MEAN, YOU BROUGHT UP PRESIDENT TRUMP

JUST POLITICS WISE, IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF OF CRAZINESS GOING ON IN THE PAST YEAR ESPECIALLY. WE SAW THE THE ELECTIONS HERE IN MIAMI. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN JUST POLITICS WISE FOR FOR DORAL, FOR MIAMI? >> I THINK IT'S STRATEGY. IT'S JUST A STRATEGY. THAT'S ALL THE POLITICS ARE INVOLVED. IT'S STRATEGY TO DO THE REAL JOB THAT IS NEEDED TO DO. >> JUST WHAT ARE YOUR YOUR NEXT FEW HOURS LOOK LIKE? ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO STAY HERE? CELEBRATE. >> OF COURSE. OF COURSE. WE WANT TO STAY HERE. WE WANT TO LIVE THIS MOMENT. I

THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HISTORY FOREVER FOR EVERY VENEZUELAN AND FOR EVERY AMERICAN. ALSO, TO BE HERE AND TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE FEELING. UNLESS YOU ARE HERE, YOU CANNOT FEEL WHAT IT'S GOING. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE THE FEELING OF THE FREEDOM. THAT'S THE MAIN, YOU KNOW, THE MOST WONDERFUL AND THE THE THE BEST, THE BEST OF ALL. >> AND JUST LOOKING AROUND PEOPLE FROM ALL AGES, FROM EVERY COUNTRY HERE. WHAT HOW DOES THAT FEEL FOR YOU GUYS? >> I THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE HOPE, YOU KNOW, NICARAGUA, CUBA. THEY HAVE TO

TRUST THAT WE ARE IN THE BEST MOMENT OF THE HISTORY WITH THIS PRESIDENT. AND IT'S GOING TO BE ALSO FREEDOM FOR ALL THOSE COUNTRIES AROUND US. SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP PRAYING AND TRUSTING IN PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TO US THIS MORNING. WELL, YOU HEARD IT. THERE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT COMING IN FROM DORAL. JUST TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME. PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING, SINGING ALONG, PLAYING MUSIC PRIMARILY FROM VENEZUELAN SINGERS. FROM WHAT I NOTICED, THEY ALSO WERE SINGING A YMCA VERY POPULAR SONG, OF COURSE, HERE IN AMERICA. BUT OF

COURSE, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT HERE IN DORAL. WE WILL, OF COURSE, KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN NEW DETAILS COMING IN FROM MADURO'S CAPTURE. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN STAY WITH US HERE ON NBC SIX TO KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST. BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE LIVE IN DORAL. CHRISTIAN COHEN, NBC SIX NEWS. >> THANK YOU. E HELICOPTER, THIS HELICOPTER EXTRACTION WAS SUPPORTED BY A MILITARY OPERATION. WHETHER IT WAS NOW, AS YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT, THIS MAY BE THE EASY PART. IT'S NOT EASY. ONLY FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, PERHAPS ONLY THE UNITED

STATES, THIS REGIME CHANGE OPERATION AGAINST AN ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR WHO RAN A MAFIA STATE IF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXISTING MILITARY, THEN THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS. IF WAR, THEN THIS WILL BE PERHAPS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GREATEST FAILURE. HE CLEARLY IS HOPING FOR THE LATTER. LOT OF OF BACKCHANNEL NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. IN TRUMP'S INTEREST, AS HE'S MADE CLEAR, WAS ALWAYS THE DRUGS TO STOP THE DRUG HE'S INTERESTED IN VENEZUELA'S OIL. HE'S MADE THAT CLEAR. VENEZUELA HAS COMING UP IN LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS, ANTI-CUBAN PLATFORM HAS AN INTEREST IN REGIME CHANGE IN IN AGENDA, WOULD WANT

FEWER MIGRANTS COMING OUT OF VENEZUELA POTENTIALLY SUCCESSFUL. IT WAS. BUT. A NEW DAY FOR THE U.S. RELATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA WITH PRESIDENT, WHICH IN THEORY DEFENDS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS SEEM HYPOCRITICAL. >> YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO RICHARD ENGEL, CORRESPONDENT. R, YOU WERE TALKING WITH ME ABOUT THE OIL. 20% OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY THERE IN VENEZUELA. YOU'LL REMEMBER, AFTER THE U.S. RECENTLY ONE OF THE SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS, THE UNITED STATES, SPECIFICALLY TO TEXAS. KEIR SIMMONS IS OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. HE'S THIS, DEVELS WITH US AS WELL. AND KEIR, QUICKLY TO YOU, IT SAID WAS BOTH DEEPLY

CONCERNING AND CONDEMNABLE. THAT IS NOTABLE BECAUSE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, VLADIMIR PUTIN, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS OVER THE MONTHS, HASN DISINCLINED. IT APPEARS, TO GLOBAL HOTSPOT, WHICH IS RUSSIA AS WELL. >> YEAH, I'VE BEEN READING THAT STATEMENT TO PETER, AND I'VE BEEN REFLECTING THAT STRIKING A RUSSIAN PARTNER. MADURO WAS, ANF PRESIDENT PUTIN TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION EFFECTIVELY. YOU HAVE PRESIDENT PUTIN SAYING, OKAY, WE HAVE A I. TRUMP, AND THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SAY, WELL, LOOK, YOU SEE, THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER SOLVE IT. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE

ARE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS. AGAIN. AT YOU HAVE HERE IS VERY SAYING THIS CLEARLY, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT QUITE SAYING IT THIS WAY, BUT MAYBE EVEN TO TRY AND BRING ABOUT DEMOCRACY, BUT CERTAINLY INTERVENING. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MOMENTS WHEN IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING. WHILE THERE ARE PROTESTS IN THE UPRISING OVER THE KILLING OF A OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN SO THERE TOO, THERE IS A THREAT TO THAT REGIME. >> THE

PRESIDENT'S VICTORY SPEECH UPON WINNING THE LAST ELECTION, HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING. HEARING SOME OF THE CRITICISM COMING IN FROM SOME OF THE PRESIDENT. IN SIMPLE TERMS, HE SAYS A REGIME CHANGE WAR IN LATIN AMERICA BASED ON ABSURD RATIONALES TRAFFICKING, NO EXPLANATION OF GOALS AND COUNTER TO EVERYTHING TRUMP, EVEN AS WE WATCH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CAPTURE. IS STILL A LOT OF POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS IN THE DAYS. >> STRIKE IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL TALK ABOUT. HE WILL PRAISE THE BRAVERY OF THE SOLDIERS. HE WILL TALK HOW T

WITH GREAT >> AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. HERE'S PETER ALEXANDER. >> GOOD MORNING TO YOU. I'M PETER ALEXANDER HERE IN NEW YORK. AGAIN, WE ARE COVERING THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM EARLY THIS MORNING. VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO IN U.S. CUSTODY AFTER WHAT WAS A DRAMATIC AND DARING EARLY MORNING ATTACK BY U.S. FORCES, THE U.S. MILITARY THERE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM BONDI, SAYING THAT MADURO AND HIS WIFE WILL, QUOTE, SOON FACE THE FULL WRATH OF AMERICAN JUSTICE ON AMERICAN SOIL IN AMERICAN COURTS. MADURO AND OTHER VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS WERE INDICTED IN 2020 ON NARCO TERRORISM CHARGES. WE HAVE

SPOKEN TO A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL WHO CONFIRMS THAT BONDI REFERRED TO A NEW INDICTMENT TODAY, SPECIFIC TO THE NEW CHARGES THAT BOTH MADURO AND HIS WIFE ARE FACING. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US NOW GETTING NEW INFORMATION AS WE SPEAK, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE EARLY MORNING MILITARY STRIKES, WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS ACTS OF AGGRESSION BY THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF THE NOW DECAPITATED VENEZUELAN MADURO REGIME. THOSE STRIKES BEGINNING ROUGHLY BETWEEN 1:00 AND 2:00 EASTERN TIME. THEY ARE AN HOUR AHEAD OF THE EAST COAST IN VENEZUELA. THE PRESIDENT FORMALLY MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT ROUGHLY

421 THIS MORNING, AND HE HAS SPOKEN OUT SINCE. WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT AGAIN AT ABOUT 11:00 EASTERN TIME, ROUGHLY A HALF AN HOUR FROM NOW, WHERE HE IS SCHEDULED, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN POST ON TRUTH SOCIAL, TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY, TO SPEAK TO REPORTERS IN THE ROOM AS WELL, WITH AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION. THE PRESIDENT A SHORT TIME AGO, SPEAKING TO FOX NEWS, SAID THAT HE WATCHED EVERY ASPECT OF THIS OPERATION FROM MAR A LAGO. HE SAID THAT THE U.S. HAS BEEN PLANNING CARRYING THIS OUT FOR A MATTER OF DAYS, MULTIPLE

OFFICIALS TELL NBC NEWS SOURCES FAMILIAR. EXCUSE ME WITH THE PLANNING OF THIS OPERATION, SAY THE PRESIDENT HAD GIVEN HIS APPROVAL FOR IT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. ULTIMATELY, IT WAS NOW THAT IT TOOK PLACE BECAUSE, IN THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENT, THERE HAD BEEN BAD WEATHER THAT HAD DELAYED PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS OR EFFORTS TO PURSUE IT BEFORE THIS DAY. NOTABLY, NO AMERICAN FORCES ON THE GROUND. TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AT THIS POINT, ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, HAVE BEEN HARMED. HE DID SAY IN HIS WORDS, A COUPLE OF GUYS IN A HELICOPTER WERE

HIT, BUT THEY CAME BACK, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. THERE HAD BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED EXIT THAT TOOK PLACE. BUT THE PRESIDENT SAYS WHILE HE DID SPEAK TO MADURO ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THAT WAS INFORMATION PUBLICLY WE HAD NOT KNOWN PREVIOUS TO HIS ACKNOWLEDGING IT, HE SAYS. WHEN THE FORCES ARRIVED THERE AND CAPTURED MADURO, THAT HE WAS IN A HOUSE THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID WAS MORE LIKE A FORTRESS, AND THAT WHEN HE WAS CAPTURED, HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO A FORTIFIED LOCATION, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, BEFORE AMERICAN

FORCES QUOTE, BUM RUSHED HIM. THAT'S THE LATEST ON THE INFORMATION WE'RE HEARING FROM THE PRESIDENT, MY COLLEAGUE, OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT IS KEIR SIMMONS. HE IS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THE VERY LATEST. HE'S BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION WITH US OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS. KEIR, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, AMONG THEM NICOLAS MADURO'S WHEREABOUTS, THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT HE IS ON A SHIP OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA, THE IWO JIMA, EXPECTED TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES SOON, WHERE HE WOULD FACE THOSE CRIMINAL CHARGES. AMONG THE OTHER QUESTIONS, FRANKLY, ARE WHAT

HAPPENS NEXT IN VENEZUELA, WHERE VENEZUELANS REALLY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS, HAVE NOW BEEN WAKING UP TO THIS NEW DAWN, A NEW DAY THERE. WILL THIS BE THE CONTINUATION, THOUGH, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SOMEBODY ELSE, OF A MADURO TYPE AUTHORITARIAN REGIME? OR WILL SOME OF THE MORE DEMOCRATIC ALIGNED FORCES BE ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT COUNTRY? KEIR. >> YEAH. PETER. LET'S JUST SAY THIS MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT U.S. INTERVENTION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AMONG ITS NEIGHBORS SINCE THE 1980S. AS YOU DESCRIBE IT, PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKING ABOUT REALLY

A DRAMATIC OPERATION, TALKING ABOUT BURSTING THROUGH STEEL DOORS IN ORDER TO GET TO MADURO AND HIS WIFE AND TAKE HIM OUT OF VENEZUELA. IT IS STUNNING. IT IS ALSO, IN MANY WAYS NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN THE BUILD UP OF U.S. FORCES AROUND VENEZUELA THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE THE THREATS, FRANKLY, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PRESIDENT MADURO, IF HE DID NOT LEAVE OFFICE, IF HE DID NOT RELINQUISH POWER. NOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP, ANSWERING THAT QUESTION IN AN INTERVIEW ON FOX NEWS EARLIER TODAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, SAYING HE

EXPECTS THE U.S. TO GET VERY STRONGLY INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE OF VENEZUELA'S OIL INDUSTRY, AND ASKING ASKED WHO WILL LEAD VENEZUELA, SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW, PETER, THAT WILL PROMPT CRITICISM BECAUSE MANY OF THE QUESTIONS THIS MORNING WILL BE ABOUT WHAT IS THE STRATEGY HERE? WHAT IS THE PLAN BEYOND REMOVING PRESIDENT MADURO FROM POWER? EFFECTIVELY REGIME CHANGE? THE MADURO REGIME, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE REGIME, VICE PRESIDENT, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE SAYING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ONLY PARTIALLY ACHIEVED ITS GOALS, THAT THE VENEZUELA IS STABLE. WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE

VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION AT THIS STAGE THAT THE THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT, FRANKLY, WHO WON AN ELECTION BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE POWER WHERE WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE OPPOSITION? WILL THE OPPOSITION AT SOME STAGE BE MOVED INTO POWER? ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE QUESTIONS. JUST HOURS SINCE THE THIS STRIKE AND THIS OPERATION AND QUESTIONS THAT GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE ASKING U.S. ALLIES AND PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD GIVING CAUTIOUS, RELEASING CAUTIOUS MESSAGES. JUST ONE EXAMPLE. THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYING ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYING SHE HAS THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID MADURO LACKS

LEGITIMACY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME CALLING FOR RESTRAINT. AND PETER, I'M SURE WE'LL GET INTO THIS, BUT BUT DENUNCIATION AND CONDEMNATION FROM U.S. ADVERSARIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE COUNTRIES THAT ARE ALLIED WITH, PARTNERED WITH VENEZUELA. VENEZUELA AND WITH THE MADURO REGIME. CUBA DENOUNCING IT. COLOMBIA EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN. CONDEMN CONDEMNATION FROM IRAN. RUSSIA SAYING, CALLING IT ARMED AGGRESSION AGAINST VENEZUELA AND SAYING IT IS IT IS CONCERNING AND CONDEMNABLE. NO NEWS YET FROM CHINA. A CRUCIAL PLAYER IN ALL OF THIS. THE CHINESE. A CHINESE DELEGATION MET WITH MADURO JUST DAYS AGO, AND NOW THIS. >> KEIR AS

WE AGAIN UPDATE THOSE WAKING UP WITH US RIGHT NOW OR MONITORING THE SITUATION TAKING PLACE OVERSEAS, IT'S NOTABLE THAT JUST SHY OF A YEAR IN OFFICE IN HIS SECOND TERM, THIS NOW MARKS JUST THE LATEST IN WHAT HAS BECOME A LONG STRING OF FOREIGN STRIKES OR FOREIGN ENGAGEMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HE TARGETED WITH MASSIVE STRIKES IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES. WE HAVE BEEN COVERING OVER THE COURSE OF THIS HOLIDAY PERIOD, STRIKES TAKING PLACE IN NIGERIA, OTHER STRIKES HAVING TAKEN PLACE IN YEMEN, IN SYRIA, IN IRAQ, ON THOSE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS IN THE PACIFIC

AND THE CARIBBEAN AS WELL. THIS DOES RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW FROM SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICS ABOUT UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES HE'S ACTING RIGHT NOW, HAVING NOT SOUGHT THE AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS. AND JUST TO SORT OF DETAIL SOME OF THE CONTOURS OF THE CRITICISM WE'RE NOW HEARING RIGHT NOW, I THINK THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION, AT LEAST DOMESTICALLY, IS GOING TO TURN, EVEN AS THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO LEARN INTERNATIONALLY ABOUT. THE SITUATION COMES FROM ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CRITICS OF THIS. IT'S THE SENATOR, TIM KAINE OF VIRGINIA,

WHO SAYS THAT THE MILITARY OPERATION THAT LED TO THE CAPTURE OF MADURO TODAY IS, IN HIS WORDS, A SICKENING RETURN TO A DAY WHEN THE U.S. ASSERTED THE RIGHT TO DOMINATE THE INTERNAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF ALL NATIONS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. SO YOU'RE GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CRITICISM MAY LOOK LIKE. WE DID, HOWEVER, KEIR HEAR ALSO FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THAT HE IS PURSUING THIS THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS AS WELL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM BONDI, SPEAKING OUT FIRST, THE PRESIDENT REVEALING THAT IT WAS THE IWO JIMA SHIP IN THE CARIBBEAN

WHERE NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE HAD INITIALLY BEEN TAKEN. OUR EXPECTATION, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, IS THAT THEY WILL THEN BE TAKEN TO THE UNITED STATES, EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN NEW YORK FOR WHATEVER THE PROCEEDINGS WILL LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS TAKING PLACE HERE. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD PLANNING, A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT TROOPS. HE SAID, GREAT PEOPLE. IT WAS A BRILLIANT OPERATION, ACTUALLY. AMONG THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUTLINED THAT ARE OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW, ONE ABOUT THE FORK IN THE ROAD, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN

VENEZUELA. I THINK THAT ONE, OF COURSE, IS CRUCIAL. AND SEPARATELY, AS IT RELATES TO OIL, WHICH IS IN MANY WAYS AT THE HEART OF THE ECONOMY OF VENEZUELA. FOR ALL THE FOCUS ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, WITH 300 BILLION BARRELS, VENEZUELA IS NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE OIL RESERVES IT'S HAD. AND KEIR, AS YOU AND I BOTH HAVE BEEN REPORTING OUT, THE PRESIDENT AFTER U.S. FORCES, COAST GUARD FORCES FIRST SEIZED THAT SANCTIONED OIL TANKER, THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE U.S. WHERE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF SAID THE U.S. WOULD, IN EFFECT, BE TAKING THE

OIL AS WELL. SO I THINK A LOT OF ATTENTION, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE, IS ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN TERMS OF THE OIL IN THAT COUNTRY. NO. >> OH, NO QUESTION. WE SHOULD SAY THAT THE VENEZUELAN OIL INDUSTRY HAS SO LACKED INVESTMENT OVER YEARS THAT, FRANKLY, IT IS A LONG WAY FROM BEING ABLE TO JUST RAMP UP, IF YOU LIKE, AND, AND SEND THAT, THAT KIND OF OIL INTO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. I THINK ANOTHER QUESTION TO ADD TO YOURS, YOUR VERY GOOD AND INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS THERE, PETER, IS ABOUT WHAT HOW DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S

BASE REACT TO THIS? A PRESIDENT WHO WAS ELECTED SAYING HE WOULD START NO NEW WARS AND WHO HAS MANAGED TO AGREE PEACE DEALS AROUND THE WORLD, AS YOU MENTIONED. AT THE SAME TIME, STRIKING COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THERE IS AN INTERESTING ASPECT TO THIS, AND I THINK IT UNDERSCORES HOW COMPLEX THESE THINGS CAN BE. AS I'VE MENTIONED, VENEZUELA IS A CLOSE PARTNER TO RUSSIA. MADURO AND PUTIN HAVE BEEN CLOSE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RUSSIA? DOES THIS PUT PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT PUTIN THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY, IN SOME WAY DOWN THE LINE, MAKE IT MORE LIKELY

THAT HE DOES A DEAL OVER UKRAINE? I MEAN, THESE ARE COMPLEX MATTERS. AND I THINK IT REALLY JUST POINTS TO THE FACT THAT WE WE REALLY ARE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY. WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS STAGE AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMING DAYS IN VENEZUELA IN THE COMING WEEKS OR EVEN IN THE COMING MONTHS, AND THE REACTION OF GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD AND THE REACTION DOMESTICALLY, POLITICALLY AND FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BASE WILL DEPEND ON THE EVENTS THAT WE SEE PLAY OUT IN THE COMING, COMING PERIOD. >> KEIR SIMMONS ALL GOOD POINTS. STAY WITH US FOR

A SECOND. I WANT TO BRING INTO THIS CONVERSATION OUR NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST. THAT'S COLONEL STEVE WARREN. COLONEL WARREN, I APPRECIATE YOUR HAVING WOKEN UP EARLY WITH US AS WE'VE BEEN COVERING THIS DEVELOPING STORY NOW OVER THE COURSE OF APPROACHING SEVEN HOURS. WANT TO GET SOME DETAILS FROM YOU, IF YOU CAN, ABOUT THE DANGERS, THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WHAT WAS, IN EFFECT, A RAID THAT TOOK PLACE TODAY? NOT SO MUCH A KILL OPERATION, CLEARLY LIKE ONE WHERE THEY PURSUED OSAMA BIN LADEN IN 2011. AMERICAN FORCES DID THIS ONE, A CAPTURE OPERATION THAT COMES WITH

ITS OWN CHALLENGES. TALK TO US ABOUT THE RISKS, THE CHALLENGES, AND WHAT COMPLICATIONS YOU SAY THAT YOU SEE THAT MAY STILL LIE AHEAD. >> YEAH, RIGHT. SO U.S. FORCES APPEAR AT THIS POINT TO HAVE CONDUCTED REALLY VERY MUCH OF A TEXTBOOK RAID. THE PRESIDENT TOLD US, OR THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THAT NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED. SOME MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WOUNDED, AND APPARENTLY SOME DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS THAT WAS INVOLVED. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS IF ANY VENEZUELAN CIVILIANS WERE HARMED OR KILLED, OR ANY VENEZUELAN FORCES WERE HARMED OR KILLED. SO

THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTIONS OUT THERE. AN OPERATION LIKE THIS INVOLVES SEVERAL PHASES. FIRST, THERE IS THE SUPPRESSION OF THE VENEZUELAN AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITY. AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT SOME OF THE EXPLOSIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING MAY WELL HAVE BEEN. THE NEXT PHASE IS TO IS TO AND THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES MUCH MORE DANGEROUS IS TO ISOLATE THE OBJECTIVE. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOW SAID THAT IT WAS A HOUSE, SOME SORT OF BUNKER STYLE HOUSE. SO TO ISOLATE THAT OBJECTIVE, THAT MEANS TO CUT OFF ALL OF THE ROADS THAT RESPONDING FORCES COULD USE TO

COME IN AND INTERFERE WITH OUR OPERATION. THE LAST PHASE, OF COURSE, IS THE WHAT WE WOULD CALL ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE. THAT'S THE ACTUAL U.S. FORCES ON THE GROUND, PHYSICALLY TAKING CONTROL OF, IN THIS CASE, MADURO AND HIS WIFE AND MOVING THEM OUT TO THE HELICOPTERS. ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS WHEN CLOSE IN BODYGUARDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT. THIS MAY BE WHEN OTHER FORCES THAT ARE IN THE VERY LOCAL AREA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. MAYBE THAT WEREN'T CUT OFF FROM THE ROADS OR WEREN'T SUPPRESSED FROM THE EXPLOSIONS. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF

RISKS HERE. AND THEN ONCE EVERYONE IS BACK ON THE HELICOPTERS, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO EXFILTRATE ALL OF THESE FORCES, ALL OF THESE HELICOPTERS. AND THERE REMAINS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE WITH SO MUCH AS A MACHINE GUN TO FIRE IT AT THESE HELICOPTERS TO POTENTIALLY SHOULDER FIRED AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES LIKE A STINGER OR EVEN MORE ADVANCED AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES. SO A TREMENDOUSLY COMPLICATED OPERATION APPEARS TO BE ALMOST PERFECTLY EXECUTED. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO U.S. FORCES FOR A JOB WELL DONE. >> COLONEL STEVE WARREN IS AN NBC NEWS MILITARY ANALYST. COLONEL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE. AND YOU'RE

JOINING US AGAIN RIGHT NOW. WE SHOULD NOTE THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO. ACCORDING TO REPUBLICAN SENATOR OF UTAH MIKE LEE, SAID THAT THE U.S. STRIKES THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE GROUND IN VENEZUELA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY WERE DONE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THOSE EXECUTING THE ARREST WARRANT. THE ARREST WARRANT FOR NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE THERE. SO ANY EXPECTATION THAT WE MIGHT LEARN THIS WAS A NEGOTIATED EXIT IN SOME FORM. AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAID HE AND MADURO HAD SPOKEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO, IT APPEARS CLEAR THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT

THIS TIME. THERE'S ALSO A VARIETY OF REPORTS THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM ON THE GROUND IN THAT REGION OF FIRES TAKING PLACE AT VENEZUELA'S LARGEST MILITARY COMPLEX, SOME OF THE EXPLOSIONS TAKING PLACE THERE, PERHAPS THOSE WERE DONE TO SORT OF PROTECT THOSE FORCES GOING IN TO TARGET SOME OF THE POTENTIAL DEFENSES THAT EXIST IN VENEZUELA AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS, NOT JUST THERE, BUT AROUND THE REGION. AND FRANKLY, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, FOR A VARIETY OF VENEZUELAN COMMUNITIES AND OTHER AMERICANS. I WANT TO GET RIGHT TO JESSE KIRSCH. HE IS IN DORAL, FLORIDA.

THERE IS A LARGE VENEZUELAN EXPAT POPULATION THERE. JESSE, WE CHECKED IN WITH YOU EARLIER. IT'S GETTING LOUDER THERE. YOU CAN HEAR THE CELEBRATIONS GROWING. THE VENEZUELAN COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN CALLING FOR THE DEPARTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO FOR MORE THAN 13 YEARS NOW, CELEBRATING HIS EXIT. >> AND JUST MOMENTS AGO, PETER, THIS CROWD BEHIND ME CHANTING IN SPANISH, HE HAS FALLEN DOWN. JUST HOURS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY THE U.S. AND NOW THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT MADURO WILL BE HEADING TO U.S. SOIL, WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS HE WILL FACE

AMERICAN JUSTICE. REALLY? JUST A REMARKABLE TURN OF EVENTS BEING CELEBRATED HERE WITH SMILES, WITH CHEERS, WITH TEARS IN SOME PEOPLE'S EYES. APPARENTLY EARLIER, WELL BEFORE NINE IN THE MORNING, WE HAD AT LEAST ONE PERSON POPPING A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE. THE MUSIC HAS BEEN BLASTING, THERE HAVE BEEN ENGINES REVVING. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE'RE GATHERED AT A GAS STATION IN DORAL, FLORIDA, JUST OUTSIDE OF MIAMI. THIS IS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS DORAL ZUELA, KNOWN FOR IT'S IT'S VENEZUELAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. IT'S VENEZUELAN NATIONAL EXPAT COMMUNITY. AND SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE BEEN SEPARATED LARGELY

FROM FAMILY FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC SITUATION AND THE TRAVEL CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THAT ONE MAN TELLING ME HE'S HAD TO GO TO EUROPE TO MEET UP WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER, WHO IS STILL IN VENEZUELA, A YOUNG WOMAN, VENEZUELAN WOMAN WHOSE MOTHER, SHE SAYS IS A U.S. GREEN CARD HOLDER HERE. SHE SAYS SHE LIVES HERE, BUT HER FATHER FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS ALMOST HAS BEEN IN VENEZUELA, SO SHE HASN'T SEEN HIM. SO THOSE KINDS OF DIVIDES BETWEEN LOVED ONES POTENTIALLY ARE GOING TO COME TO AN END IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD. I

THINK THAT WOULD BE THE HOPE FOR MANY OF THE PEOPLE HERE. JUST SPEAKING TO THE PRIDE THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM PEOPLE, THEY'VE BEEN SINGING THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ANTHEM. THEY'VE ALSO BEEN SINGING THE AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM, THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. THERE ARE BOTH VENEZUELAN FLAGS AND AMERICAN FLAGS HERE, YOU CAN SEE, AND ALSO VERY VISIBLY, VERY CLEARLY, A CROWD, AT LEAST ELEMENTS OF IT VISIBLY, VOCALLY SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP. AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS UNFOLDED IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. THERE ARE AS MANY AS 600,000 VENEZUELAN NATIONALS WHO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED TO TAKE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS AWAY FROM.

BUT YET YOU CAN SEE A VERY SUPPORTIVE AND CELEBRATORY CROWD HERE, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH HATS SUPPORTIVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST SPEAKING TO WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS AND WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE FOR THESE PEOPLE. AND JUST ANOTHER SIGN SPEAKING TO VISIBLE SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. WE'VE HEARD THE CROWD ALSO DANCING AND SINGING ALONG TO THE YMCA. OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT TO BE A SONG THE PRESIDENT OFTEN HAS FEATURED AT HIS RALLIES. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE SCENE HERE. IT IS PRETTY MUCH BEEN LIKE THIS FOR HOURS. PETER. SOME PEOPLE TOLD US THEY WERE

HERE AS EARLY AS TWO IN THE MORNING. THE CROWD HAS SWELLED, GOTTEN SMALLER. IT IS DEFINITELY GROWING. ONCE AGAIN, A PARTY ATMOSPHERE HERE JUST OUTSIDE OF MIAMI. AND ONE OTHER POINT TO NOTE, PETER, WE JUST SPOKE A MOMENT AGO WITH A COUPLE SAY THEY ARE CUBANS, NOT VENEZUELANS. CUBANS HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE. ALSO SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT THEY HOPE THAT CUBA COULD BE NEXT. SO THAT JUST SPEAKS TO BROADER IMPLICATIONS IN THE REGION, OF COURSE, AND ALSO RIGHT HERE IN THE MIAMI AREA, WHERE THERE IS, OF COURSE, A VERY MASSIVE, DECADES

OLD CUBAN COMMUNITY AS WELL. PETER. >> JESSE KIRSCH WITH THOSE DRAMATIC AND COLORFUL PICTURES THERE FROM DORAL, FLORIDA, FRANKLY, NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM MAR-A-LAGO, WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK WITHIN THE NEXT 15 MINUTES OR SO. OF COURSE, WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU LIVE AS SOON AS IT BEGINS. WE'RE ANTICIPATING THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS AGAIN, AS HE HAS ANNOUNCED AT THE TOP OF THIS HOUR. I WANT TO BRING TO THIS CONVERSATION OUR CHIEF, I SHOULD SAY, OUR FORMER CHIEF, WHITE HOUSE COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND OF MINE, NOW MODERATOR OF

MEET THE PRESS, KRISTEN WELKER, WHO IS JOINING US IN WASHINGTON AS WELL. KRISTEN, THERE IS THERE IS A LOT TO MAKE SENSE OF AT THIS TIME, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT. BUT WE'RE STILL IN AN EVOLVING AND DEVELOPING SITUATION RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND HAS ECHOES OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN 1990. FRANKLY, IT WAS THIS DAY, JANUARY 3RD OF 1990, 36 YEARS AGO, WHERE THE US THEN CAPTURED EFFECTIVELY MANUEL NORIEGA, THE PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT THERE. HE SURRENDERED AT THAT TIME, BEFORE HE WAS

PROSECUTED ON U.S. SOIL AND CONVICTED HERE. NOW, THE PRESIDENT WHO CAME TO POWER, YOU'LL REMEMBER SAYING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT HIS FOCUS WOULD BE ON IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMY, SAYING, I AM NOT GOING TO START WARS. I'M GOING TO STOP WARS ENGAGED AGAIN WITH ANOTHER ESCALATION NOW PUNCTUATED BY THE SEIZING THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE. IT REALLY DOES SET THE TABLE FOR WHAT IS A DRAMATIC YEAR AHEAD FOR THIS PRESIDENT LEADING UP TO THE MIDTERMS, WHERE AMERICANS WILL AGAIN HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. >> PETER, I THINK THAT CONTEXT IS

SO IMPORTANT. LET'S JUST REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ON THE DAY OF HIS INAUGURATION. HE SAID, WE WILL MEASURE OUR SUCCESS NOT ONLY BY THE BATTLES WE WIN, BUT ALSO BY THE WARS THAT WE END AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE WARS WE NEVER GET INTO. THIS WAS SO FUNDAMENTAL TO HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE THAT HE WAS GOING TO EXTRACT AMERICA FROM FOREIGN WARS, THAT HE WANTED AN AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY. AND SO HIS BASE AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR REACTION FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WITHIN HIS BASE, WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LOOK AT THIS WITH SOME SKEPTICISM.

RO KHANNA, WHO'S A DEMOCRAT, OF COURSE, A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN, SAYING DONALD TRUMP BETRAYED HIS MAGA BASE TODAY. RIGHT NOW, PETER, WE ARE SEEING THE REACTION POUR IN LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES. DEMOCRATS ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT OF WAGING AN ILLEGAL WAR. SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO OF ARIZONA CALLING THIS THE SECOND UNJUSTIFIED WAR IN MY LIFETIME. THIS WAR IS ILLEGAL, HE SAYS. IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT WE WENT FROM THE WORLD CUP TO THE WORLD BULLY IN LESS THAN A YEAR. SENATOR ANDY KIM, ALSO VERY CRITICAL. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE, ALSO CRITICAL. HE SAYS IF THIS ACTION WERE CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND, THE

ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULDN'T BE TWEETING THAT THEY'VE ARRESTED THE PRESIDENT OF A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE FOR POSSESSING GUNS IN VIOLATION OF A 1934 U.S. FIREARM LAW. HAVING SAID THAT, PETER, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, THE PRESIDENT'S REPUBLICAN ALLIES STANDING FIRMLY BESIDE HIM, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE POSTING THAT HE BELIEVES THIS WAS THE RIGHT MOVE, AS WELL AS HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON. SENATOR TOM COTTON, DEFENDING WHAT HE BELIEVES IS THE LEGALITY OF THIS MOVE AS WELL. SO, AGAIN, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS WILL BE, WHAT DOES THE MAGA BASE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF

THIS? WE'RE TRYING TO TRACK WHAT'S BEING SAID ON STEVE BANNON'S PODCAST. OF COURSE, A FORMER OFFICIAL UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY HAD A BREAK BUT HAVE REPAIRED THAT SO FAR. PETER, THE CONVERSATION THERE HAS BEEN LARGELY SUPPORTIVE. BUT AGAIN, AS YOU NOTE, PETER, EVERYONE IS JUST BEGINNING TO PROCESS THESE EXTRAORDINARY SETS OF EVENTS OUT OF VENEZUELA. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THESE EXTRAORDINARY SETS OF EVENTS AS YOU DESCRIBE THEM. THE DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT THAT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP HERE, FRANKLY, BECAUSE IN THAT COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS AFTER THE CAPTURE

OF NICOLAS MADURO, THE PRESIDENT OF THAT COUNTRY, FOR 13 YEARS, HE SUCCEEDED HUGO CHAVEZ, ANOTHER AUTHORITARIAN LEADER THERE. AND FRANKLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE WILL REACT, HOW THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE NOW DECAPITATED REGIME WILL REACT, AND WHAT FORK IN THE ROAD VENEZUELA CHOOSES, WHETHER IT PURSUES A PATH NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM THAT THAT WAS GOVERNED BY NICOLAS MADURO, OR SOMETHING A BIT MORE DEMOCRATIC ORIENTED, WHAT THAT OPPOSITION WOULD LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD HERE. KRISTEN, I DO WANT TO STICK WITH YOU ON A POINT THAT YOU MADE

THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING, AND IT RELATES TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE BEING HAD DOMESTICALLY ALREADY, AND IT'S THE VIEW OF THE PRESIDENT WITHIN THE MAGA UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW. WHILE WIDELY HE IS BEING PRAISED BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN REACTION TO THE EARLY DETAILS, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE STRIKES THAT TOOK PLACE AND THE AND THE SEIZURE, THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO OVERNIGHT. THERE IS CERTAINLY WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THESE FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS, AS SOME DESCRIBE THEM, WHY THE PRESIDENT HAS FOCUSED SO MUCH ATTENTION ON SOME OF THESE EFFORTS, WHAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE

UNDER WHICH HE IS DOING THIS. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, WHO IS SOON DEPARTING HER SEAT AS A HOUSE MEMBER WHO WAS SO CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SO LONG, HAD MADE VERY CLEAR THAT SHE DID NOT SUPPORT EFFORTS LIKE WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN VENEZUELA. AND THAT WAS LONG BEFORE WHAT WE WITNESSED HAPPENING OVERNIGHT. >> WELL, ABSOLUTELY, PETER, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THESE FRACTURES TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE MAGA BASE. YOU MENTIONED CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. SHE'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT FRACTURE, CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT FOR BEING SO FOCUSED ON THESE FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS, SAYING THAT

THIS IS NOT WHAT HER CONSTITUENTS VOTED FOR. THAT, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, PETER, THEIR TOP ISSUE IS THE ECONOMY ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE. SHE WANTS HER PARTY TO HAVE A HEALTH CARE PLAN AND TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE TYPES OF POCKETBOOK ISSUES. BUT YOU HAVE OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THESE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING UNFOLD IN VENEZUELA. SENATOR RAND PAUL, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SAYING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NEEDS TO COME TO CONGRESS BEFORE HE TAKES ANY MORE ACTIONS. OF COURSE, WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THESE STRIKES

AGAINST SUSPECTED DRUG BOATS, SEIZING OIL TANKERS. YOU DO HAVE DEMOCRATS, BUT AGAIN, SOME REPUBLICANS QUESTIONING THE LEGALITY OF THOSE ACTIONS. IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING, CHIEF OF STAFF SIOUXSIE WILES TOLD VANITY FAIR SHE BELIEVED PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD NEED CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL BEFORE HE TOOK ANY ACTION WITHIN VENEZUELA. DOES THIS FALL WITHIN THAT CATEGORY? THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF DEBATES THAT WILL UNFOLD. >> PETER KRISTEN WELKER IS MODERATOR OF MEET THE PRESS. YOU HAVE A FULL PLATE AS YOU GET STARTED IN THIS NEW YEAR. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOUR COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THIS DAY AND OBVIOUSLY

TOMORROW ON MEET THE PRESS. KRISTEN, THANK YOU. I'LL ASK YOU TO STAY WITH US AS WELL. I WANT TO BRING IN NOW OUR SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT. CORRESPONDENT, MY COLLEAGUE ON SATURDAY TODAY, LAURA JARRETT, WHO'S BEEN SPEAKING TO SOURCES OVER THE COURSE OF THIS MORNING. AND AGAIN, LAURA, I WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE PROSECUTION, THE CASE AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO. AT THIS TIME, WE CAN FIRST START WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TOLD US PUBLICLY, WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT MADURO RIGHT NOW IS ON A U.S. SHIP, THE IWO JIMA,

WHICH IS IN EFFECT PARKED OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA. THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WILL BE COMING TO NEW YORK. WE EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS AS EARLY AS TODAY. ATTORNEY GENERAL BONDI ALSO POSTING PUBLICLY ABOUT A NEW INDICTMENT, THE FIRST AGAINST MADURO IN 14 OF HIS ALLIES, WAS BACK IN 2020. THERE WAS A NEW ONE TODAY. TELL US ABOUT THOSE CHARGES AND WHAT YOU'RE ANTICIPATING IN THE HOURS AND DAYS AHEAD. >> YEAH. NOW THAT THAT INDICTMENT HAS BEEN UNSEALED, PETER, WE'RE GETTING A MUCH BETTER SENSE OF JUST THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT

MADURO IS NOW FACING. A NUMBER OF NARCOTICS CHARGES, WEAPONS CHARGES, CONSPIRACY RELATED CHARGES AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS HIS WIFE AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS HERE. PETER, AT FIRST GLANCE HERE, IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW IN THE INDICTMENT JUST A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. BUT HERE, PROSECUTORS ACTUALLY SPELLING OUT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PRESIDENT MADURO, SAYING THAT HE ESSENTIALLY FACILITATED DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS, TRAFFICKERS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM, ESSENTIALLY TO GET ACROSS BORDERS AND TO MOVE THEIR DRUG PROCEEDS FROM MEXICO TO VENEZUELA. ALSO ACCUSING MADURO IN THIS INDICTMENT, PETER,

OF FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF PRIVATE PLANES UNDER DIPLOMATIC COVER, AGAIN TO ENSURE THAT THE FLIGHTS RECEIVED NO SCRUTINY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE MILITARY. NOW, PETER, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS THESE TYPES OF CASES INVOLVING NARCO TERRORISM, WHERE YOU COULD SAY, OKAY, WHO HAS JURISDICTION FOR A CASE LIKE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES OVER A CITIZEN, OBVIOUSLY, OF ANOTHER SOVEREIGN COUNTRY HERE, THE WAY THEY APPEAR TO BE DOING IT, PETER, IS BY SAYING THAT MADURO WILL BE FIRST BROUGHT AND ARRESTED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. AND SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT ESSENTIALLY,

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HERE IN NEW YORK ARE REACHING OUT TO GRAB HIM. WHAT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL HERE, PETER, IS THAT HE DIDN'T SURRENDER, AS IN THE NORIEGA CASE. IT WASN'T AS IF HE SAID, OKAY, FINE, I'LL AGREE TO TURN MYSELF OVER. THEY WENT AND GOT HIM. AND BECAUSE THIS IS TYPICALLY DONE WHERE YOU SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, FACILITATING A TRANSFER LIKE THIS AFTER SOMEBODY HAS AGREED TO, TO TURN THEMSELVES OVER OR THEIR GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO TURN THEMSELVES OVER. THIS IS DISTINCT. AND SO I CAN IMAGINE A SITUATION IN WHICH A DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS GOING

TO RAISE AT LEAST SOME ISSUE WITH HOW THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WENT ABOUT THIS. WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT MORE DETAILS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS WAS EXECUTED. BUT YOU SEE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TALKING EARLY THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW THIS WAS CARRIED OUT, SAYING, YOU KNOW, A HUGE THANKS TO OUR BRAVE MILITARY WHO CONDUCTED THIS INCREDIBLE AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MISSION. AGAIN, THE BLURRING OF MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, HIGHLY UNUSUAL HERE. AND WHILE THE NORIEGA CASE, OF COURSE, HAS SOME SHADES OF SIMILARITIES, THERE APPEAR TO BE SOME

DISTINCT DIFFERENCES HERE, WHICH I IMAGINE AGAIN WILL BE EXPLOITED IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS TO COME. BUT THE FIRST STEP HERE WILL BE FOR HIM TO BE PRESENTED IN NEW YORK, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY GETTING A DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND OFF TO THE RACES. THEN, PETER. >> AGAIN, YOUR REFERENCE TO THE FORMER PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT, MANUEL NORIEGA. NOTABLY, HE SURRENDERED ON THIS DAY 36 YEARS AGO, GIVES US A BIT OF A TEMPLATE AS WE TRY TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPENING HERE. YOU WERE TALKING, LAURA, ABOUT PAM BONDI, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO POSTED EARLIER THAT

SOON SHE SAID HE WILL SOON ABOUT NICOLAS MADURO FACE THE FULL WRATH OF AMERICAN JUSTICE. I RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A BIT PREMATURE. WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THIS, BUT IS THERE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WE KNOW HE'S BEING HELD ON A USS IWO JIMA, A SHIP THAT IS OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW, WHERE YOU PUT SOMEONE LIKE NICOLAS MADURO WHEN THEY COME TO THE UNITED STATES. >> YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE. WHERE EXACTLY DO THEY HOLD HIM? YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HE'S JUST GOING TO BE IN A REGULAR CELL

IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SECURITY CONCERNS. THERE IS NO NATURAL COROLLARY IN HISTORY FOR HOW THIS IS DONE, HOW LONG HE STAYS ON THAT SHIP, AN OPEN QUESTION MARK. TYPICALLY, THERE'S PRIVATE TRANSFERS THAT CAN BE ARRANGED IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS TO GET HIM TO NEW YORK, BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN. AND THEN AGAIN, ONCE HE GETS HERE, I MEAN, IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT AT THE END OF THIS DAY, NICOLAS MADURO, WHO WOKE UP, WOKE UP, FRANKLY, AT THE FACING THE BARREL OF A GUN FROM US FORCES

THIS MORNING IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, ENDS HIS NIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY AS HE PREPARES TO FACE CHARGES HERE, AS THAT INDICTMENT HAS NOW BEEN SHARED PUBLICLY. LAURA GARRETT, OUR SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT. LAURA, THANK YOU. I WANT TO BRING IN NOW OUR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, MONICA ALBA, WHO'S THERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MONICA, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING BACK AND FORTH OVER THE COURSE OF THIS MORNING. LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT AT 11:00 AND SORT OF RESET THE SCENE HERE ABOUT THESE DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WITNESSING. THE PRESIDENT AT ROUGHLY 420 THIS MORNING, MAKING THE

ANNOUNCEMENT, AMERICANS WAKING UP TO THE NEWS THAT THE U.S. WAS CONDUCTING AIR STRIKES ON THE GROUND IN AND AROUND CARACAS, VENEZUELA, THAT COUNTRY'S CAPITAL CITY. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THAT THE U.S. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, HAD CAPTURED AND FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. BOTH NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, AN OPERATION THAT HE SAID WAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE OPERATION, HE SAID HE WOULD DETAIL FURTHER AT 11:00. IT IS NOW 11:00 ON THE EAST COAST. WE HAVE A TEAM ON THE GROUND AT MAR A LAGO. AS SOON AS THE PRESIDENT BEGINS

HIS REMARKS, WE WILL TAKE YOU THERE. BUT MONICA, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THIS REALLY MARKS A STUNNING AND DRAMATIC CULMINATION OF MONTHS THAT HAVE BUILT TO THIS MOMENT THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO OUST NICOLAS MADURO, TO END DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM THAT COUNTRY TO THE UNITED STATES. AND ULTIMATELY, IT ENDED ON THE PRE-DAWN HOURS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS YEAR, WITH U.S. FORCES RAIDING ONE OF THE PROPERTIES WHERE MADURO HAD BEEN HIDING AND AND BRINGING HIM BACK, IN EFFECT, TO U.S. SOIL. >> EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENTS OVERNIGHT, PETER. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT U.S. OFFICIALS CONFIRMED TO

US THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN WEIGHING FOR DAYS. HE FIRST APPROVED A PLAN TO POTENTIALLY DO THIS BEFORE CHRISTMAS MORE THAN A WEEK AGO. OF COURSE, PUBLICLY, THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN HINTING AT SOME POTENTIAL ACTION ON LAND IN VENEZUELA FOR A VERY LONG TIME. IT WAS UNCLEAR EXACTLY IN WHAT FORM THAT WOULD TAKE. THEN THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DAYS WHERE THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN, CERTAINLY WITH THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ANNOUNCING JUST IN RECENT DAYS THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN APPARENT STRIKE ON A DRUG FACILITY ON THE SHORE OF VENEZUELA, NOT NECESSARILY IN

THE HEART OF A CITY OR IN CARACAS, LIKE WHAT WE SAW OVERNIGHT THAT RAISED A TON OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT COULD COME NEXT, WHETHER THAT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, WHETHER THERE WERE GOING TO BE MORE SIMILAR STRIKES ON LAND. AND WE KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY THAT HE PLANNED, HE SAID, TO POTENTIALLY CARRY THIS OUT FOUR DAYS AGO, BUT THE WEATHER WAS, QUOTE, NOT PERFECT. HE SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE MONITORING THIS, BUT THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE RIGHT WINDOW. THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A FEW MORE

CLOUDS QUOTE THAN WE THOUGHT. BUT THEN ONCE THEY GOT THE ULTIMATE SIGNAL AND THEY WAITED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT, HE SAID, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT OPENED UP AND WE SAID, GO. NOW. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MONITORING ALL OF THIS FROM HIS MAR A LAGO CLUB DOWN IN FLORIDA, WHERE WE KNOW TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN COMING AND GOING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHERE HE HAS BEEN HOLDING SOME HIGH LEVEL MEETINGS WITH WORLD LEADERS, BUT ALSO CONTINUING TO APPROVE AN ORDER. AS WE HAVE SEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANNOUNCE THE

CONTINUED STRIKES ON THESE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS. WE SAW THAT AS RECENTLY AS LEADING INTO NEW YEAR'S EVE ON DECEMBER 30TH AND 31ST, THERE WERE SEVERAL STRIKES. IT WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER THEY WERE IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OR WHETHER THEY WERE IN THE CARIBBEAN, AS WE HAVE SOMETIMES SEEN THEM GIVE THAT EXACT DETAIL. BUT THEY DID RELEASE SOME VIDEO, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION OF SOME POTENTIAL SURVIVORS THAT HAD COME FROM ONE OF THOSE VESSELS THAT THE COAST GUARD HAD GONE OUT TO POTENTIALLY ATTEMPT A SEARCH AND RESCUE ON, BUT ULTIMATELY ABANDONED THAT. SO WE KNOW THIS

WEEK, CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ULTIMATE DECISION THAT THE PRESIDENT TOOK OVERNIGHT. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, PETER, SOME INSIGHT THAT WE GOT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, SIOUXSIE WILES, IN THAT VANITY FAIR INTERVIEW, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED JUST IN MID-DECEMBER, WHERE SHE SAID THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL HERE OF THE PRESIDENT WAS TO CONTINUE BOMBING AND HITTING THESE ALLEGED DRUG BOATS UNTIL, QUOTE, MADURO CRIES UNCLE. THAT WAS HER PHRASING. AND WE SAW THE PRESIDENT AGAIN SPEAK TO THIS OPENLY, SPEAK TO THIS PUBLICLY. BUT

FOR MONTHS, THE POSTURE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE WHITE HOUSE WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT ABOUT REGIME CHANGE, PER SE, WAS THAT THIS WAS ABOUT THIS SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS AND ON NARCO TERRORISTS. SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN ALL OF THIS. AND IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS, PETER, WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE SPOKE WITH NICOLAS MADURO. HE SAYS ABOUT A WEEK AGO. AND WE KNOW FROM EARLIER REPORTING IN CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY HAD SPOKEN SOMETIME BEFORE THAT. SO A REALLY IMPORTANT DETAIL THERE. THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS FROM NICOLAS MADURO'S OWN

WORDS, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, HE HAD SIGNALED A WILLINGNESS AND OPENNESS IN SOME OF HIS COMMUNICATIONS TO ENGAGING WITH THE UNITED STATES. BUT THE PRESIDENT SAID EARLIER TODAY ON FOX NEWS, ESSENTIALLY THAT HE ARGUED THAT MADURO WANTED TO PERHAPS MAKE A DEAL AND THAT HE ULTIMATELY TOLD HIM, NOPE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT KIND OF NEGOTIATING AT THE END, HE SAID. ESSENTIALLY, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY FOOLISH THING IF IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. AND ULTIMATELY, HE SAID, THE PRESIDENT OF HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH MADURO NOPE, WE CAN'T DO IT.

WHAT HE DID WITH DRUGS IS BAD. SO I THINK, PETER, YOU HAVE SET THE TABLE PERFECTLY IN REFERENCING, AND SOME OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS AS CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP. IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO SEE HOW THEY STACK UP AGAINST WHAT HE SAYS TODAY ABOUT THESE FOREIGN INVOLVEMENTS. FURTHER FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS, IN A MOMENT WHERE HIS OWN SUPPORTERS AND SOME OF THEM WHO HAVE BEEN MOST OUTSPOKEN AND CERTAINLY BROKEN WITH HIM IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS, HAVE ARGUED THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD STICK TO HIS MORE AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTEAD OF GETTING INVOLVED OVERSEAS IN

THESE CONTINUED CONFLICTS. AND WE SAW JUST OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS EXAMPLES OF THAT, NOT JUST HERE IN VENEZUELA AND SOUTH AMERICA, BUT ACROSS THE WORLD, OVERSEAS, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND BEYOND. PETER. >> A VARIETY OF GOOD POINTS THERE. MONICA. I WOULD JUST PUNCTUATE IT WITH ANOTHER FROM THE PRESIDENT EARLIER TO FOX NEWS TODAY SAYING THAT THE U.S. WOULD BE, IN HIS WORDS, VERY INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE OF VENEZUELA'S OIL INDUSTRY. AS WE'VE BEEN REPORTING HERE. OBVIOUSLY, THE PRESIDENT HAD RAMPED UP HIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN IN RECENT WEEKS, FOCUSING ON SANCTIONED

OIL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS THERE, THE FIRST ONE OF WHICH WAS SEIZED BY U.S. FORCES BROUGHT BACK TO TEXAS, WHERE THE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS HIS ASSUMPTION, HIS PRESUMPTION THAT THE U.S. WOULD WOULD, IN EFFECT, SEIZE THAT OIL AS WELL. THE PRESIDENT ALSO MADE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT OTHERS, INCLUDING CHINA, WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS. HE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE OIL. I BRING UP THE TOPIC OF CHINA AS WE'LL BE KEEPING EYES ON AS WELL, BECAUSE NOTABLY, A SPECIAL ENVOY FROM CHINA WAS IN CARACAS MEETING WITH NICOLAS MADURO. THE MOST RECENT PICTURES

WE HAVE OF MADURO WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS OR SO, AND I THINK THAT IS A BACKDROP TO ALL OF THIS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING AS WELL. MONICA, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STAY WITH US FOR A SECOND IF WE CAN. I'LL ASK THE CONTROL ROOM IF YOU CAN PUT UP A LIVE PICTURE RIGHT NOW. OUR TEAMS, THERE YOU ARE. YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE ROOM. OUR TEAMS ARE NOW INSIDE THE MAR A LAGO PROPERTY, THE SOUTH FLORIDA ESTATE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHERE HE HAS BEEN SPENDING MOST OF

THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY. LAST NIGHT WAS SEEN IN A PHOTOGRAPH THERE WITH ONE OF HIS TOP ADVISERS, STEPHEN MILLER, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, AMONG OTHERS WHO WERE THERE. WE DO EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT. INITIALLY, WE WERE TOLD BY HIM THAT HE WOULD BE SPEAKING AT ROUGHLY 11:00, OBVIOUSLY ON THE EAST COAST, THAT TIME HAS COME AND GONE. SO WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH OUR LIVE DEVELOPING, CONTINUING NEWS COVERAGE IN ADVANCE OF HIS REMARKS. BUT I WANT TO BRING IN FOR A SECOND, IF I CAN, OUR SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, HALLIE JACKSON,

WHO IS JOINING US NOW. HALLIE, REPORTERS WILL BE INVITED INTO THIS ROOM AS WELL. SURELY THE PRESIDENT WILL HAVE SOME PREPARED REMARKS HE'LL WANT TO DELIVER AND THEN LIKELY TO FACE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM A LOT OF REPORTERS, MANY OF THEM ON BEHALF OF AMERICANS AND OTHER LAWMAKERS ASKING FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS. THE AUTHORITIES UNDER WHICH HE IS OPERATING RIGHT NOW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP QUESTIONS, IN YOUR VIEW, THAT REMAIN TO BE ANSWERED AND THAT YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR, HOPEFULLY SOME BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IN THE NEXT

FEW MINUTES? >> YOU'RE RIGHT, PETER, A SLEW OF THEM, AS YOU'VE BEEN COVERING NOW FOR THE BETTER PART OF JUST ABOUT EIGHT PLUS HOURS OR SO HERE, LIVE ON THE AIR. TWO OF THEM, I THINK, RELATE TO WHAT YOU AND MONICA WERE JUST DISCUSSING, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE INTERPLAY WITH CHINA HERE, TO THE MAJORITY OF THE OIL THAT VENEZUELA EXPORTS TO CHINA, HOW DOES THAT COME INTO PLAY FOR THE PRESIDENT HERE? WHAT ABOUT THE SQUARING OF THIS LATEST ACTION WITH HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES OF NO NEW WARS? BUT I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'VE

GOT TO GET I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BASIC NUTS AND BOLTS OF WHAT EXACTLY HAS GONE DOWN HERE. WHAT HAPPENS TO MADURO FROM HERE? WHO DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP WANT TO SEE LEAD VENEZUELA? TO YOUR POINT, HE SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT HE WANTED TO SEE THE U.S. HAVE A MORE VIGOROUS ROLE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT COUNTRY. IS IT THE OPPOSITION LEADER? IS IT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA CURRENTLY, WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS ASKED TO SEE PROOF OF LIFE OF MADURO? WHAT ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITIES HERE? WHO DID YOU NOTIFY

AND AT WHAT POINT IN THE OPERATION AFTER IT HAD ALREADY BEGUN? WHERE DOES THIS GO MORE BROADLY? PETER, COLOMBIA COULD BE NEXT. THE PRESIDENT HAD PREVIOUSLY WARNED. YOU HEARD HIM THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT MEXICO AND OBVIOUSLY THE U.S. FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CARTELS. THERE ARE THOSE OMINOUS INDICATIONS THAT PERHAPS U.S. INTERVENTION IN THOSE COUNTRIES IS NEXT. IS THE PRESIDENT MERELY, SO TO SPEAK, RIFFING, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THAT FRONT? AND THEN, OF COURSE, HIS RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE PUSHBACK THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN FROM SOME OF THE CRITICS OF THIS ACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT, NOT

JUST ON THE THE LEFT, THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT HERE, BUT INCLUDING FROM SOME OF HIS OWN PARTY. PETER. AND I'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU WITH THAT AS WE KEEP AN EYE HERE ON THE PRESIDENT'S NEWS CONFERENCE SET TO BEGIN, WE THINK SHORTLY. >> HALLIE JACKSON, OUR SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK PAUSE. RIGHT NOW. MY COLLEAGUE TOM LLAMAS IS GOING TO PICK UP OUR COVERAGE. ON THE OTHER SIDE, AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT BEGINS RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. HERE'S TOM LLAMAS. AND GOOD MORNING. WE ARE COMING

ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW WITH BREAKING NEWS. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SET TO SPEAK AT ANY MOMENT NOW ABOUT TODAY'S LARGE SCALE U.S. STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA. IT'S BEEN ABOUT NINE HOURS SINCE MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS RATTLED VENEZUELA'S CAPITAL OF CARACAS. SINCE THEN, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THE U.S. CAPTURED THAT COUNTRY'S LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, WITH BOTH OF THEM FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAYING THEY WILL FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES HERE IN THE U.S. IT COMES AFTER MONTHS OF PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA, INCLUDING A HUGE MILITARY PRESENCE THAT'S BEEN BUILDING IN THE CARIBBEAN, THE

INTERCEPTION OF TWO VENEZUELAN OIL TANKERS, YOU'LL REMEMBER, AND STRIKES MULTIPLE OF THEM THAT HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE ON BOATS ACCUSED OF DRUG RUNNING. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAYING TODAY THAT IN THE FINAL DAYS BEFORE THIS STRIKE, MADURO WANTED TO NEGOTIATE. BUT HE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS DONE NEGOTIATING AT ANY MOMENT AT MAR A LAGO. WE'RE EXPECTED THE PRESIDENT TO WALK OUT AND TO TAKE THE PODIUM. WE WILL CARRY THOSE REMARKS LIVE. FOR NOW, AS WE WAIT, I WANT TO GO TO OUR SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, COURTNEY KUBE, TO WALK US THROUGH THE ATTACK AND THE EVENTUAL

CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO. COURTNEY. THIS ATTACK HAPPENED UNDER THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE A FEW DAYS BEFOREHAND, BUT BECAUSE OF WEATHER, THEY DECIDED TO DELAY IT DAY BY DAY. AND THEN THEY DECIDED TO STRIKE EARLY THIS MORNING, WALK OUR VIEWERS THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED. >> YEAH, BUT NOTABLY, ONE POINT ON THE ON THE WEATHER TIME THAT I'VE BEEN STRUCK BY IS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PRETTY FULL MOON LAST NIGHT, WHICH GENERALLY SPECIAL OPERATORS LIKE THIS DON'T WANT. THEY WANT AS MUCH DARKNESS AS POSSIBLE. THAT DOES NOT

INCLUDE A FULL MOON. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, OFFICIALS TELLING US THAT, IN FACT, THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED THIS ACTION DAYS AGO, MORE THAN A WEEK AGO, AND THAT HAS NOW BEEN ESSENTIALLY AN HOUR BY HOUR WAIT TO SEE WHEN THE FINAL GO AHEAD WOULD HAPPEN. WE NOW KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT IT STARTED OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT. NOW ABOUT NINE HOURS AGO, THESE FIRST EXPLOSIONS, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THE US MILITARY COMPONENT WAS HERE. THE PRESIDENT IN HIS IN FIRST ANNOUNCING THIS ON TRUTH SOCIAL, CALLED THESE U.S. STRIKES NOT AIRSTRIKES.

A COUPLE OF THE ASSETS THAT WE KNOW THE U.S. HAS IN THE REGION INCLUDE U.S. NAVY SHIPS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIRE TOMAHAWKS OR T LAMBS. THOSE ARE MISSILES THAT CAN FIRE AND STRIKE IN A VERY PRECISE LOCATION AND GIVE THE MILITARY STANDOFF CAPABILITY. ESSENTIALLY, THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN FIRE THEM FROM FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT THOSE THAT ARE DOING THE FIRING, THE SHIP ITSELF IS NOT NECESSARILY IN DANGER. SHOULD, WHEREVER THEY'RE TRYING TO STRIKE, TRY TO COUNTER STRIKE AGAINST THEM. BUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING DO APPEAR TO SHOW

U.S. MILITARY HELICOPTERS THAT LOOKS LIKE U.S. CHINOOKS. THOSE ARE GENERALLY PEOPLE MOVERS. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME, TOM, IF WE LEARNED THAT THAT PRESIDENT MADURO AND HIS WIFE WERE PUT ON THOSE OR SOME OF THE U.S. OFFICIALS WHO WENT IN FOR THAT GROUND OPERATION WERE WENT IN ON THOSE CHINOOKS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE 170 1/60 SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT, THAT IS, OF COURSE, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THEM, THE NIGHT STALKERS, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE RAID THAT THAT TOOK OUT OSAMA BIN LADEN IN 2011. WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SENT ADDITIONAL ASSETS TO THE REGION

IN RECENT WEEKS. NOW, IT COULD BE THAT THEY HAD SOME OF THOSE UP. THEY HAVE THINGS CALLED LITTLE BIRDS. THEY'RE SMALL, FAST, LOW FLYING ATTACK HELICOPTERS. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF WE HEARD THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THIS IN SOME WAY. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO SEEING INDICATIONS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN U.S. OSPREYS UP. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AGAIN IF THOSE WERE ALSO USED TO CARRY NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND POTENTIALLY TO BRING U.S. TROOPS IN. BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE HOPING WE GET SOME

FIDELITY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHERS AT THIS NEWS CONFERENCE IN ONLY MOMENTS IS EXACTLY WHAT AUTHORITIES WERE USED HERE. SO, IN OTHER WORDS, WHO WAS THE LEAD ON THIS OPERATION? IF IN FACT, THE JUSTIFICATION, THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION WAS TO GO IN AND TAKE OUT NICOLAS MADURO BECAUSE OF THE INDICTMENT AGAINST HIM FOR NARCO TRAFFICKING AND OTHER ALLEGED OFFENSES, THEN WAS THE U.S. MILITARY USED FOR THAT? AND IF SO, UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES? AGAIN, TOM, THE OTHER THING THAT IS REALLY WE'RE REALLY HOPING WE GET SOME ANSWERS ON IS THE U.S. MILITARY IN THIS TOOK STRIKES ON

A SOVEREIGN NATIONS MILITARY. THESE WERE VENEZUELAN MILITARY LOCATIONS THAT WERE TARGETED. IN SOME OF THE VIDEO THAT YOU SEE HERE. WHAT WERE THE AUTHORITIES UNDER THE WHICH THE U.S. TOOK THOSE STRIKES? SENATOR MIKE LEE TWEETING THAT MARCO RUBIO EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT WAS TO PROTECT THE U.S. OFFICIALS WHO WERE GOING IN ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE, ESSENTIALLY LIKE A SHAPING OPERATION, MAKE SURE THAT THEY MADE IT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE U.S. OFFICIALS TO GO IN AND TAKE MADURO OUT. BUT WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL LEGAL AUTHORITY? THOSE ARE THE

KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HOPE TO GET TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OFFICIALS THIS MORNING, TOM. >> AND THEN, COURTNEY, AS WE GET THOSE GRANULAR DETAILS AND AS THEY COME IN, WE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THEM. WE HAVE TO ALSO TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF ALL OF THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WITHIN HOURS OF STRIKING VENEZUELA, THEY HAD THE LEADER OF THAT COUNTRY AND HIS WIFE IN CUSTODY BEING BROUGHT TO THE USS IWO JIMA, WHICH WAS THERE IN THE WATERS OFF OF VENEZUELA. THAT'S INCREDIBLY FAST. USUALLY, SOMETIMES IN THESE SITUATIONS, THESE HEADS OF STATE, THEY

HAVE SAFE HOUSES THAT THEY RUN TO, THAT THEY HIDE TO. THIS ALL HAPPENED VERY FAST. >> YEAH. IT REALLY OPENS UP THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE U.S. HAD SUCH GREAT INTELLIGENCE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS OR SEVERAL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE POSED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS MORNING AND TO HIS OFFICIALS IS WERE THERE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE ONGOING WITH NICOLAS MADURO HIMSELF, WITH THOSE IN HIS INNER CIRCLE THAT HELPED THE U.S. PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS GOING TO BE AT THAT EXACT TIME? AND WHAT WAS THE WAS IT U.S. INTELLIGENCE? WAS IT

U.S. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE? WAS IT A COMBINATION? HOW DID THIS ALL COME TOGETHER? >> ALL RIGHT, COURTNEY, STAND BY FOR US. I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO PETER ALEXANDER, BECAUSE THE BIG QUESTION NOW AND THERE ARE MANY OF THEM. BUT THE BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS WHO IS IN CHARGE OF VENEZUELA, RIGHT. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ACCUSING VENEZUELA OF BEING A NARCO STATE, OF MADURO BEING A PUPPET FOR THE CARTELS, ESSENTIALLY BEING A MEETING POINT FOR THE CARTELS TO SHIP OUT COCAINE AROUND THE WORLD AND TO THE UNITED STATES. RIGHT NOW, IT STANDS TO

REASON TO THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS BEEN A STUDENT OF HUGO CHAVEZ FIRST AND THEN MADURO WOULD BE IN CHARGE. BUT, PETER, RIGHT NOW IT'S UNCLEAR. AND THE PRESIDENT HAS COME OUT TODAY SAYING THAT HE HOPES WHOEVER TAKES OVER VENEZUELA, WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE, GOES IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN MADURO. >> TOM, I SHOULD TELL YOU, AS YOU'RE SPEAKING TO ME, I'M HEARING FROM OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE GROUND AT MAR A LAGO THAT WE NOW HAVE A TWO MINUTE WARNING, WHICH MEANS WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT NOW IN JUST A MATTER OF

MOMENTS. SO I'LL KEEP THIS VERY BRIEF FOR YOU, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IS HIGH ON THE LIST OF QUESTIONS IS AFTER THE OPERATION THAT HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL, CLEARLY TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, WHAT OTHER PLANS WERE ALREADY IN PLACE? WHO WAS GOVERNING THAT COUNTRY? IS IT MARIA CORINA MACHADO? SHE WAS THE FORMER THE LONGTIME OPPOSITION LEADER THERE. HER NAME MAY BE FAMILIAR BECAUSE SHE RECENTLY WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND HAD A REMARKABLE DEPARTURE FROM THAT COUNTRY, WHERE SHE ACCEPTED THE AWARD. THE AWARD OVERSEAS IN PUBLIC. SEPARATELY, A LOT

OF REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TAKES PLACE NOW GOING FORWARD, WHAT THE U.S. HAS DONE TO TRY TO BETTER SECURE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND THERE, TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SOME FORM OF A PEACEFUL TRANSITION. VENEZUELANS ARE STILL WAKING UP TO THIS DRAMATIC NEWS. AND THEN FINALLY, IN SEPARATE FROM THIS, I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF BROAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIKTOK, EXACTLY HOW ALL THIS CAME TO BE THIS MORNING, AND ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S SORT OF POLICIES AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. THE PRESIDENT, WHO CAME TO POWER WITH A DESIRE, HE SAID,

TO END WARS, HAS NOW INITIATED STRIKES IN MANY COUNTRIES IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, YEMEN, NIGERIA, SOMALIA, NOW VENEZUELA AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE PACIFIC AND THE CARIBBEAN. ALL THE QUESTIONS TOP OF MIND FOR ME AS I AWAIT THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS MOMENTS FROM NOW. >> ALL RIGHT, PETER, YOU STAND BY FOR US AS WELL. I CAN TELL YOU, WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE TONIGHT, OR I SHOULD SAY TODAY FROM MIAMI, WHERE THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY IN DORAL, WHERE OUR STUDIOS ARE, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING THERE IN THE STREETS HERE IN DORAL, VENEZUELAN AMERICANS AND CUBAN AMERICANS

AND NICARAGUAN AMERICANS AS WELL, HOPING THAT THIS COULD SOMEHOW LEAD TO A DOMINO EFFECT IN THE CARIBBEAN. IN LATIN AMERICA, WHERE LEFTIST DICTATORS ARE TAKEN OUT AND NEW GOVERNMENTS HOPEFULLY ARE REINSTATED. THIS IS MIAMI RIGHT NOW IN DORAL, YOU CAN SEE THE VENEZUELAN FLAGS FLYING THERE. THERE'S BEEN AN INFLUX OF VENEZUELAN IMMIGRANTS, SOME SAYING UP TO 700,000 OVER THE LAST 5 TO 10 YEARS, PEOPLE FLEEING VENEZUELA BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS THERE, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN VENEZUELA. WE SHOULD REMIND YOU THAT MADURO WAS ACCUSED BY THE U.N. OF KILLING UP TO

5000 DISSIDENTS, IMPRISONING ANYBODY WHO DID NOT AGREE WITH HIS POLITICAL POLICIES AND TORTURING THEM AS WELL. SO FOR MANY PEOPLE IN VENEZUELA AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE, WHO ARE POLITICAL REFUGEES, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT TIME. YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE TEARS IN PEOPLE'S EYES. THEY HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING ON THE STREETS OF MIAMI SINCE THESE STRIKES WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED. WE WERE AWOKEN EARLY THIS MORNING AND A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THIS AREA, AND THE THE PHONE WAS JUST IT JUST KEPT RINGING PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THIS

MEAN FOR VENEZUELA? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF CUBA AS WELL? AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET TOO AHEAD OF OURSELVES RIGHT NOW. THE PRESIDENT HAS JUST SAID THEY'VE TAKEN OUT MADURO BECAUSE HE WAS WANTED. HE WAS INDICTED NOT ONCE, BUT NOW TWICE, FROM WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM BONDI, HAS TOLD US, FOR BEING AN AGENT OF THE CARTELS, FOR BEING, IN THEIR WORDS, A NARCO TRAFFICKER. HE WILL STAND TRIAL IN THE U.S. AND HE WILL GET HIS DAY IN COURT, AND HE WILL HAVE ATTORNEYS PROVIDED TO HIM IF HE CAN'T PAY FOR THEM.

AND HE WILL HAVE A SAY IN THIS. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, HE IS IN U.S. CUSTODY. IT IS UNCLEAR WHO IS LEADING VENEZUELA AT THIS HOUR, IF INDEED IT IS MORE MEMBERS OF THE MADURO REGIME. IF IT IS THE VICE PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS BEEN THERE, WHO HAS BEEN ASKING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR PROOF OF LIFE TO MAKE SURE MADURO AND HIS WIFE ARE STILL ALIVE, WE HAVE HEARD FROM RUSSIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF VENEZUELA, WHO ARE ALLIES OF VENEZUELA, SAYING THEY CONDEMN THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED HERE. THE

U.N. AS WELL HAS COME OUT AND SAID THAT THAT THEY DID NOT AGREE WITH HOW THIS WAS HANDLED. YOU CAN SEE THE EXPLOSIONS, THE ERUPTIONS. THIS WAS THE THE ATTACK EARLIER THIS MORNING IN VENEZUELA, RIGHT THERE IN THE CAPITAL. THEN FROM THE MOMENT THOSE MISSILES LAUNCHED, AT SOME POINT WITHIN HOURS, THEY HAD THE LEADER OF VENEZUELAN CUSTODY. THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THAT MADURO AT THE END WAS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE, BUT HE WAS DONE NEGOTIATING. THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS COME OUT ON EX POSTING THAT THEY OFFERED MULTIPLE OFF-RAMPS TO MADURO. AGAIN, THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS

REGION FOR MONTHS NOW. STRIKING THOSE BOATS THEY SAY ARE CARRYING DRUGS FROM VENEZUELA TO THE UNITED STATES. THE THREATS HAVE BEEN MADE. THERE APPARENTLY WERE NEGOTIATIONS UP UNTIL LAST WEEK BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND AND MADURO THAT ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. BUT AT THIS HOUR, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS DONE NEGOTIATING. I WANT TO BRING UP MODERATOR OF MEET THE PRESS, KRISTEN WELKER, WHO'S JOINING OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE AS WE AWAIT THE PRESIDENT. WE DO WANT TO REMIND YOU AT ANY MOMENT WE'RE GOING TO WATCH PRESIDENT TRUMP COME IN. KRISTEN. THIS IS AN INTERESTING TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY,

BUT IT'S ALSO AN INTERESTING TIME FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THEY ARE AN AMERICA FIRST ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S WHAT THEY CAMPAIGNED ON. AND NOW WE HAVE A STRIKE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, IN A IN A COUNTRY THAT THAT HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SENDING DRUGS BY THE TONS INTO THE UNITED STATES, BUT HAS NEVER ATTACKED OUR COUNTRY. AND, AND NOW WE HAVE A MILITARY OPERATION, AND A LEADER IN THAT COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT BY U.S. FORCES. >> TOM, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND WHAT IS SO STRIKING IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN CRACKS BEGIN TO FORM WITHIN THE MAGA

BASE AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ESCALATED HIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NICOLAS MADURO, AGAINST THE VENEZUELAN REGIME. AND NOW, OF COURSE, THIS REACTION JUST POURING IN. IT'S COMING IN LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES RIGHT NOW. TOM, WE SHOULD SAY THAT DEMOCRATS HIGHLY CRITICAL SAYING THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, REPUBLICANS SUPPORTIVE. BUT LOOK AT THIS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. SHE, OF COURSE, HAD A VERY PUBLIC BREAK WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN PART BECAUSE OF HIS FOCUS ON FOREIGN POLICY, WHICH SHE SAYS GOES AGAINST HIS AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY. HE OR SHE SAYS MEXICAN CARTELS ARE

PRIMARILY AN OVERWHELMINGLY RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING AMERICANS WITH DEADLY DRUGS. IF U.S. MILITARY ACTION IN REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA WAS REALLY ABOUT SAVING AMERICAN LIVES FROM DEADLY DRUGS, THEN WHY HASN'T THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKEN ACTION AGAINST MEXICAN CARTELS? AND THEN LISTEN TO THIS PART OF HER POST, TOM, SHE SAYS, THIS IS WHAT MANY IN MAGA THOUGHT THEY VOTED TO END. BOY, WERE WE WRONG. AS THE BABY BOOMERS SLIP AWAY BOTH IN VOTERS AND POWER, THE ELECTORAL FUTURE WILL BE DECIDED FOR CANDIDATES THAT FOCUS ON AMERICAN ECONOMIC POPULISM AND PROMISING PROSPERITY FOR AMERICANS ONLY. REALLY STRONG WORDS

THERE, FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. AND TOM, JUST TO ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT, LET'S REMEMBER WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON, WHAT THAT AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY WAS ALL ABOUT. HE CAMPAIGNED ON GETTING AMERICANS OUT OF FOREIGN WARS. THAT WAS PART OF THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS THAT HE DELIVERED WHEN HE SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE A PART OF HIS VISION. AND SO, PART OF WHY YOU'RE SEEING THESE CRACKS BEGIN TO FORM WITHIN THE MAGA BASE IS FOR THAT VERY REASON. CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, ONE OF THOSE WITH THE LOUDEST VOICES, SAYING THAT HER CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT

THE ECONOMY ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE, AND THAT THIS RUNS COUNTER TO THOSE CRITICAL PROMISES THAT WERE MADE. SO I THINK QUESTIONS MOVING FORWARD, WILL CONGRESS BE BRIEFED? WHEN WILL THERE NEED TO BE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR ANY FUTURE ACTION? AND WHAT, IF ANY, REACTION WILL WE GET FROM THE REST OF THE MAGA BASE? TOM. >> YEAH, YOU KNOW KIRA. KIRA. EXCUSE ME. KRISTEN. WE'RE ABOUT TO GO TO KEIR SIMMONS, BUT KRISTEN YOU KNOW, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MADURO YEARS AGO. I INTERVIEWED HIM INSIDE OF VENEZUELA, AND HIS BELIEF WAS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NEVER

WANTED HIM OUT. HE WAS OTHERS AROUND PRESIDENT TRUMP. PEOPLE AT THE TIME, LIKE SENATOR RUBIO, NOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHO ARE THE ONES SORT OF WHISPERING IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EAR TO GET MADURO OUT. AND NOW THIS HAS BECOME A REALITY. AND WE KNOW THAT SENATOR RUBIO IS NOW SECRETARY OF STATE. RUBIO, WHO'S BEEN IN CHARGE WITH MULTIPLE JOBS, INCLUDING INTELLIGENCE, AS WELL. TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THE ROLE THAT THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE PLAYED IN ALL OF THIS. >> WELL, I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD SECRETARY. RUBIO HAS

LONG HAD HIS SIGHTS ON VENEZUELA. THE CONCERNS, THE CRITICISM OF NICOLAS MADURO. AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SECRETARY RUBIO. REMEMBER, THEY WERE FIERCE POLITICAL RIVALS BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN 2016. NOW, OF COURSE, BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BECOME, QUITE FRANKLY, TOM, ONE OF HIS MOST TRUSTED ADVISERS. WHEN YOU ASKED PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MAGA, WHO SHOULD TAKE THE BATON, HE TALKS ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT, BUT HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SECRETARY RUBIO. AND I THINK IT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE STRENGTH

OF THAT RELATIONSHIP. TOM. >> OKAY, KRISTEN, STAND BY FOR US AGAIN. WE ARE WAITING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO WALK OUT AT ANY MOMENT AT MAR A LAGO TO TAKE THE PODIUM. WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU THOSE COMMENTS LIVE AS THEY HAPPEN. WE ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS RELEASED WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS VIDEO OF MADURO IN CUSTODY AND ALSO SOME VIDEO OF THE ATTACK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE MOMENTARILY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, KEIR SIMMONS IS PART OF THIS COVERAGE AS WELL. KIRA, I WANT TO GO TO YOU AT THE TIME

THAT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS JUST TAKEN OUT THE LEADER OF VENEZUELA, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE. THIS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATES BOTH THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. AND ALSO IT LEAVES SORT OF I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A VACUUM, BUT THERE IS THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE OF VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW AND WHAT ROLE DOES THE U.S. PLAY IN THAT? >> YEAH, IT'S HARD TO FIND WORDS, ISN'T IT, TOM? AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN AN INTERVENTION, A U.S. INTERVENTION IN LATIN AMERICA

LIKE THIS SINCE THE 1980S. WE DO KNOW, THOUGH, OF COURSE, TOM, FROM MORE RECENT HISTORY THAT REGIME CHANGES UNPREDICTABLE. ONCE YOU REMOVE A LEADER IN A COUNTRY, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THAT IS IN QUESTION AND MEMBERS OF MADURO'S REGIME ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS STABILITY AND THAT THIS DIDN'T WORK EFFECTIVELY. SO THOSE ARE THERE ARE HUGE QUESTIONS. AND AROUND THE WORLD, AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES AND ALLIES WILL BE WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT PLAYS OUT. NOW, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CRITICISM SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING THIS KIND OF INTERVENTION IS EFFECTIVELY HE SAYS IT IS

WRONG. I THINK THAT'S STRIKING IN TERMS OF THE BREAKS IN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN 2025. BUT IF LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD, TOM DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE IN 2025, THEY'RE GETTING IT NOW. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2026, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MESSAGING QUITE CLEARLY YOU MUST BEND TO OUR WILL. AND AS YOU SAY, QUESTIONS FROM MANY, MANY COUNTRIES, NOT LEAST RUSSIA. PRESIDENT PUTIN WAS VERY CLOSE TO MADURO. THEY ARE ALLIES. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RUSSIA? IS THIS A WEAKENING OF RUSSIA? IS THIS EFFECTIVELY A, YOU KNOW, A STRIKE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AGAINST

RUSSIA AS WELL AS AGAINST VENEZUELA, AGAINST RUSSIAN INTERESTS? CERTAINLY IN THE US NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS THAT THE US BELIEVES THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE IS ITS AREA, THAT IT WANTS TO ASSERT ITSELF, AND IT CERTAINLY IS WITH THIS STRIKE OVERNIGHT. AND THAT ASSERTION IS DIRECTED AT RUSSIA. IT'S ALSO DIRECTED AT THE IRANIANS, WHO HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, WHO HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MADURO REGIME. AND THERE ARE PROTESTS IN IRAN RIGHT NOW. WHAT WILL THE IRANIAN LEADERSHIP BE THINKING? IT'S ALSO DIRECTED AT CHINA. AS PETER

ALEXANDER SAID EARLIER, WE SAW CHINESE OFFICIALS WITH MADURO JUST IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND? BECAUSE THE CHINESE WERE TRYING TO SAY, THIS IS OUR FRIEND, DON'T USURP HIM. WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK. >> KEIR, I DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ABOUT CHINA'S ENCROACHMENT IN THIS REGION AS WELL. WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT VENEZUELA AND WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED AND NOT TALK ABOUT THE OIL RESERVES THERE. VENEZUELA HAS THE LARGEST OIL RESERVES IN THE WORLD IN MANY WAYS, FEEDING THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT FRIENDS TO THE

UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE OIL THAT WAS TAKEN, HE SAYS, BY VENEZUELA. THAT WAS U.S. OIL FROM U.S. COMPANIES. THIS IS GOING TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, BECAUSE IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OIL PRODUCTION IN VENEZUELA GOING FORWARD. >> YEAH. NO QUESTION. AND THE RUSSIANS ARE PLAYING A ROLE IN THE VENEZUELAN OIL INDUSTRY AS WELL. WE SHOULD SAY, TOM, YOU CAN'T JUST SWITCH ON THE TAPS IN VENEZUELA WITH THAT. WITH THAT OIL INDUSTRY, IT DOES HAVE MASSIVE RESERVES, BUT IT DOESN'T. IT'S NOT AN INDUSTRY THAT JUST CAN CAN START WORKING IMMEDIATELY. SO THE

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE OIL MARKETS MAY BE MUTED. AND OBVIOUSLY, JUST TO COUNTER A COUNTERPOINT TO THAT, THIS KIND OF DESTABILIZATION, IF YOU LIKE, CAN HAVE IMPLICATIONS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS. WE WILL SEE ON MONDAY WHEN THAT COMES ABOUT. BUT YOU MENTIONED CHINA. IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT. CHINA HAS BEEN ENCROACHING IN SOUTH AMERICA, IN LATIN AMERICA, PARTICULARLY WITH RARE EARTHS, RARE MINERALS THAT THOSE KINDS OF THAT KIND OF COMMODITIES, WHICH ARE NOW SO IMPORTANT TO THE WORLD ECONOMY. AND I THINK THAT THE US POLICY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, THAT THAT'S A MAJOR POINT HERE, TOO. A MESSAGE,

AGAIN, FROM THE UNITED STATES IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. WE DON'T LIKE YOU INTERVENING IN OUR IN INVERTED COMMAS IN OUR REGION. THIS IS THIS IS STUNNING. IN SOME WAYS, THOUGH, IT IS NOT SURPRISING, TOM. IT DOES PLAY INTO US FOREIGN POLICY IN THE REGION OVER DECADES AND EVEN OVER CENTURIES. AND I THINK FROM THAT HISTORY, WHAT WE DO KNOW, OF COURSE, IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE >> AGAIN, WE'RE AWAITING THE PRESIDENT AT ANY MOMENT. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT AT 11 A.M.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE VERY FLUID. WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU HIS COMMENTS AS SOON AS HE COMES ON. KYRA, DO YOU WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU? VENEZUELA NOW A REGION IN CONFLICT, RIGHT? YOU HAVE A COUNTRY THAT HAS NO LEADER. IT'S UNCLEAR WHO IS IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW. IF IT'S THE VICE PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE AN OPPOSITION LEADER WHO JUST WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WHO IS BEING CELEBRATED ACROSS THE WORLD. BEFORE THAT, YOU HAD ANOTHER OPPOSITION LEADER, JUAN GUAIDO, THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE UNITED STATES GOING BACK FOR YEARS

AS THE TRUE LEADER OF VENEZUELA. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY, RIGHT, WHO IS REALLY HOLDING THE CARDS RIGHT NOW. BUT BESIDES THAT, YOU HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS A COLECTIVO, ESSENTIALLY NEIGHBORHOOD GANGS THAT MADURO HAS ARMED. SO THEY STAY LOYAL TO HIM. ESSENTIALLY IN VENEZUELA, WHERE THERE IS NO WORK, THERE IS NO MONEY, THERE IS NO FOOD. HE HAS GIVEN THESE PEOPLE FOOD. HE HAS GIVEN THEM WEAPONS, SO THEY STAY LOYAL TO HIM. SO YOU HAVE THE MILITARY AND YOU HAVE SORT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD RAGTAG GANGS THAT THERE'S BEEN REPORTING NOW THAT THEY

ARE ACTUALLY PROTECTING SOME MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SORT OF THE MILITARY PROWESS, IF YOU WILL, OF VENEZUELA. IT'S JUST NOT THERE THAT THEY HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHMEN, IF YOU WILL, ARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS PROTECTING THEIR MILITARY SITES. BUT IT ALL SPEAKS TO WHO IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE AND WHO'S GOING TO TAKE OVER. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP, AT LEAST FROM NOW, IS NOT PUSHING FOR A REGIME CHANGE, EVEN THOUGH HE'S TAKEN OUT THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY. HE'S SAYING WHOEVER COMES NEXT, WHOEVER COMES NEXT, HE HOPE IS NOT, IS

NOT LIKE MADURO, BUT HE'S ASSUMING THE VICE PRESIDENT IS IN CHARGE. >> YEAH. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND. >> I. >> I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR IT WHEN WE HEAR FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A MOMENT. PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ASKED EARLIER IN AN INTERVIEW WHO WILL LEAD VENEZUELA? AND HE SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW. THAT KIND OF COMMENT WILL WILL PROMPT CRITICISM FROM SOME THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRATEGY HERE, RATHER THAN SIMPLY JUST THE TACTIC OF REMOVING MADURO. WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES, TOM, OF CIVILIANS ON THE STREETS IN

VENEZUELA IN SUPPORT OF MADURO. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IF YOU ARE VENEZUELAN SITTING AT HOME RIGHT NOW, COWERING PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT, WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, AND YOU ARE AGAINST THE MADURO REGIME. YOU ARE TRYING TO CALCULATE WHETHER IF YOU WALK OUT ONTO THE STREETS, YOU WILL BECOME A VICTIM. WILL YOU BE SUPPORTED BY THE US? WILL THOSE FORCES THAT MADURO BUILT UP AROUND HIM THAT YOU SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBE, WILL THEY TARGET YOU? THESE KINDS OF THINGS WE KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS KIND OF THING BEFORE, AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH COMPARISONS. BUT IF

YOU TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE US EXPERIENCE IN IRAQ, WHERE, OF COURSE, SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS REMOVED SO THAT THAT WAS REGIME CHANGE. WHAT THE US THEN FACED WAS A CHALLENGE ABOUT WHO SHOULD RUN THE COUNTRY, HOW THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE RUN AND AND A CIVIL WAR. NOW, AGAIN, YOU DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THESE COMPARISONS. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PART OF CAN CHANGE A COUNTRY, MAKE IT MORE STABLE, MAYBE EVEN MAKE IT DEMOCRATIC WITH KINETIC POWER THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IS A IS A LOOMING QUESTION HERE. AND OF COURSE, THE US HAS TRIED BOOTS

ON THE GROUND BEFORE AND AND THAT IN THE PAST IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD HASN'T WORKED. >> KEIR STAND BY FOR US BECAUSE WE NOW ARE SEEING THESE IMAGES THAT ARE STUNNING, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THIS IS THE FORMER LEADER OF VENEZUELA, NICOLAS MADURO, IN HANDCUFFS. YOU CAN SEE THOSE BLACKED OUT SUNGLASSES OVER HIS EYES. HE IS WEARING THE EARMUFFS AS WELL. HE LOOKS TO BE IN A TRACKSUIT, LIKELY THE SAME OUTFIT THEY TOOK HIM IN CUSTODY AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN SCUFFED

UP THERE. YOU CAN SEE HIS HANDS THERE GIVING A BOTTLE OF WATER. THIS IS THE FIRST IMAGE WE'VE SEEN OF THE FORMER LEADER OF VENEZUELA, NOW IN U.S. CUSTODY, ABOARD WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE USS IWO JIMA. AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT PUTTING OUT THIS PHOTO, HE WILL STAND TRIAL. IT APPEARS IN NEW YORK. HE WAS INDICTED IN BOTH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA AND IN NEW YORK FOR CHARGES STEMMING OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, BEING A NARCO TERRORIST, COLLUDING WITH THE CARTELS, ALLOWING HIS COUNTRY TO BE A MEETING POINT TO BEING A SHIPPING POINT FOR FOR, THEY SAID,

MILLIONS OF TONS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT EXACT FIGURE IS CORRECT OF COCAINE COMING OUT OF VENEZUELA TO THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, HIS WIFE ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY HIS WIFE WAS ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, SHE HAS HELD MANY ROLES IN VENEZUELA, IN THE POLITICAL HIERARCHY, ONCE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, ONCE AS THE LEADER OF PARLIAMENT. SOME HAVE SAID SHE'S AS POPULAR AS HER HUSBAND, NICOLAS MADURO, SO BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY OF MADURO, RISING TO POWER AFTER HUGO CHAVEZ WAS DYING OF CANCER. HE WAS IN

HIS THIRD TERM. TWO OF HIS ELECTIONS DEEMED COMPLETELY ILLEGAL BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. EVEN HIS LAST ELECTION, MORE VENEZUELANS VOTING FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY. AND YET HE STAYED IN POWER AS A TRUE DICTATOR IN LATIN AMERICA, BUILDING TIES WITH PLACES LIKE CUBA, BUILDING TIES WITH RUSSIA AND IRAN AND CHINA, MAINTAINING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT. AND HE SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SIDE. WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS. OUR RICHARD ENGEL, OUR CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, HAS BEEN REPORTING FROM LATIN AMERICA, FROM COLOMBIA WHEN THESE STRIKES STARTED. RICHARD, YOU'VE BEEN

WATCHING ALL THIS INFORMATION. YOU SAW THAT IMAGE JUST POSTED OF NICOLAS MADURO. NOT EXACTLY THE SAME STORY, NOT EXACTLY THE SAME CASE, BUT REMINISCENT OF WHEN THEY TOOK OUT SADDAM HUSSEIN, A SIMILAR IMAGE. YOU KNOW, THESE IMAGES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AS WELL. AGAIN, TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, TWO DIFFERENT MILITARY ACTIONS. BUT THE VISUALS ARE VERY SIMILAR HERE. >> I THINK THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR. AND I THINK IT'S NO SURPRISE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A LITTLE BIT LATE IN COMING OUT TO MAKE HIS REMARKS. I THINK IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT THAT IMAGE WAS RELEASED FIRST.

THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED TO SHOW. VENEZUELANS WANTED TO SHOW. AMERICANS WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD A DICTATOR WHO STOOD UP, WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES, WHO SAID NO, AND WHO IS NOW IN HANDCUFFS WITH EARMUFFS ON SO THAT HE DON'T KNOW. HE WON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID AROUND HIM, WON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS. A MAN WHO WENT FROM A PALACE TO NOW GOING TO A COURTROOM AND POTENTIALLY A JAIL CELL. A VERY POWERFUL IMAGE, AN IMAGE THAT WILL BE SEEN IN VENEZUELA BY THE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO BY THE

LEADERSHIP. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE TODAY WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN BOTH, BOTH DIPLOMATIC AND NEGOTIATION PROCESS BY FORCE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO TRY TO GET MADURO TO LEAVE ON HIS OWN. AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY IS THIS ESCALATION. FIRST, THERE WERE THE ATTACKS ON BOATS, THEN THERE WERE THE THERE WAS THIS SEIZURES OF THE OIL TANKERS, THEN A LAND ATTACK, THEN ULTIMATELY A SNATCH AND GRAB OPERATION TO TAKE NICOLAS MADURO. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP. RIGHT NOW. THERE CLEARLY IS A

POWER VACUUM. I WAS SPEAKING WITH A SENIOR OFFICIAL WHO WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS, THIS PRESSURE CAMPAIGN, WHO SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT, IMPORTANT PERSON IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW IS THE DEFENSE MINISTER, DEFENSE MINISTER PADRINO, THAT HE EFFECTIVELY IS MANAGING THE COUNTRY AS IT GOES THROUGH THIS TRANSITION. WE DON'T KNOW YET IF THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL REGIME CHANGE THAT WILL LEAD TO A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE AND A BETTER FUTURE THAT COULD SEE THE THE OPPOSITION LEADER, WHO WAS JUST AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, TAKE POWER AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION. OR IF THIS REGIME CHANGE

WILL LEAD TO STATE COLLAPSE AND CIVIL WAR. IT WAS A BOLD MOVE. IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL MILITARY OPERATION. THE MILITIAS ARE STILL SOMEWHAT ON THE STREETS, BUT THE THE THIS WAS A DICTATORSHIP BUILT AROUND MADURO, AROUND HIS CULT OF PERSONALITY. AND WITHOUT MADURO, THE MILITARY IS MUCH DIMINISHED. AND THAT PHOTO IS CLEARLY DESIGNED TO TO IMPACT PEOPLE LIKE THE DEFENSE MINISTER PADRINO TO SAY, BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR NEXT MOVE, YOU YOU SHOULD MAKE MAKE PEACE WITH THE POLITICAL PARTY. OR YOU COULD BE THE NEXT TO GET SNATCHED AND SENT TO AN AMERICAN WARSHIP AND ULTIMATELY,

MOST LIKELY AN AMERICAN PRISON. >> AND RICHARD, IT'S FAIR TO SAY FROM YOUR REPORTING IN THE REGION YOU WERE IN, COLOMBIA, THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS EVEN TODAY HAVE LEFT ALLIES, HAVE LEFT ENEMIES GUESSING, EVEN CONFUSED. YOU. I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT. HE CAME OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAID ONE THING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP. AND THEN YOU SPOKE TO A DEFENSE MINISTER AND THEY SAID SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. >> THIS PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS THE REGION TO BE AFRAID OF HIM. AND MANY WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNPREDICTABILITY AND AND THAT THAT FEAR IS PALPABLE.

>> OKAY. RICHARD. RICHARD, I NEED TO INTERRUPT YOU. RICHARD. I'M GONNA INTERRUPT YOU. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TAKING THE PODIUM. LET'S LISTEN IN. >> APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. LATE LAST NIGHT AND EARLY TODAY. AT MY DIRECTION, THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES CONDUCTED AN EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY OPERATION IN THE CAPITAL OF VENEZUELA, OVERWHELMING AMERICAN MILITARY POWER. AIR, LAND AND SEA WAS USED TO LAUNCH A SPECTACULAR ASSAULT. AND IT WAS AN ASSAULT LIKE PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. IT WAS A FORCE AGAINST A HEAVILY FORTIFIED MILITARY FORTRESS IN THE HEART OF CARACAS, TO BRING OUTLAW DICTATOR

NICOLAS MADURO TO JUSTICE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING, EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL DISPLAYS OF AMERICAN MILITARY MIGHT AND COMPETENCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER GOOD ONES, LIKE THE ATTACK ON SOLEIMANI. THE ATTACK ON AL BAGHDADI, AND THE OBLITERATION AND DECIMATION OF THE IRAN NUCLEAR SITES. JUST RECENTLY, IN AN OPERATION KNOWN AS MIDNIGHT HAMMER. ALL PERFECTLY EXECUTED AND DONE. NO NATION IN THE WORLD COULD ACHIEVE WHAT AMERICA ACHIEVED YESTERDAY, OR FRANKLY, IN JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ALL VENEZUELAN MILITARY CAPACITIES WERE RENDERED POWERLESS AS THE MEN

AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY, WORKING WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, SUCCESSFULLY CAPTURED MADURO IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT. IT WAS DARK. THE LIGHTS OF CARACAS WERE LARGELY TURNED OFF DUE TO A CERTAIN EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE. IT WAS DARK AND IT WAS DEADLY, BUT CAPTURED ALONG WITH HIS WIFE. CILIA FLORES, BOTH OF WHOM NOW FACE AMERICAN JUSTICE. MADURO AND FLORES HAVE BEEN INDICTED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. JAY CLAYTON FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN OF DEADLY NARCO TERRORISM AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND ITS CITIZENS. I WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY WHO

ACHIEVED SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS OVERNIGHT WITH BREATHTAKING SPEED, POWER, PRECISION AND COMPETENCE. YOU RARELY SEE ANYTHING LIKE IT. YOU'VE SEEN SOME RAIDS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DIDN'T GO SO WELL. THEY WERE AN EMBARRASSMENT. IF YOU LOOK BACK TO AFGHANISTAN OR IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE JIMMY CARTER DAYS, THEY WERE DIFFERENT DAYS. WE'RE A RESPECTED COUNTRY AGAIN. LIKE MAYBE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THESE HIGHLY TRAINED WARRIORS, OPERATING IN COLLABORATION WITH U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, CAUGHT THEM IN A VERY READY POSITION. THEY WERE WAITING FOR US. THEY KNEW WE HAD MANY SHIPS OUT IN THE SEA. WE'RE JUST

SORT OF WAITING. THEY KNEW WE WERE COMING, SO THEY WERE IN A READY WHAT'S CALLED A READY POSITION. BUT THEY WERE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED AND VERY QUICKLY INCAPACITATED. IF YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN WHAT I SAW LAST NIGHT, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED. I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU'LL EVER GET TO SEE IT, BUT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE THING TO SEE. NOT A SINGLE AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBER WAS KILLED, AND NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF AMERICAN EQUIPMENT WAS LOST. WE HAD MANY HELICOPTERS, MANY PLANES, MANY, MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT FIGHT. BUT THINK OF THAT. NOT ONE PIECE

OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT WAS LOST. NOT ONE SERVICE MEMBER WAS MORE IMPORTANTLY KILLED. THE UNITED STATES MILITARY IS THE STRONGEST AND MOST FEARSOME MILITARY ON THE PLANET BY FAR, WITH CAPABILITIES AND SKILLS, OUR ENEMIES CAN SCARCELY BEGIN TO IMAGINE. WE HAVE THE BEST EQUIPMENT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THERE'S NO EQUIPMENT LIKE WHAT WE HAVE, AND YOU SEE THAT EVEN IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE BOATS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KNOCKED OUT 97% OF THE DRUGS COMING IN BY SEA. 90%. EACH BOAT KILLS 25, ON AVERAGE, 25,000 PEOPLE. WE KNOCKED OUT 97%. AND THOSE DRUGS MOSTLY COME FROM

A PLACE CALLED VENEZUELA. WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN DO A SAFE, PROPER AND JUDICIOUS TRANSITION. SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH HAVING SOMEBODY ELSE GET IN. AND WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE HAD FOR THE LAST LONG PERIOD OF YEARS. SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN DO A SAFE, PROPER AND JUDICIOUS TRANSITION. AND IT HAS TO BE JUDICIOUS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT. WE WANT PEACE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA, AND THAT INCLUDES

MANY FROM VENEZUELA THAT ARE NOW LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND WANT TO GO BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY. IT'S THEIR HOMELAND. WE CAN'T TAKE A CHANCE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE TAKES OVER VENEZUELA. THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE GOOD OF THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE IN MIND. WE'VE HAD DECADES OF THAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. WE'RE THERE NOW, AND WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND AS A AS I SAY THIS, WE'RE THERE NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO STAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE PROPER TRANSITION CAN TAKE PLACE. SO WE'RE GOING TO STAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS

WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT ESSENTIALLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A PROPER TRANSITION CAN TAKE PLACE. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE OIL BUSINESS IN VENEZUELA HAS BEEN A BUST, A TOTAL BUST FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THEY WERE PUMPING ALMOST NOTHING BY COMPARISON TO WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PUMPING AND WHAT COULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR VERY LARGE UNITED STATES OIL COMPANIES, THE BIGGEST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, GO IN, SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, FIX THE BADLY BROKEN INFRASTRUCTURE, THE OIL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND START MAKING MONEY FOR THE COUNTRY. AND WE ARE READY TO

STAGE A SECOND AND MUCH LARGER ATTACK IF WE NEED TO DO SO. SO WE WERE PREPARED TO DO A SECOND WAVE IF WE NEEDED TO DO SO. WE ACTUALLY ASSUMED THAT A SECOND WAVE WOULD BE NECESSARY. BUT NOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST WAVE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO CALL IT THAT. THE FIRST ATTACK WAS SO SUCCESSFUL, WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO DO A SECOND, BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO A SECOND WAVE. A MUCH BIGGER WAVE, ACTUALLY. THIS WAS PINPOINT, BUT WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER WAVE THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO DO THIS PARTNERSHIP OF VENEZUELA

WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A COUNTRY THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED WITH BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH, WILL MAKE THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA RICH, INDEPENDENT AND SAFE. AND IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE FROM VENEZUELA THAT ARE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES EXTREMELY HAPPY. THEY SUFFERED. THEY SUFFERED. SO MUCH WAS TAKEN FROM THEM. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SUFFER ANYMORE. THE ILLEGITIMATE DICTATOR, MADURO, WAS THE KINGPIN OF A VAST CRIMINAL NETWORK RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFICKING COLOSSAL AMOUNTS OF DEADLY AND ILLICIT DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES, AS ALLEGED IN

THE INDICTMENT, HE PERSONALLY OVERSAW THE VICIOUS CARTEL KNOWN AS CARTEL DE LA SOLIS, WHICH FLOODED OUR NATION WITH LETHAL POISON, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF COUNTLESS AMERICANS, THE MANY, MANY AMERICANS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OVER THE YEARS OF AMERICANS DIED BECAUSE OF HIM. MADURO AND HIS WIFE WILL SOON FACE THE FULL MIGHT OF AMERICAN JUSTICE AND STAND TRIAL ON AMERICAN SOIL. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ON A SHIP THEY'LL BE HEADING TO ULTIMATELY NEW YORK, AND THEN A DECISION WILL BE MADE, I ASSUME, BETWEEN NEW YORK AND MIAMI OR FLORIDA. BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHERE THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE

OF THEIR CRIMES WILL BE PRESENTED IN A COURT OF LAW. AND I'VE SEEN IT. I'VE SEEN WHAT WE HAVE. IT'S IT'S BOTH HORRIBLE AND BREATHTAKING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE FOR MANY YEARS AFTER HIS TERM AS PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA EXPIRED, MADURO REMAINED IN POWER AND WAGED A CEASELESS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE, TERROR AND SUBVERSION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THREATENING NOT ONLY OUR PEOPLE BUT THE STABILITY OF THE ENTIRE REGION. AND YOU ALL SAW IT. IN ADDITION TO TRAFFICKING GIGANTIC AMOUNTS OF ILLEGAL DRUGS THAT INFLICTED UNTOLD SUFFERING AND HUMAN

DESTRUCTION ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL OVER, IN PARTICULAR THE UNITED STATES, MADURO SENT SAVAGE AND MURDEROUS GANGS, INCLUDING THE BLOODTHIRSTY PRISON GANG TREN DE ARAGUA, TO TERRORIZE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. AND HE DID. INDEED. THEY WERE IN COLORADO. THEY TOOK OVER APARTMENT COMPLEXES. THEY CUT THE FINGERS OFF PEOPLE. IF THEY CALL POLICE. THEY WERE BRUTAL, BUT THEY'RE NOT SO BRUTAL NOW. AND I JUST HAVE TO CONGRATULATE OUR MILITARY, PETE, AND EVERYBODY AND OUR NATIONAL GUARD, BECAUSE THE JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE, WHETHER IT'S IN WASHINGTON DC, WHERE WE HAVE A TOTALLY SAFE CITY WHERE IT WAS ONE

OF THE MOST UNSAFE CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, FRANKLY. AND NOW WE HAVE NO CRIME IN WASHINGTON DC. WE HAVEN'T HAD A KILLING. WE HAD THE TERRORIST ATTACK A FEW WEEKS AGO, LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF A THREAT. BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A KILLING AND A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, 6 OR 7 MONTHS. WE USED TO HAVE TWO ON AVERAGE, TWO A WEEK IN WASHINGTON, OUR CAPITAL. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. THE RESTAURANTS ARE OPENING. EVERYONE'S HAPPY. THEY'RE GOING. THEY'RE WALKING THEIR DAUGHTERS. THEY'RE WALKING THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR WIVES. THEY WALK TO RESTAURANTS. RESTAURANTS

ARE OPENING ALL OVER WASHINGTON, D.C. SO I WANT TO THANK THE NATIONAL GUARD. I WANT TO THANK OUR MILITARY, AND I WANT TO THANK LAW ENFORCEMENT. BEEN AMAZING. AND THEY SHOULD DO IT WITH MORE CITIES. WE'RE DOING IT, AS YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE DOING IT IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE RIGHT NOW. AND CRIME IS DOWN. WE'VE JUST SORT OF STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT CRIME IS DOWN NOW 77%. AND THE GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA CALLED GREAT PERSON. AND HE WANTED US TO HELP HIM, AS YOU KNOW, AND A CERTAIN VERY NICE PART OF LOUISIANA. AND WE HAVE

DONE THAT. AND IT'S A ROUGH IT WAS A ROUGH, ROUGH SECTION AND WE HAVE CRIME DOWN. I UNDERSTAND IT'S DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING ALREADY. AFTER TWO AND A HALF WEEKS, NEW ORLEANS, IT'S DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING. AND WE'VE ONLY BEEN THERE FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. CAN'T IMAGINE WHY GOVERNORS WOULDN'T WANT US TO HELP. WE ALSO HELPED, AS YOU KNOW, IN CHICAGO, AND CRIME WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT THERE. WE DID A VERY SMALL HELP BECAUSE WE HAD NO NO, WE HAD NO WORKING ABILITY WITH THE GOVERNOR. THE GOVERNOR WAS A DISASTER AND THE

MAYOR WAS A DISASTER, BUT IT KNOCKED DOWN CRIME. BUT WE'RE PULLING OUT OF THERE. WHEN? WHEN THEY NEED US, WE'LL KNOW. YOU'LL KNOW YOU'LL BE WRITING ABOUT IT. AND LIKEWISE, LOS ANGELES, WHERE WE SAVED LOS ANGELES EARLY ON, WHERE THE HEAD OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE A STATEMENT THAT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T COME IN, WE WOULD HAVE LOST LOS ANGELES. THAT'S AFTER LONG AFTER THE FIRES. THAT'S WHEN THEY HAD THE RIOTS IN LOS ANGELES. WE DID A GREAT JOB, GOT NO CREDIT FOR IT WHATSOEVER. BUT THAT'S OKAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE DON'T NEED THE

CREDIT, BUT WE'LL BE PULLING OUT WHEN THEY NEED US. THEY'LL CALL OR WE'LL GO BACK IF WE HAVE TO. WE'LL GO BACK. BUT WE DID A GREAT JOB IN VARIOUS CITIES. BUT THE THING, THE PLACE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS WASHINGTON, DC, BECAUSE IT'S OUR NATION'S CAPITAL. WE TOOK IT FROM BEING A CRIME RIDDEN MESS TO BEING ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. BUT THE GANGS THAT THEY SENT, RAPED, TORTURED AND MURDERED AMERICAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THEY WERE IN ALL OF THE CITIES I MENTIONED TREND ARAGUA, AND THEY WERE SENT BY MADURO

TO TERRORIZE OUR PEOPLE. AND NOW MADURO WILL NEVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO THREATEN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN OR ANYBODY FROM VENEZUELA. THERE WILL NO LONGER BE THREATS. FOR YEARS, I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE STORIES OF THOSE INNOCENT AMERICANS WHOSE LIVES WERE SO HEARTLESSLY ROBBED BY THIS VENEZUELAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. REALLY ONE OF THE WORST. ONE OF THE WORST. THEY SAY THE WORST. AMERICANS, LIKE 12 YEAR OLD JOCELYN NORIEGA FROM HOUSTON. BEAUTIFUL. JOCELYN NORIEGA. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER? THEY, AS YOU KNOW, THEY KIDNAPED, ASSAULTED AND MURDERED BY TREND ARAGUA ANIMALS. THEY MURDERED JOCELYN AND LEFT HER DEAD UNDER THE BRIDGE.

THERE WAS A BRIDGE, A BRIDGE THAT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME TO SO MANY PEOPLE. AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENED, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, MADURO REGIME EMPTIED OUT THEIR PRISONS, SENT THEIR WORST AND MOST VIOLENT MONSTERS INTO THE UNITED STATES TO STEAL AMERICAN LIVES. AND THEY CAME FROM MENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSANE ASYLUMS. THEY CAME FROM PRISONS AND JAILS. THE REASON I SAY BOTH, THEY SOUND SIMILAR, ACTUALLY, PRISONS A LITTLE BIT MORE, A LITTLE BIT MORE HOSTILE, A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER. A MENTAL INSTITUTION ISN'T AS TOUGH AS AN INSANE ASYLUM. BUT WE GOT THEM BOTH. THEY

SENT FROM THEIR MENTAL INSTITUTIONS. THEY SENT FROM THEIR JAILS, PRISONS. THEY WERE DRUG DEALERS. THEY WERE DRUG KINGPINS. THEY SENT EVERYBODY BAD INTO THE UNITED STATES, BUT NO LONGER. AND WE HAVE NOW A BORDER WHERE NOBODY GETS THROUGH. IN ADDITION, VENEZUELA UNILATERALLY SEIZED AND STOLE AMERICAN OIL, AMERICAN ASSETS AND AMERICAN PLATFORMS, COSTING US BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THEY DID THIS A WHILE AGO, BUT WE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT THAT DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY TOOK ALL OF OUR PROPERTY, WAS OUR PROPERTY, WE BUILT IT. AND WE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT THAT DECIDED TO DO

ANYTHING ABOUT IT. INSTEAD, THEY FOUGHT WARS THAT WERE 10,000 MILES AWAY. WE BUILT VENEZUELA OIL INDUSTRY WITH AMERICAN TALENT, DRIVE AND SKILL. AND THE SOCIALIST REGIME STOLE IT FROM US DURING THOSE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND THEY STOLE IT THROUGH FORCE. THIS CONSTITUTED ONE OF THE LARGEST THEFTS OF AMERICAN PROPERTY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. CONSIDER THE LARGEST THEFT OF PROPERTY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. MASSIVE OIL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS TAKEN LIKE WE WERE BABIES AND WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW FOREIGN POWERS TO ROB

OUR PEOPLE OR DRIVE US BACK INTO AND OUT OF OUR OWN HEMISPHERE. THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. FURTHERMORE, UNDER THE NOW DEPOSED DICTATOR MADURO, VENEZUELA WAS INCREASINGLY HOSTING FOREIGN ADVERSARIES IN OUR REGION AND ACQUIRING MENACING, OFFENSIVE WEAPONS THAT COULD THREATEN U.S. INTERESTS AND LIVES. AND THEY USE THOSE WEAPONS LAST NIGHT. THEY USE THOSE WEAPONS LAST NIGHT, POTENTIALLY IN LEAGUE WITH THE CARTELS OPERATING ALONG OUR BORDER. ALL OF THESE ACTIONS WERE IN GROSS VIOLATION OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY DATING BACK MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES. AND NOT ANYMORE. ALL THE WAY BACK, IT DATED TO

THE MONROE DOCTRINES, AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE IS A BIG DEAL, BUT WE'VE SUPERSEDED IT BY A LOT, BY A REAL LOT. THEY NOW CALL IT THE MONROE DOCTRINE. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S MONROE DOCTRINE. WE SORT OF FORGOT ABOUT IT. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE FORGOT ABOUT IT. WE DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT ANYMORE. UNDER OUR NEW NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, AMERICAN DOMINANCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WILL NEVER BE QUESTIONED AGAIN. WON'T HAPPEN. SO JUST IN CONCLUDING, FOR DECADES, OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE NEGLECTED OR EVEN CONTRIBUTED TO THESE GROWING SECURITY THREATS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. UNDER THE TRUMP

ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE REASSERTING AMERICAN POWER IN A VERY POWERFUL WAY IN OUR HOME REGION. AND OUR HOME REGION IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO. THE FUTURE WILL BE, AND WE DID THIS IN MY FIRST TERM. WE HAD GREAT DOMINANCE IN MY FIRST TERM, AND WE HAVE FAR GREATER DOMINANCE RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE'S COMING BACK TO US. THE FUTURE WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE ABILITY TO PROTECT COMMERCE AND TERRITORY AND RESOURCES THAT ARE CORE TO NATIONAL SECURITY. THESE ARE CORE TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, JUST LIKE TARIFFS ARE. THEY'VE MADE OUR COUNTRY RICH

AND THEY'VE MADE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY STRONG, STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. BUT THESE ARE THE IRON LAWS THAT HAVE ALWAYS DETERMINED GLOBAL POWER. AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. WE WILL SECURE OUR BORDERS. WE WILL STOP THE TERRORISTS, WE WILL CRASH THE CARTELS, AND WE WILL DEFEND OUR CITIZENS AGAINST ALL THREATS. FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. OTHER PRESIDENTS MAY HAVE LACKED THE COURAGE OR WHATEVER TO DEFEND AMERICA, BUT I WILL NEVER ALLOW TERRORISTS AND CRIMINALS TO OPERATE WITH IMPUNITY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. THIS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION SHOULD SERVE AS WARNING TO ANYONE WHO WOULD THREATEN AMERICAN

SOVEREIGNTY OR ENDANGER AMERICAN LIVES. VERY IMPORTANTLY, THE EMBARGO ON ALL VENEZUELAN OIL REMAINS IN FULL EFFECT. THE AMERICAN ARMADA REMAINS POISED IN POSITION, AND THE UNITED STATES RETAINS ALL MILITARY OPTIONS UNTIL UNITED STATES DEMANDS HAVE BEEN FULLY MET AND FULLY SATISFIED. ALL POLITICAL AND MILITARY FIGURES IN VENEZUELA SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO MADURO CAN HAPPEN TO THEM, AND IT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IF THEY AREN'T JUST FAIR, EVEN TO THEIR PEOPLE. THE DICTATOR AND TERRORIST. MADURO IS FINALLY GONE. IN VENEZUELA, PEOPLE ARE FREE. THEY'RE FREE AGAIN. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME FOR THEM, BUT THEY'RE

FREE. AMERICA IS A SAFER NATION. THIS MORNING. IT'S A PROUDER NATION THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ALLOW THIS HORRIBLE PERSON AND THIS COUNTRY THAT WAS DOING VERY BAD THINGS TO US. IT DIDN'T ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. AND THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE IS RIGHT NOW A MUCH SAFER PLACE TO BE. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO THANK GENERAL RAISING CAIN. HE'S FANTASTIC MAN. I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF GENERALS. I WORKED WITH SOME I DIDN'T LIKE, I WORKED WITH SOMEONE I DIDN'T RESPECT, I WORKED WITH SOME, THEY JUST WEREN'T GOOD. BUT

THIS GUY IS FANTASTIC. I WATCHED LAST NIGHT ONE OF THE MOST PRECISE ATTACKS ON SOVEREIGNTY. I MEAN, IT WAS AN ATTACK FOR JUSTICE. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR SECRETARY OF WAR, PETE HEGSETH, WHO I'M GOING TO ASK TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE U.S. WILL RUN VENEZUELA? >> WELL, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. FINALLY, A COMMANDER IN CHIEF. THE WORLD RESPECTS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE. AND AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, WORDS CAN BARELY CAPTURE

THE BRAVERY AND THE POWER AND THE PRECISION OF THIS HISTORIC OPERATION. A MASSIVE JOINT MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RAID FLAWLESSLY EXECUTED BY THE GREATEST AMERICANS OUR COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER. AMERICAN WARRIORS ARE SECOND TO NONE, THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND THE BEST OF OUR COUNTRY. WHAT I WHAT ALL OF US WITNESSED LAST NIGHT WAS SHEER GUTS AND GRIT, GALLANTRY AND GLORY OF THE AMERICAN WARRIOR. I'M SIMPLY HUMBLED BY SUCH MEN, SUCH MEN. AND I TIP MY HAT TO OUR CHAIRMAN, DAN RAISIN CAIN AND ALL THOSE AMERICANS WHO STOOD WATCH LAST NIGHT. OUR WARRIORS ARE

THE ELITE OF AMERICA. AND AGAIN, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS YOUR BACK. NO OTHER COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH, AND IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE. COULD PULL THIS KIND OF OPERATION OFF. AND NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS EVER SHOWN THIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP, COURAGE AND RESOLVE. THE MOST POWERFUL COMBINATION THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, OUR ADVERSARIES REMAIN ON NOTICE. AMERICA CAN PROJECT OUR WILL ANYWHERE, ANY TIME. THE COORDINATION, THE STEALTH, THE LETHALITY, THE PRECISION, THE VERY LONG ARM OF AMERICAN JUSTICE ALL ON FULL DISPLAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, NICOLAS MADURO HAD HIS CHANCE. JUST

LIKE IRAN HAD THEIR CHANCE. UNTIL THEY DIDN'T AND UNTIL HE DIDN'T, HE LEFT AROUND AND HE FOUND OUT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING THE FLOW OF GANGS AND VIOLENCE TO OUR COUNTRY, DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING THE FLOW OF DRUGS AND POISON TO OUR PEOPLE, DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING BACK THE OIL THAT WAS STOLEN FROM US AND DEADLY SERIOUS ABOUT REESTABLISHING AMERICAN DETERRENCE AND DOMINANCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THIS IS ABOUT THE SAFETY, SECURITY, FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS AMERICA FIRST. THIS IS PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. AND THE UNITED STATES WAR

DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO HELP DELIVER IT. WELCOME TO 2026. AND UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, AMERICA IS BACK. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME NOW OUR CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN RAISING CAIN TO GIVE A FEW MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE OPERATION, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND GOOD MORNING. LAST NIGHT ON THE ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND IN SUPPORT OF A REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, THE UNITED STATES MILITARY CONDUCTED AN APPREHENSION MISSION IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA, TO BRING TO JUSTICE TO INDICTED PERSONS NICOLAS MADURO. THIS

OPERATION, KNOWN AS OPERATION ABSOLUTE RESOLVE, WAS DISCREET, PRECISE AND CONDUCTED DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF JANUARY 2ND AND WAS THE CULMINATION OF MONTHS OF PLANNING AND REHEARSAL, AN OPERATION THAT, FRANKLY, ONLY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY COULD UNDERTAKE. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO THIS MORNING IS TALK TO YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE PREPARATION AND THE DETAILS WITHOUT COMPROMISING ANY OF OUR TACTICS, TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES. THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE THAT WE'LL BE TASKED TO DO THIS TYPE OF MISSION AGAIN. OUR INTERAGENCY WORK BEGAN MONTHS AGO AND BUILT ON DECADES OF EXPERIENCE OF INTEGRATING COMPLEX AIR, GROUND,

SPACE, AND MARITIME OPERATIONS. WHILE THE PAST TWO DECADES HAVE HONED THE SKILLS OF OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES, THIS PARTICULAR MISSION REQUIRED EVERY COMPONENT OF OUR JOINT FORCE WITH SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND GUARDIANS WORKING IN UNISON WITH OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCY PARTNERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMMATES. IN AN UNPRECEDENTED OPERATION, WE LEVERAGED OUR UNMATCHED INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES AND OUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HUNTING TERRORISTS. AND WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS MISSION WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK BY VARIOUS INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CIA, NSA, AND NGA. WE WATCHED, WE WAITED, WE PREPARED. WE REMAINED PATIENT AND PROFESSIONAL. THIS MISSION

WAS METICULOUSLY PLANNED, DRAWING LESSONS FROM DECADES OF MISSIONS OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS, DECADES, MANY MISSIONS OVER THESE LAST MANY YEARS. THIS WAS AN AUDACIOUS OPERATION THAT ONLY THE UNITED STATES COULD DO. IT REQUIRED THE UTMOST OF PRECISION AND INTEGRATION WITHIN OUR JOINT FORCE, AND THE WORD INTEGRATION DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE SHEER COMPLEXITY OF SUCH A MISSION AND EXTRACTION SO PRECISE. IT INVOLVED MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHING ACROSS THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE IN CLOSE COORDINATION, ALL COMING TOGETHER IN TIME AND PLACE TO LAYER EFFECTS FOR A SINGLE PURPOSE, TO GET AN INTERDICTION FORCE INTO DOWNTOWN CARACAS

WHILE MAINTAINING THE ELEMENT OF TACTICAL SURPRISE. FAILURE OF ONE COMPONENT OF THIS WELL-OILED MACHINE WOULD HAVE ENDANGERED THE ENTIRE MISSION. AND FAILURE IS NEVER AN OPTION FOR AMERICA'S JOINT FORCE. THOSE IN THE AIR OVER CARACAS LAST NIGHT WERE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR THOSE ON THE GROUND AND IN THE HELICOPTERS. LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PREPARATION. AFTER MONTHS OF WORK BY OUR INTELLIGENCE TEAMMATES, TO FIND MADURO AND UNDERSTAND HOW HE MOVED, WHERE HE LIVED, WHERE HE TRAVELED, WHAT HE ATE, WHAT HE WORE, WHAT WERE HIS PETS. IN EARLY DECEMBER, OUR FORCE

WAS SET PENDING A SERIES OF ALIGNED EVENTS. KEY WAS CHOOSING THE RIGHT DAY TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR CIVILIAN HARM AND MAXIMIZE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AND MINIMIZE THE HARM TO THE INDICTED PERSONNEL. SO, AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, THEY COULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. AND AS THE PRESIDENT SAID EARLIER TODAY, WHETHER IN VENEZUELA IS ALWAYS A FACTOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND OVER THE WEEKS THROUGH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY SAT READY, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TRIGGERS TO BE MET AND THE PRESIDENT TO ORDER US

INTO ACTION. LAST NIGHT THE WEATHER BROKE JUST ENOUGH, CLEARING A PATH THAT ONLY THE MOST SKILLED AVIATORS IN THE WORLD COULD MANEUVER THROUGH. OCEAN MOUNTAIN, LOW CLOUD CEILINGS. BUT WHEN TASKED WITH A MISSION, THIS ORGANIZATION DOES NOT QUIT. AT 10:46 P.M. EASTERN TIME LAST NIGHT, THE PRESIDENT ORDERED THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MISSION. HE SAID TO US, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, MR. PRESIDENT, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED. AND THOSE WORDS WERE TRANSMITTED TO THE ENTIRE JOINT FORCE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT, AIRCRAFT BEGAN LAUNCHING FROM 20 DIFFERENT BASES ON LAND AND

SEA ACROSS THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT, BOMBERS, FIGHTERS, INTELLIGENCE, RECONNAISSANCE, SURVEILLANCE, ROTARY WING WERE IN THE AIR LAST NIGHT. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF EXPERIENCE WERE AIRBORNE. OUR YOUNGEST CREW MEMBER WAS 20 AND OUR OLDEST CREW MEMBER WAS 49. AND THERE'S SIMPLY NO MATCH FOR AMERICAN MILITARY MIGHT. AS THE NIGHT BEGAN, THE HELICOPTERS TOOK OFF WITH THE EXTRACTION FORCE, WHICH INCLUDED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND BEGAN THEIR FLIGHT INTO VENEZUELA AT 100FT ABOVE THE WATER. AS THEY APPROACHED VENEZUELAN SHORES, THE UNITED STATES BEGAN LAYERING DIFFERENT EFFECTS PROVIDED BY SPACE COMMS, CYBERCOM,

AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERAGENCY TO CREATE A PATHWAY OVERHEAD. THOSE FORCES WERE PROTECTED FROM AIRCRAFT, WERE PROTECTED BY AIRCRAFT FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINES, THE UNITED STATES NAVY, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, AND THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD. THE FORCE INCLUDED F-22S, F-35S, F-18S, E18S, E2'S, B-1 BOMBERS, AND OTHER SUPPORT AIRCRAFT, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REMOTELY PILOTED DRONES. AS THE FORCE BEGAN TO APPROACH CARACAS, THE JOINT AIR COMPONENT BEGAN DISMANTLING AND DISABLING THE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN VENEZUELA, EMPLOYING WEAPONS TO ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE OF THE HELICOPTERS INTO THE TARGET AREA. THE GOAL OF OUR

AIR COMPONENT IS, WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE TO PROTECT THE HELICOPTERS AND THE GROUND FORCE AND GET THEM TO THE TARGET AND GET THEM HOME. AS THE FORCE CROSSED THE LAST POINT OF HIGH TERRAIN WHERE THEY'D BEEN HIDING IN THE CLUTTER, WE ASSESSED THAT WE HAD MAINTAINED TOTALLY THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. AS THE HELICOPTER FORCE INGRESSED TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVE AT LOW LEVEL. WE ARRIVED AT MADURO'S COMPOUND AT 1:01 A.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME, OR 2:01 A.M. CARACAS LOCAL TIME, AND THE APPREHENSION FORCE DESCENDED INTO MADURO'S COMPOUND AND MOVED WITH SPEED, PRECISION AND DISCIPLINE TOWARDS THEIR OBJECTIVE

AND ISOLATED THE AREA TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE GROUND FORCE. WHILE APPREHENDING THE INDICTED PERSONS. ON ARRIVAL INTO THE TARGET AREA, THE HELICOPTERS CAME UNDER FIRE AND THEY REPLIED WITH THAT FIRE WITH OVERWHELMING FORCE. IN SELF DEFENSE, ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BUT REMAINED FLYABLE. AND AS THE PRESIDENT SAID EARLIER TODAY, ALL OF OUR AIRCRAFT CAME HOME AND THAT AIRCRAFT REMAINED FLYABLE DURING THE REST OF THE MISSION. AS THE OPERATION UNFOLDED AT THE COMPOUND, OUR AIR AND GROUND INTELLIGENCE TEAMS PROVIDED REAL TIME UPDATES TO THE GROUND FORCE, ENSURING THOSE FORCES COULD

SAFELY NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT UNNECESSARY RISK. THE FORCE REMAINED PROTECTED BY OVERHEAD TACTICAL AVIATION. MADURO AND HIS WIFE, BOTH INDICTED, GAVE UP AND WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ASSISTED BY OUR INCREDIBLE U.S. MILITARY WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND PRECISION, WITH NO LOSS OF U.S. LIFE. AFTER SECURING THE INDICTED PERSONS, THE FORCE BEGAN TO PREP FOR DEPARTURE. HELICOPTERS WERE CALLED IN TO EXFILTRATE THE EXTRACTION FORCE, WHILE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT AND REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT PROVIDED OVERHEAD COVERAGE AND SUPPRESSIVE FIRE. THERE WERE MULTIPLE SELF-DEFENSE ENGAGEMENTS. AS THE FORCE BEGAN TO WITHDRAW OUT OF VENEZUELA, THE FORCE

SUCCESSFULLY EXFILTRATED AND RETURNED TO THEIR AFLOAT LAUNCH BASES, AND THE FORCE WAS OVER THE WATER. AT 3:29 A.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME, WITH INDICTED PERSONS ON BOARD, AND BOTH MADURO AND HIS WIFE WERE EMBARKED ABOARD THE USS IWO JIMA. IN CLOSING, WHAT WE'VE WITNESSED TODAY IS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION OF AMERICA'S JOINT FORCE. WE THINK WE DEVELOP, WE TRAIN, WE REHEARSE, WE DEBRIEF, WE REHEARSE AGAIN AND AGAIN NOT TO GET IT RIGHT, BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE CANNOT GET IT WRONG. OUR JOBS ARE TO INTEGRATE COMBAT POWER. SO WHEN THE ORDER COMES, WE CAN DELIVER OVERWHELMING FORCE

AT THE TIME AND THE PLACE OF OUR CHOOSING AGAINST ANY FOE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. I AM IMMENSELY PROUD TODAY OF OUR JOINT FORCE AND FILLED WITH GRATITUDE TO REPRESENT THEM HERE TODAY. THERE IS SIMPLY NO MISSION TOO DIFFICULT FOR THESE INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS AND THE FAMILIES THAT STAND BY THEM AND SUPPORT THEM. AS WE STAND HERE THIS MORNING, OUR FORCES REMAIN IN THE REGION AT A HIGH STATE OF READINESS, PREPARED TO PROJECT POWER, DEFEND THEMSELVES AND OUR INTERESTS IN THE REGION. THIS OPERATION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, AND OUR

RESOLVE TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO THREATEN PEACE AND STABILITY. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO EXECUTED THIS MISSION, THEIR COURAGE AND TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO OUR NATION ARE WHAT MAKES US STRONG. THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY, AND THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WELL, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD NOW OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING POINTS. NICOLAS MADURO WAS INDICTED IN 2020, IN THE UNITED STATES. HE IS NOT THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA. THAT'S NOT JUST US SAYING IT. THE FIRST

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. NONE OF THOSE THREE RECOGNIZED HIM. HE'S NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MULTIPLE COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. HE IS A FUGITIVE OF AMERICAN JUSTICE WITH A $50 MILLION REWARD, WHICH I GUESS WE SAVED $50 MILLION AND. MAKE SURE. YEAH, EXACTLY. >> BUT DON'T LET ANYBODY CLAIM IT. NOBODY DESERVES IT BUT US. >> BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING. NICOLAS MADURO HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO AVOID THIS. HE WAS PROVIDED MULTIPLE VERY, VERY, VERY GENEROUS OFFERS AND CHOSE INSTEAD TO ACT LIKE A WILD MAN,

CHOSE INSTEAD TO PLAY AROUND. AND THE RESULT IS WHAT WE SAW TONIGHT. THE OTHER MESSAGE HERE IS THE FOLLOWING. YOU HAVE A GUY LIKE MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THEY LIKE TO PLAY GAMES. YOU HAVE A GUY WHO DECIDES HE'S GOING TO INVITE IRAN INTO HIS COUNTRY, IS GOING TO THE CONFISCATION OF AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES, IS GOING TO FLOOD OUR COUNTRY WITH GANG MEMBERS, IS IS GOING TO TAKE AMERICANS PRISONER AND TRY TO HOLD THEM FOR HOSTAGE AND TRADE THEM LIKE HE WAS ABLE TO DO WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BASICALLY LIKES TO PLAY GAMES ALL

THE TIME AND THINKS NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I HOPE WHAT PEOPLE NOW UNDERSTAND IS WE HAVE A PRESIDENT. THE 47TH PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES IS NOT A GAME PLAYER. WHEN HE TELLS YOU THAT HE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING, WHEN HE TELLS YOU HE'S GOING TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM, HE MEANS IT. HE ACTIONS IT. I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE WATCHED THIS PROCESS NOW FOR 14, 15 YEARS, BEEN AROUND IT. EVERYBODY TALKS. I'M GOING TO DO THIS. I'M GOING TO DO THAT. WHEN I GET THERE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS IS

A PRESIDENT OF ACTION. LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND YET HOW THEY HAVEN'T FIGURED THIS OUT. AND NOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW, NOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT. AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A PRESIDENT THAT JUST TALKS AND DOES LETTERS AND PRESS CONFERENCES. AND, YOU KNOW, IF HE. SAID SERIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING, HE MEANS IT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE NATIONAL INTEREST TO THE UNITED STATES. AND THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSED IT. THERE'S A PRESIDENT A PIECE, BY THE WAY, I TOLD

YOU WHAT I JUST SAID EARLIER. THIS GUY HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND HIS WAY SOMEWHERE ELSE AND FIGURE OUT ANOTHER. HE COULD HAVE BEEN LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE RIGHT NOW, VERY HAPPY. BUT INSTEAD HE WANTED TO PLAY BIG BOY. AND SO NOW, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT OTHER SETS OF PROBLEMS ON HIS HANDS. AND BUT I THINK THE MESSAGE HERE SHOULD BE FOR THE WORLD. LOOK, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T GO OUT LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO PICK FIGHTS WITH. HE'S NOT GENERALLY WANTS TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY. WE'LL TALK AND MEET WITH ANYBODY. BUT DON'T PLAY GAMES. DON'T PLAY

GAMES WITH THIS PRESIDENTS IN OFFICE BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN OUT WELL. AND SO I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT LESSON WAS LEARNED LAST NIGHT. AND AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE INSTRUCTIVE MOVING FORWARD. >> IS THAT A MESSAGE TO CUBA. MR. PRESIDENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT MR. MR. PRESIDENT MR. PRESIDENT MR. PRESIDENT MR. PRESIDENT MR. PRESIDENT YOU SAID THAT THE US IS GOING TO RUN VENEZUELA. SO WHO'S IN POWER RIGHT NOW. >> WELL WE'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING IT WITH A GROUP AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT'S RUN PROPERLY.

WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD THE OIL INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WILL COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE OIL COMPANIES DIRECTLY. THEY WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE PAID, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THE OIL FLOWING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST A MINOR FLOW. IT WAS ACTUALLY A MINOR FLOW FOR WHAT THEY HAVE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT PROPERLY AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA ARE TAKEN CARE OF. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FORCED

OUT OF VENEZUELA BY THIS THUG ARE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF. >> MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT. >> PRESIDENT DOES THE US RUNNING THE COUNTRY MEAN THAT US TROOPS WILL BE ON THE GROUND. HOW WILL THAT WORK. >> WELL YOU KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY BOOTS ON THE GROUND. OH IT'S SO WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND IF WE HAVE TO. HAVE WE HAD BOOTS ON THE GROUND LAST NIGHT AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, ACTUALLY. WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF IT. WE DON'T MIND SAYING IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT

COUNTRY IS RUN PROPERLY. WE'RE NOT DOING THIS IN VAIN. THIS IS NOT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ATTACK. THIS IS AN ATTACK THAT COULD HAVE GONE VERY, VERY BADLY, COULD HAVE GONE VERY BADLY. WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE LAST NIGHT. WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT OF DIGNITY. WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT OF EQUIPMENT. THE EQUIPMENT IS LESS IMPORTANT, BUT WE COULD HAVE LOST A LOT. AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS PROPER. WE'RE THERE NOW. WE'RE READY TO GO AGAIN IF WE HAVE TO. WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE

COUNTRY, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE RUN VERY JUDICIOUSLY, VERY FAIRLY. IT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE. WE'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE PEOPLE THAT WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE COULDN'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT. YOU KNOW, THEY STOLE OUR OIL. WE BUILT THAT WHOLE INDUSTRY THERE AND THEY JUST TOOK IT OVER LIKE WE WERE NOTHING. AND WE HAD A PRESIDENT THAT DECIDED NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO WE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE'RE LATE, BUT WE

DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YEAH. PLEASE. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN. >> THE EXACT MECHANISM BY WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY? ARE YOU GOING TO DESIGNATE A US OFFICIAL TO COORDINATE? CAN YOU BEING. >> ALL BEING DONE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DESIGNATING PEOPLE. WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE. WE'RE DESIGNATING VARIOUS PEOPLE. AND WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, YOU MENTIONED THAT WOULD RUN VENEZUELA. >> WELL, IT'S LARGELY GOING TO BE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING IT. WE'RE GOING

TO BE BRINGING IT BACK. IT'S A IT'S A DEAD. YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT A DEAD COUNTRY. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE WERE A DEAD COUNTRY. NOW WE'RE THE HOTTEST COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. WE'RE A COUNTRY DOING BETTER THAN ANY COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. AND IT REQUIRED LEADERSHIP. VENEZUELA HAS A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE IN THERE, A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE LEADING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A CHANCE AT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. TAKE OVER FOR MADURO. SO YOU CAN LOOK AT AND OTHERS. WE HAVE FANTASTIC PEOPLE, INCLUDING

PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE RUNNING IT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT CAN BE PUT BACK ON TRACK, MAKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE AND GIVE PEOPLE A GREAT WAY OF LIFE, AND ALSO REIMBURSEMENT FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY THAT WERE FORCED OUT OF VENEZUELA. >> MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE RUBIO WOULD BE. >> YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BACK MACHADO TO COME BACK AND BE THE OPPOSITION LEADER IN YOUR FOX AND FRIENDS INTERVIEW. AND THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA.

ARE YOU GOING TO WORK WITH VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, OR HOW DO YOU FORESEE THE RELATIONSHIP. >> GOING SINCE SHE WAS JUST SWORN IN? BUT SHE WAS, AS YOU KNOW, PICKED BY MADURO. SO MARCO IS WORKING ON THAT DIRECTLY. HE'S JUST HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER, AND SHE'S ESSENTIALLY WILLING TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS NECESSARY TO MAKE VENEZUELA GREAT. AGAIN. VERY SIMPLE. >> IS IT, MR. PRESIDENT? >> SO COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO YOU SAID HE'S GOT TO WATCH HIS. AND TODAY HE SAID HE'S NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING HAPPENING

TO HIM IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS OPERATION. SO JUST WHAT YOUR MESSAGE IS. >> ABOUT DIAZ COCAINE MILLS. HE HAS FACTORIES WHERE HE MAKES COCAINE. AND. YEAH, I THINK I STICK BY MY FIRST STATEMENT. HE'S MAKING COCAINE. THEY'RE SENDING IT INTO THE UNITED STATES. SO HE DOES HAVE TO WATCH. >> HIS. MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, DID. >> YOU NOTIFY ANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ADVANCE? >> MARCO, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE INVOLVED? >> SURE. >> WE CALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THIS WAS NOT THE KIND OF MISSION

THAT YOU CAN DO. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION ON. IT WAS A TRIGGER BASED MISSION IN WHICH CONDITIONS HAD TO BE MET NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. WE WATCHED AND MONITORED THAT FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. SO IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT THE KIND OF MISSION YOU CAN CALL PEOPLE AND SAY, HEY, WE MAY DO THIS AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT 15 DAYS, BUT IT'S LARGELY A LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION. REMEMBER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT ITS CORE, THIS WAS AN ARREST OF TWO INDICTED FUGITIVES OF AMERICAN JUSTICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR SUPPORTED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN

THAT JOB. NOW, THERE ARE BROADER POLICY IMPLICATIONS HERE, BUT IT'S JUST NOT THE KIND OF MISSION THAT YOU CAN PRE-NOTIFY BECAUSE IT ENDANGERS THE MISSION. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> IF I COULD ADD ONE THING TO. >> THAT. >> CONGRESS HAS A TENDENCY TO LEAK. THIS WOULD NOT BE GOOD IF THEY LEAKED. GENERAL. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MAYBE A VERY DIFFERENT RESULT. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THEY KNEW WE WERE COMING AT SOME POINT. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF SHIPS OUT THERE. THEY SORT OF KNEW WE. >> WERE COMING. WE WEREN'T. MR.

PRESIDENT. >> BUT CONGRESS CONGRESS WILL LEAK AND WE DON'T WANT LEAKERS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WERE ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE TO WATCH THIS ALL PLAY OUT LIVE. WHAT WAS MADURO DOING WHEN THE US FORCES ENTERED WHAT I ASSUME WOULD BE HIS HOME? AND ALSO, WAS THERE ANY POINT WHERE THE US WAS CONSIDERING IF MADURO PUSHED BACK OR RESISTED KILLING MADURO? >> WE COULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. HE WAS TRYING TO GET INTO A SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, THE SAFE PLACES, ALL STEEL. AND HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE

DOOR BECAUSE OUR GUYS WERE SO FAST. THEY WENT THROUGH THE OPPOSITION SO FAST, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE WONDERING, DO WE GET THEM BY SURPRISE, SORT OF SURPRISE, BUT THEY WERE WAITING FOR SOMETHING. IT WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION. THERE WAS A LOT OF GUNFIRE. YOU SAW SOME OF IT TODAY. BUT HE WAS TRYING TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE, WHICH WASN'T SAFE, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE DOOR BLOWN UP. AND ABOUT 47, I THINK 47 SECONDS, THEY SAY ON AVERAGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW THICK THE STEEL WAS, IT

WAS A VERY THICK DOOR. IT WAS A VERY HEAVY DOOR. BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO GET TO THAT DOOR. HE MADE IT TO THE DOOR. HE WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE IT. >> SO WHERE IS MADURO? WHERE IS MADURO GOING TO BE IN THE TIME BEING RIGHT NOW? DO YOU KNOW HIS EXACT WORDS? >> WELL, EVENTUALLY, ULTIMATELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HE'S GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO NEW YORK. >> AND WHERE IS HE GOING TO BE? WHERE IS HE GOING TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK? >> DO YOU. >> KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE UP TO

THE OFFICIALS THAT DO THESE THINGS? >> MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT THE US HAS SOMETHING OF A MIXED TRACK RECORD OF OUSTING DICTATORS WITHOUT NECESSARILY A PLAN FOR WHAT COMES AFTERWARDS. DID THAT WEIGH ON YOUR DECISION. >> WHAT. WE HAD DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS. BUT WITH ME THAT'S NOT TRUE. WITH ME, WE'VE HAD A PERFECT TRACK RECORD OF WINNING. WE WIN A LOT AND WE WIN. IF YOU LOOK AT SOLEIMANI, YOU LOOK AT AL-BAGHDADI, YOU LOOK AT THE MIDNIGHT HAMMER. MIDNIGHT HAMMER WAS INCREDIBLE RIGHT NOW. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IF ESSENTIALLY PEACE

IN THE MIDDLE EAST BECAUSE OF THAT. IF YOU DIDN'T IF WE WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL WITH MIDNIGHT HAMMER, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SO WITH ME, YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF A LOT OF VICTORIES. YOU'VE HAD ONLY VICTORIES. YOU'VE HAD NO LOSSES. YEAH. >> PRESIDENT CAN YOU HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT THE US TO RUN VENEZUELA? AND HOW SOON DO YOU WANT THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE TO HOLD ELECTIONS. >> SO I'D LIKE TO DO IT QUICKLY. BUT IT TAKES A PERIOD OF TIME. YOU KNOW, WE'RE REBUILDING. WE HAVE TO REBUILD THEIR WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE

IS ROTTED. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY DANGEROUS. IT'S, YOU KNOW, BLOW UP TERRITORY. OIL IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO TAKE OUT OF THE GROUND. IT CAN KILL A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT HAS KILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING JUST THAT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS OLD, IT'S ROTTED. MUCH OF IT IS STUFF THAT WE PUT THERE 25 YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY OUT SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE COUNTRY. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT SECRETARY RUBIO? >> MR. PRESIDENT, CHINA, RUSSIA

AND IRAN HAVE INTERESTS IN VENEZUELA. HOW DOES THIS OPERATION AFFECT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM WHEN IT COMES TO CHINA. >> AND RUSSIA? WELL, RUSSIA, WHEN WE GET THINGS STRAIGHTENED OUT, BUT IN TERMS OF OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WANT OIL, WE'RE IN THE OIL BUSINESS. WE'RE GOING TO SELL IT TO THEM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING. >> TO BOTHER YOU. >> IN OTHER WORDS, WE'LL BE SELLING OIL PROBABLY IN MUCH LARGER DOSES, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PRODUCE VERY MUCH BECAUSE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SO BAD. SO WE'LL BE SELLING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL TO OTHER COUNTRIES,

MANY OF WHOM ARE USING IT NOW. BUT I WOULD SAY MANY MORE WILL COME. >> ARE YOU SAYING, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE? ARE YOU SAYING THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, ARE YOU. SAYING THAT YOU. PLEASE, MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA TODAY? OF COURSE, THE CIVILIAN POPULATION SPECIFICALLY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA? >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEACE, JUSTICE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THE RICHES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IT WAS STOLEN FROM

YOU. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEACE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SAFETY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE JUSTICE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL COUNTRY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POTENTIALLY A GREAT COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO BACK 20 YEARS, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE LONGER AGO, THAT WAS A GREAT COUNTRY AND THEY DESTROYED IT. REMEMBER I SAID THAT IF WE LOSE THIS ELECTION, THE UNITED STATES WILL BE VENEZUELA ON STEROIDS. THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE LOST THE ELECTION, THE 2024 ELECTION. WE SUFFERED SO BADLY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT

THE BORDER FROM 2020, WHAT WHAT THEY DID, WHAT JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID TO OUR COUNTRY SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. BUT IF WE HAD TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR OF THAT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE. WE WOULD BE EXACTLY WHERE VENEZUELA WAS IN TERMS I USED TO SAY, IF THEY WIN, WE'RE GOING TO VENEZUELA ON STEROIDS. AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. ARE YOU SAYING THAT SECRETARY HEGSETH AND RUBIO ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING VENEZUELA, AND WILL YOU BE SENDING IN U.S. MILITARY. TROOPS TO PROVIDE. >> THAT'S WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE VENEZUELA. RIGHT? BECAUSE FOR US TO JUST LEAVE, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE OVER? I MEAN, THERE IS NOBODY TO TAKE OVER. YOU HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT WHO'S BEEN APPOINTED BY MADURO, AND RIGHT NOW SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT, AND SHE'S, I GUESS, THE PRESIDENT. SHE WAS SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO. SHE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH MARCO AND SHE SAID, WE'LL DO WHATEVER YOU NEED. I THINK SHE WAS QUITE GRACIOUS, BUT SHE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DONE RIGHT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO

JUST DO THIS WITH MADURO, THEN LEAVE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. LEAVE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, LET IT GO TO HELL. IF WE JUST LEFT, IT HAS ZERO CHANCE OF EVER COMING BACK. WE'LL RUN IT PROPERLY. WE'LL RUN IT PROFESSIONALLY. WE'LL HAVE THE GREATEST OIL COMPANIES IN THE WORLD GOING IN AND INVEST BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND TAKE OUT MONEY. USE THAT MONEY IN VENEZUELA. AND THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARY ARE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. AND ALSO, I CAN'T STRESS THIS STRONGLY ENOUGH, THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THROWN OUT OF VENEZUELA THAT ARE NOW IN THE

UNITED STATES. AND FRANKLY, SOME WANT TO STAY AND SOME PROBABLY WANT TO GO BACK. YEAH. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> DONE TO PROTECT AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY. AND WERE ANY OF THE DETAINED AMERICANS. >> WELL RIGHT NOW THEY'RE VERY PROTECTED BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING TO MESS WITH US. THEY'RE VERY PROTECTED. THE PEOPLE OF AND WE LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH ONE OF THEM. >> WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT BAD ELEMENTS OF THE MADURO REGIME WILL REMAIN IN PLACE? >> WELL, WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE. WE'RE ON THEM. AND THEY'RE ACTING MUCH

DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN THEY WOULD HAVE ACTED TWO DAYS AGO. OKAY, WAIT BEHIND YOU, PLEASE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, WHY IS RUNNING A COUNTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA, AMERICA FIRST? >> WELL, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SURROUND OURSELVES WITH GOOD NEIGHBORS. WE WANT TO SURROUND OURSELVES WITH STABILITY. WE WANT TO SURROUND OURSELVES WITH ENERGY. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS ENERGY IN THAT COUNTRY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT IT. WE NEED THAT FOR OURSELVES. WE NEED THAT FOR THE WORLD, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROTECT. >> IT, MR. PRESIDENT. >> YES, SIR. PLEASE GO

AHEAD. >> YEAH. IS THERE A MESSAGE HERE FOR CUBAN DIAZ-CANEL? >> WELL, CUBA IS AN INTERESTING CASE. CUBA IS, YOU KNOW, NOT DOING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW. IT THAT SYSTEM IS NOT BEEN A VERY GOOD ONE FOR CUBA. THE PEOPLE THERE HAVE SUFFERED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND I THINK CUBA IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'LL END UP TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE CUBA IS A FAILING NATION RIGHT NOW, VERY BADLY FAILING NATION. AND WE WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE. IT'S VERY SIMILAR IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN CUBA, BUT WE WANT

TO ALSO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FORCED OUT OF CUBA AND LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, MARCO, PLEASE. >> WELL, I MEAN, I JUST GAVE YOU A STATEMENT A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS, YOU SHOULD TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, CUBA IS A DISASTER. IT'S IT'S RUN BY INCOMPETENT, SENILE MEN AND IN SOME CASES, NOT SEEN NOW, BUT INCOMPETENT NONETHELESS. THERE HAS NO ECONOMY. IT'S IN TOTAL COLLAPSE. AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE

GUARDS THAT HELPED PROTECT MADURO. THIS IS WELL KNOWN. THEIR WHOLE SPY AGENCY, ALL THAT WERE FULL OF CUBANS. I MEAN, THEY BASICALLY IT'S AMAZING THIS POOR ISLAND TOOK OVER VENEZUELA. IN SOME CASES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS VENEZUELANS HAVE IS THEY HAVE TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE FROM CUBA. THEY TRIED TO BASICALLY COLONIZE IT FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT. SO YEAH, LOOK, I LIVED IN HAVANA AND I WAS IN THE GOVERNMENT. I'D BE CONCERNED AT LEAST A LITTLE. >> BIT, CUTTING OFF THE FLOW TO CUBA FROM VENEZUELA. >> WELL, THE PRESIDENT ALREADY ANNOUNCED A WEEK AGO THAT ANYTHING

THAT'S SANCTIONED, IT'S SANCTIONED OIL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO GET THERE. SO THAT'S THAT'S A. >> STEVEN ROMO PRESIDENT. >> WE'VE JUST BEEN LISTENING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEWS CONFERENCE AT MAR A LAGO THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE U.S. ATTACK ON VENEZUELA ON OUR STREAMING NETWORK, NBC NEWS NOW ONLINE AT NBCNEWS.COM AND A FULL WRAP-UP. TONIGHT ON NIGHTLY NEWS. I'M TOM LLAMAS, REPORTING TODAY FROM MIAMI. WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL REPORT. >> BECAUSE THE MONEY COMING OUT

OF THE GROUND IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO COST US ANYTHING. >> WE WILL. >> WELL, WE WANT SAFETY THERE. WE WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY COUNTRIES THAT AREN'T HOUSING ALL OF OUR ENEMIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE REBUILDING AND WE'RE WE'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY. THE OIL COMPANIES ARE GOING TO GO IN, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY. THEY'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE BACK THE OIL THAT, FRANKLY, WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN BACK A LONG TIME AGO. A LOT

OF MONEY IS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND. WE'RE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED FOR ALL OF THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE SPEND. SO IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS A VERY BIG EVENING THAT TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT. WE HAVE TO BE SURROUNDED BY SAFE, SECURE COUNTRIES. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY. VERY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY. THAT'S REAL ENERGY, NOT WHERE THEY'RE GETTING 4% AND 5% OF THE ENERGY OUT OF THE GROUND. YOU TAKE A

LOOK. IT WAS SUCH A DISASTER. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH VENEZUELA? I THINK OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF A YEAR IS GOING TO BE A GREAT THING. AND THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA WILL BE THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I. >> US MILITARY. >> MR. PRESIDENT THANK YOU. WHAT DID YOU LAST SPEAK TO MADURO ABOUT WHEN YOU SPOKE AND IS THE. >> WELL I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE CONVERSATIONS BUT I DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND I SAID YOU GOT TO SURRENDER. AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT HE WAS PRETTY CLOSE

TO DOING SO, BUT NOW HE WISHED HE DID. YEAH. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOU SAID THAT MADURO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING. YOU RECENTLY PARDONED THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS WHO WAS CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THESE TWO SITUATIONS ARE DIFFERENT? AND WOULD YOU EVER PARDON MADURO? >> I ENDORSED, AS YOU KNOW, THE WINNING PRESIDENT, THE MAN WHO WON IN HONDURAS. I ENDORSED THE MAN WHO WON IN CHILE. I ENDORSED THE MAN WHO WON IN ARGENTINA. AND WE ARE DOING VERY WELL WITH THAT WHOLE GROUP. WHAT THE MAN THAT

I PARDONED WAS, IF YOU COULD EQUATE IT TO US. HE WAS TREATED LIKE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TREATED A MAN NAMED TRUMP. THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL FOR THEM. THIS WAS A MAN WHO WAS PERSECUTED VERY UNFAIRLY. HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE COUNTRY. HE WAS PERSECUTED VERY UNFAIRLY. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM. AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS A VERY UNFAIR SITUATION THAT HAPPENED TO HIM. HE'S ALSO A PARTY MEMBER OF THE MAN WHO WON. SO OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE LIKED WHAT I DID. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS DONE IS BECAUSE

OF THE FACT THAT THE PARTY IN POWER FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT THAT MAN WAS TREATED VERY BADLY. I STUDIED IT VERY QUICKLY, AND THEN I STUDIED IT IN GREAT DETAIL. I WENT TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND ME, AND THEY FELT THAT THAT MAN WAS PERSECUTED AND TREATED VERY BADLY. THAT'S WHY I GAVE HIM A PARDON. >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> YOU REFERENCED BOOTS ON THE GROUND EARLIER. CAN YOU JUST SORT OF BUTTON THIS UP? DO YOU ENVISION THE US MILITARY HAVING A PRESENCE IN VENEZUELA AS THE US RUNS THAT? >> WELL, NO, WE'RE

GOING TO HAVE PRESENCE IN VENEZUELA AS IT PERTAINS TO OIL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE WE WE'RE SENDING OUR EXPERTISE IN. SO YOU MAY NEED SOMETHING. NOT VERY MUCH, BUT NO, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING OUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WEALTH OUT OF THE GROUND. AND THAT WEALTH IS GOING TO THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA AND PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF VENEZUELA THAT USED TO BE IN VENEZUELA. AND IT GOES ALSO TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED US BY THAT COUNTRY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY

MUCH. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ONE? YES, PLEASE. YOU WERE SO NICE BEFORE. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE FINAL QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. >> MISTER, IT'S A BAD QUESTION, IN WHICH CASE I'LL GO ONE WAY. >> IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT PUTIN. IF YOU WANT. >> ABOUT PUTIN. THAT'S ALWAYS NICE. >> ABOUT PUTIN. YOU HAD A PHONE CALL WITH HIM ON MONDAY. DID HE TALK AT ALL ABOUT MADURO? DID YOU TALK ABOUT THIS? >> NO WE DIDN'T WE NEVER SPOKE ABOUT MADURO. >> ARE YOU MAD AT HIM RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, THERE'S THIS. >> INTELLIGENCE

WITH PUTIN. I'M NOT THRILLED WITH PUTIN. HE'S KILLING TOO MANY PEOPLE. >> THERE WAS THAT. >> INTELLIGENCE I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE SO. I SETTLED EIGHT AND ONE QUARTER WAR. YOU KNOW WHAT THE ONE QUARTER WAS? THAILAND AND CAMBODIA. I DID IT AGAIN. THEY WERE THEY BROKE OUT AND I DID IT IN ABOUT FIVE HOURS AND I SETTLED IT. I'M GIVING MYSELF ONE QUARTER, SO I'M UP TO NOW EIGHT AND ONE QUARTER. IN OTHER WORDS, I SETTLED THE WAR, BUT THEN THEY BROKE OUT. THEY HAD A PRETTY BAD BREAKOUT OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS. I

GOT THEM TO GO BACK TO PEACE, SO I ONLY GIVE ONE QUARTER. I THOUGHT THE EASIEST ONE WOULD BE. ONE OF THE EASIER ONES WOULD BE RUSSIA, UKRAINE. IT'S NOT. AND THEY BOTH HAVE DONE SOME PRETTY BAD THINGS. AND LOOK, THAT'S BIDEN'S WAR. THAT'S NOT MY WAR. BUT I WANT TO STOP THE LIVES. DID YOU SEE WHERE LAST MONTH 30,000. THIS LAST WEEK IT WAS 27, 27,000 THE MONTH BEFORE, 30,000 MOSTLY SOLDIERS WERE KILLED. THIS LAST MONTH. 30,000. I WANT TO STOP THAT. YOU KNOW, I GOT NATO TO PAY 5% INSTEAD OF THE 2% THAT

THEY WEREN'T PAYING. THEY WEREN'T PAYING TWO. NOW THEY PAY FIVE, AND WE SEND THEM A LOT OF MUNITIONS. WE SEND THEM A LOT OF THINGS, MISSILES AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS A LOT. AND THEY PAY. THE UNITED STATES IS NOT LOSING MONEY. WE'RE PROBABLY MAKING MONEY ON THAT. IT'S THE LAST THING I CARE ABOUT. I JUST WANT TO STOP ALL THOSE PEOPLE. WE'RE LOSING 25, 30,000 HUMAN BEINGS. THEY COME FROM TWO PLACES THAT ARE VERY FAR AWAY. BUT IF I CAN STOP BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PRETTY GOOD AT DOING DEALS. I GUESS IT'S ALL A

DEAL. LIFE IS A BIG DEAL. BUT IF I CAN STOP THAT WAR AND STOP 30,000 YOUNG PEOPLE, IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED IN KYIV, PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED IN OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER, BUT THEY'RE BEING KILLED, VICIOUSLY KILLED. SO I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GET SOLVED. WE HAVE MR. WITKOFF HERE. I THINK THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. BUT THAT'S A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. IF I WERE PRESIDENT, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. PUTIN SAYS IT. EVERYBODY SAYS

IT. IF I WERE PRESIDENT, THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. BUT I INHERITED THAT WAR. THAT WAS JOE BIDEN, ZELENSKYY AND PUTIN. I CAME INTO THE SITUATION AND IT'S A MESS. AND I WILL SAY THIS I WATCHED AN OPERATION LAST NIGHT THAT WAS SO PRECISE. IT WAS SO BRILLIANT. I MEAN, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. IF WE HAD OUR PEOPLE LIKE THIS GENERAL AND OUR PEOPLE INVOLVED, THAT WAR, THAT WAR WOULD NOT HAVE GONE ON VERY LONG, THAT I CAN TELL YOU. >> YOU TOLD ME THAT. >> THAT WAR, TO USE AN OLD TERM, THAT WAR HAS BECOME

A BLOODBATH AND WE WANT IT TO GET STOPPED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OKAY. WE'VE JUST BEEN LISTENING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEWS CONFERENCE THERE AT MAR A LAGO AND LEARNING THE DETAILS OF OPERATION ABSOLUTE RESOLVE. THIS WAS THE OPERATION THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION TO TAKE OUT NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE OUT OF POWER IN VENEZUELA, ALONG WITH THE OVERNIGHT ATTACK ON SOME VENEZUELAN MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. A LOT OF HEADLINES COMING OUT OF THIS NEWS CONFERENCE, NAMELY THE PRESIDENT SAYING VERY PLAIN ENGLISH, WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO

RUN THE COUNTRY. THE WAY HE EXPLAINS THAT IS THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS JUST BEEN SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT. THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE DELCY RODRIGUEZ IS BOTH A STUDENT OF THE FIRST SOCIALIST LEADER THERE IN VENEZUELA, HUGO CHAVEZ, AND WORKED UNDER AS VICE PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO. BUT ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HAS TALKED TO HER. SHE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THIS ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE REPORTS THAT

ON VENEZUELAN STATE MEDIA, SHE RIGHT NOW IS DENOUNCING THE ATTACK. SHE WAS ALSO EARLIER ASKING FOR PROOF OF LIFE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, AS WELL. THE PRESIDENT PUTTING OUT A PHOTO OF WHAT MADURO LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW. HE IS IN CUSTODY. HE WAS IN HANDCUFFS. HE WAS GIVEN BLACKED OUT SUNGLASSES. YOU CAN SEE HIM WEARING EARMUFFS THERE, A BOARD. WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE IWO JIMA. THIS PICTURE PUT OUT BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAYING THAT U.S. OIL COMPANIES WILL GO INTO VENEZUELA AND REBUILD THAT OIL INDUSTRY. THAT OIL INDUSTRY HAS

HAD SEVERAL SETBACKS GOING BACK TO THE CHAVEZ ADMINISTRATION, WHERE THEY WENT FROM PRODUCING 3.5 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY TO 1 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS OLD. THE STAFFING IS NOT AS AS EXPERT, IF YOU WILL, AS THE COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. AND THE PRESIDENT SAYING VENEZUELA IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE U.S. TO DO THAT, TO GET THAT INFRASTRUCTURE UP AND RUNNING. BUT AGAIN, THE HEADLINE HERE, THE U.S. SEEMS TO BE IN CHARGE OF VENEZUELA, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. I WANT

TO BRING IN PETER ALEXANDER, WHO IS MONITORING THAT NEWS CONFERENCE, AND, OF COURSE, WAS COVERING ALL THE BREAKING NEWS AS IT WAS HAPPENING OVERNIGHT. PETER, A LOT OF HEADLINES, A LOT OF STUNNING SORT OF THINGS COMING OUT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOUTH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE USED TO BY NOW. BUT THIS IDEA THAT HE'S GOING TO USE MEMBERS OF THE MADURO ADMINISTRATION TO STILL RUN VENEZUELA, AND THEN ALSO SAYING AT THIS NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE OPPOSITION LEADER WHO JUST WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE SHOULD NOT BE THE LEADER BECAUSE SHE IS NOT RESPECTED

AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THERE. QUITE REMARKABLE. >> TOM, I THINK AS DRAMATIC AS THE OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENTS WERE, THE STRIKES IN VENEZUELA AND THE CAPTURE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE, AT LEAST AS DRAMATIC AND STUNNING. THE PRESIDENT'S OWN COMMENTS IN THIS NEWS CONFERENCE THAT JUST WRAPPED UP AT MAR A LAGO MOMENTS AGO, I'LL CIRCLE THREE KEY HEADLINES THAT STRIKE ME. YOU TOUCHED ON SOME OF THEM. RIGHT NOW, THE U.S. IS IN EFFECT, IN THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, GOING TO RUN THAT COUNTRY INDEFINITELY. THERE IS NO CLEAR TIMETABLE FOR WHEN THAT ENDS. AND THE PRESIDENT'S

OWN WORDS DURING THOSE REMARKS, IT'S ALL BEING DONE RIGHT NOW AS HE TRIES TO DETAIL EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BRIEFLY TURNING AROUND TO MEMBERS OF HIS OWN CABINET MARCO RUBIO, PETE HEGSETH, AMONG OTHERS, SAYING, THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THOSE LEADERS WHO SUCCEED NICOLAS MADURO IN THE COUNTRY. NUMBER TWO, THE PRESIDENT DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN VENEZUELA FOR A PRESIDENT WHO CAME TO POWER, SAYING THAT HE HAD NO INTEREST IN STARTING WARS, WANTED TO END WARS. THE IDEA OF AMERICAN TROOPS BEING

ON THE GROUND IN ANOTHER FOREIGN COUNTRY IS CRITICAL. HE HAS BEEN, AS HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, OF THE SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ AND ELSEWHERE. I THINK THAT IS A PARTICULARLY DRAMATIC STATEMENT. WE ARE ALREADY HEARING FROM SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S ALLIES AND OTHERS DETAILING THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB DESCRIBING WHAT THAT TRANSITION PROCESS IN PARTICULAR, WILL LOOK LIKE. AND FINALLY, THE U.S. IS IN EFFECT IN THE OIL BUSINESS, THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES WILL NOW GO IN, AS HE DESCRIBES IT,

IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION INSIDE THE BOARDROOMS OF THE SHELLS AND EXXON'S RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY A PRETTY INTERESTING ONE, SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF THEIR OWN MONEY, SAYING, IN EFFECT, THAT THEY ARE PUMPING MONEY OUT OF THE GROUND. THAT COUNTRY IS RIGHT NOW, IS THE US THE BENEFICIARY OF THAT MONEY? UNDER WHAT AUTHORITIES IS THE U.S. DOING ANY OF THIS, TAKING OVER THAT COUNTRY AND EFFECTIVELY SEIZING ITS OIL? I THINK THOSE ARE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY. THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS, I THINK,

THAT RELATE TO THE DRAMATIC NATURE OF WHAT HAPPENED. EARLIER TODAY. WE HEARD FROM THE JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN DAN RAISED CAIN. HIS NICKNAME, RAISIN IS THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO REFER TO HIM, DETAILING THAT THERE WERE AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF FROM 20 SEPARATE BASES. I THINK HE SAID IT WAS 150 SEPARATE AIRCRAFT THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION. ONE OF THEM WAS STRUCK DURING THE BACK AND FORTH THAT TOOK PLACE HERE, BUT THAT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FLY. HE DETAILED THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS BY AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS FROM AGE 20 TO AGE 49, THE BREADTH OF THE RANGE

OF THOSE WHO WERE PARTICIPATING HERE. SO WHILE THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS AND FORCES INVOLVED APPEAR TO BE OKAY, THERE ARE ENORMOUS QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED ABOUT WHAT THE DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, AND FRANKLY, YEARS WILL LOOK LIKE IN VENEZUELA. HE PUT NO LIMITS ON THE OPERATIONS TO TAKE PLACE THERE GOING FORWARD. HE HAS NOT RULED OUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND. HE DID NOT SEND SET ANY END DATE HERE AS WELL. TOM, YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL BACK THE CURTAIN. AND REMEMBER, FOR AN AMERICAN FIRST POLICY, THAT'S HOW THE PRESIDENT FIRST CAME

TO POWER. THE FIRST GO ROUND RETURNED TO OFFICE AGAIN, THIS GO AROUND, THIS IS A DRAMATIC CHANGE. AND I THINK IT WAS CLEAR THAT HE TRIED TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO FOCUS THIS ON THE IMPACT ON AMERICANS IN TERMS OF DRUGS AND THUGS, AS HE EFFECTIVELY PUT IT. NOW HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO, I THINK, A LOT MORE EXPLAINING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOING FORWARD. TOM. >> PETER, STAND BY FOR US. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAYING MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA WILL NOW BE RICH, THEY WILL BE INDEPENDENT AND THEY WILL BE SAFE.

I WANT TO BRING IN COURTNEY KUBE TO WALK US THROUGH THE MILITARY ACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE. PETER HIGHLIGHTED A FEW POINTS THERE. NO U.S. SERVICE MEMBER KILLED OR INJURED. FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IN THIS ATTACK, NO MACHINERY LOST. EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER TOOK SOME FIRE THERE, THE PRESIDENT SAYING IT WAS AN ATTACK FROM AIR, LAND AND SEA. AND AS PETER SAID, YOU HAD 20 BASES ACTIVATED, MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR. AND THIS IS THE PART I WANT YOU TO WALK OUR VIEWERS THROUGH. THE PRESIDENT SAID HE SAW THIS IN REAL

TIME. WALK OUR VIEWERS THROUGH HOW THAT HAPPENS AND HOW THE PRESIDENT IN THAT SITUATION ROOM, PER SE, IS ABLE TO WATCH ALL THE MILITARY ACTION AND ESSENTIALLY THE, THE TAKING OF, OF OF MADURO INTO CUSTODY. >> YEAH. SO PRIMARILY THROUGH GUN CAMERA VIDEO DRONES IS HOW HE WOULD BE ABLE TO WATCH THE OPERATION AS THEY'RE MOVING IN ON THE COMPOUND. AND THEN VIDEO THAT THE THE TROOPS THEMSELVES MAY HAVE ON THEIR HELMETS, ON THEIR BODIES, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY CAN PROVIDE A LIVE FEED. SO THE PRESIDENT CAN LITERALLY BE WATCHING IT AS IT'S UNFOLDING. SO

WHAT WE LEARNED HERE, GENERAL DAN KAINE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, PROVIDED WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY SORT OF A MILITARY POSTMORTEM OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE WITH SOME ACTUAL DETAILS OF THIS MILITARY MISSION HERE. ABSOLUTE RESOLVES THE NAME OF THE MISSION. HE REFERRED TO IT AS A US MILITARY APPREHENSION MISSION. AND WHAT'S SHOCKING IS HE WAS ABLE TO WALK US THROUGH THE MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PLANNING AND REHEARSING THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE MILITARY WENT FORWARD WITH THIS. NOTABLY, HE MENTIONED THAT THEY SPENT MONTHS TRACKING NICOLAS MADURO, LOOKING AT WHERE HE WENT, EVEN MENTIONING HIS PETS. PEOPLE WHO

HE MET WITH HIS DAILY ROUTINE WITH THE MILITARY WOULD OFTEN CALL PATTERN OF LIFE. THEY ESTABLISHED THAT OVER MONTHS IN EARLY DECEMBER, COMING BACK TO THE PENTAGON, COMING BACK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SAYING THAT THEY WERE READY FOR THIS MISSION AFTER THESE MONTHS OF PREPARATION. NOW, AT 1046 LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACCORDING TO GENERAL KAINE, GAVE THE FINAL ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MISSION, WHICH AT WHICH POINT, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE US MILITARY LAUNCHED MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT FROM 20 BASES. THAT'S NOT ONLY ON LAND, BUT THAT INCLUDES LAUNCHING AIRCRAFT, BOTH FIXED WING OR

AIRPLANES AND HELICOPTERS. OFF OF THE MANY US NAVY SHIPS THAT WERE THERE OFF THE COAST. THEY'VE BEEN THERE NOW FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS. F-22S, F-35S, F-18S, GROWLERS. THOSE ARE JAMMERS. AND THE DRONES, SOME OF WHICH WERE PROBABLY PROVIDING THE FEEDBACK TO THE PRESIDENT AS IT WAS OCCURRING. NOW, THESE AIRCRAFT AND THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION ESSENTIALLY PROVIDED A PATHWAY FOR THIS EXTRACTION MISSION, MEANING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE JAM, ELECTRICITY. PRESIDENT TRUMP MENTIONED THAT AT THE TOP OF HIS REMARKS AND PROVIDE A SAFE, A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR

THE EXTRACTION TEAM TO ACTUALLY MOVE INTO THE COMPOUND AND GET NICOLAS NICOLAS MADURO AND HIS WIFE. WE LEARNED FROM GENERAL KAINE THAT IT WAS ABOUT 2:01 A.M. LOCAL TIME. THAT WOULD BE 1:01 A.M. SO JUST OVER TWO HOURS AFTER THE PRESIDENT GAVE THAT GO ORDER, THERE WAS AN EXTRACTION TEAM IN THE COMPOUND TO PICK UP NICOLAS MADURO. AND REALLY NOTABLY, GENERAL KAINE ALSO TALKED ABOUT A GUN BATTLE THAT ENSUED NOT ONLY AS THEY WERE MOVING IN, BUT BUT NOTABLY AS THEY WERE LEAVING THE COMPOUND. HE DESCRIBED IT AS THE U.S. RESPONDING WITH OVERWHELMING FIRE. BACK

DURING THAT EXTRACTION, YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE U.S. AIRCRAFT WAS HIT. HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT CATASTROPHICALLY DAMAGED. IT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FLY AND RETURN THE MISSION, ESSENTIALLY ENDING AT 3:29 A.M. EASTERN TIME, WHEN THAT EXTRACTION FORCE MADE IT BACK TO THE NAVY SHIP, THE USS IWO JIMA. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT VIDEO OR THAT PHOTO THERE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF NICOLAS MADURO. YOU CAN TELL ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN TELL, LOOKING AT THAT, THAT HE'S ON A NAVY SHIP IS THE THE THE LIFE VEST THAT HE'S

WEARING AROUND HIS NECK. THERE YOU CAN SEE THE SORT OF LITTLE BEADS ON THE SIDE. THAT'S WHAT YOU PULL TO INFLATE THOSE NAVY LIFE VESTS. I'M WELL AWARE OF THEM. AND THE EARMUFFS THAT HE'S WEARING THERE. THEY OFTEN MAKE INDIVIDUALS WEAR CRANIAL WHEN THEY'RE ON THESE SHIPS FOR SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE COMING AND GOING ON AND OFF THE AIRCRAFT. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME. PETER MENTIONED THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, HEY, THEY PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND

OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT TO GET MADURO OUT. BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT, IF NECESSARY, THE U.S. WAS WILLING TO GO IN WITH BIGGER AND MORE EXTENSIVE STRIKES THAN THEY DID LAST NIGHT. SO HE SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT THESE WERE THE MORE TARGETED ONES, AND THE U.S. HAS OPTIONS FOR BIGGER STRIKES. IT'S NOT CLEAR, OF COURSE, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT SORTS OF STRIKES THEY WOULD TAKE HERE IF THAT WOULD BE GOING AFTER CARTELS OR WHAT. BUT THAT IS VERY NOTABLE THAT HE LAID OUT THAT POSSIBILITY THAT THE U.S. COULD GO IN FOR MORE. AND THEN, OF

COURSE, ANOTHER BIG QUESTION THAT WAS THAT WAS NOT ANSWERED. THERE IS HOW COULD VENEZUELA RESPOND? THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT THE U.S. INCLUDING MARCO RUBIO AND OTHER SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WERE ESSENTIALLY GOING TO BE RUNNING VENEZUELA DURING THIS TRANSITION TIME. WELL, BUT THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY HAS NOT RULED OUT THAT THEY WILL RESPOND TO THIS. SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG QUESTION IS EXACTLY WHETHER THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY WILL RESPOND TO WHAT WAS AN ATTACK ON THEM OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT. TOM. >> YEAH. COURTNEY, STAND BY FOR US BECAUSE I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO

YOU AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CIA'S OPERATION, WHICH WE HAVE SOME NEW REPORTING ON THERE, AS WELL AS HOW MANY TROOPS AND FORCES WE HAVE IN THE REGION. IF THINGS DON'T EXACTLY WORK OUT LIKE THE WAY THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW WITH JOSE DIAZ-BALART, WHO JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT. JOSE, YOU'VE COVERED THIS REGION. YOU'VE SPOKEN AND INTERVIEWED MACHADO, WHO HAD WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. SHE WAS BARRED FROM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. AND THEN SHE SUPPORTED THE OTHER CANDIDATE, EDWARD GONZALEZ, WHO MUCH OF THE WORLD SAID

HAD WON THAT ELECTION. BUT THE PRESIDENT SENDING A MIXED SIGNAL HERE, RIGHT, SAYING THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SHE I THINK HE SAID SUPPORT. AND HE MENTIONED ANOTHER ANOTHER PHRASE AS WELL, THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE, THAT SHE COULDN'T BE SAFE AS WELL. I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS NOW THE LEADER OF VENEZUELA, ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, WORKING WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, SHE JUST SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FORMER BOSS. IT COULD HAPPEN TO HER AS WELL. SHE'S GOT TO

BE THINKING THAT THAT THAT STANDS TO REASON. WILL SHE WORK WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? CAN SHE BE TRUSTED? >> DELCY RODRIGUEZ IS NOT MADURO DECAF? SHE IS AS DOGMATIC AND AS RUTHLESS AND HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR THE JAILING OF POLITICAL PRISONERS. MORE THAN A THOUSAND POLITICAL PRISONERS OVER THESE LAST 25 YEARS OF THE CHAVEZ MADURO REGIME, THAT SHE HAS BEEN INTRICATELY INVOLVED WITH. HER BROTHER HAS ALSO BEEN INTRICATELY INVOLVED IN IT. I THINK, TOM, THAT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME ON THIS EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT THAT WE'RE WITNESSING. I'M

HERE IN MADRID, SPAIN, WHERE MUNDO GONZALEZ, THE MAN WHO, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, THE ENTIRE WORLD AGREES, WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF JULY OF 2024, WHERE MARIA CORINA MACHADO RAN AS VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE SHE WAS IN DEBILITATED FROM RUNNING BY THE MADURO REGIME. HE'S HERE IN MADRID. HE'S BEEN HERE SO FAR. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND CONTACT WITH HIM SINCE YESTERDAY. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN COMMUNICATION. AT MUNDO GONZALEZ AND MARIA CORINA MACHADO, WITH SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO AND OTHERS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. BUT TOM, SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO, I THINK

THAT HIS WORDS HE'S A DEEP STUDENT OF HISTORY. AND I JUST WANT TO BRING OUR VIEWERS UP TO SOME PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY FACTS. TODAY, JANUARY 3RD OF 2025, 2026 IS 36 YEARS TO THE DAY WHEN THE UNITED STATES ARRESTED MANUEL ANTONIO NORIEGA, THE DICTATOR OF PANAMA, AND WHISKED HIM OUT OF PANAMA, BROUGHT HIM TO KROME DETENTION CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES. AND HE EVENTUALLY SERVED MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN PRISON HERE BEFORE THEN BEING SENT TO FRANCE, BUT TO SERVE OTHER SENTENCES AND THEN ON TO PANAMA. BUT 36 YEARS TO THE DAY OF THE AMERICAN INVASION

OF PANAMA, AND TEN DAYS LATER, THE ARREST OF NORIEGA, BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES. AND WHAT EXISTED IN PANAMA THEN WAS A STRUCTURE. THERE HAD BEEN ELECTIONS ALSO VERY MUDDLED. AND AND YET THE UNITED STATES, WHO TOOK CONTROL OF PANAMA, UTILIZING WHAT HAD BEEN THERE IN THAT STRUCTURE OF ELECTIONS BEFORE, WHEN NORIEGA WAS IN POWER, WAS ABLE TO HAVE A TRANSITION. THE UNITED STATES HAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW IN VENEZUELA WITH EDMUNDO GONZALEZ AND ESPECIALLY MARIA CORINA MACHADO. AND SO THE THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, HE THE PRESIDENT, SPOKE ABOUT A TRANSITION TO, YOU

KNOW, TRANSFER OF POWER, HOW QUICKLY THAT COULD BE CARRIED OUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE DELCY RODRIGUEZ, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REGIME, SHE CERTAINLY DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, IS SHE GOING TO BE WILLING TO TO STEP ASIDE? DOES SHE STEP ASIDE OR DOES SHE FACE JUSTICE IN A POST MADURO REGIME? VENEZUELA? THE PRESIDENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN TALKED ABOUT AN INTERESTING FACT. HE SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT MORE THAN 8 MILLION VENEZUELANS HAVE BEEN FORCED

TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS. IT'S THE LARGEST MASS MIGRATION IN THE AMERICAS, AND PROBABLY THE LARGEST MASS MIGRATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE RECENT HISTORY. AND SO A LOT OF THOSE EXILES THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE ARE TODAY CELEBRATING WITH A QUESTION MARK. WHEN WILL THIS TRANSITION OCCUR? I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN IN MADRID, RIGHT IN PUERTA DEL SOL, THE ACTUAL CAPITAL CENTER OF THE CAPITAL CITY. THERE ARE DOZENS OF VENEZUELANS THAT LIVE HERE IN MADRID, WITH THE VENEZUELAN FLAG DANCING AND CELEBRATING. BECAUSE THIS IS A MOMENT THEY FEEL WHERE FREEDOM,

FREEDOM IS POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY THING. >> JOSE. JOSE, IF YOU'RE STILL WITH US THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE JOINING US VIA THE CONNECTION. OKAY. I SEE YOU'RE STILL THERE WITH US. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'RE INTERPRETING THIS RIGHT NOW? THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE 25 YEARS OF SOCIALIST DICTATORSHIPS. THEY HAVE LIVED AT TIMES WITHOUT FOOD, WITHOUT POWER, WITHOUT WATER. I'VE BEEN THERE REPORTING WHERE PEOPLE THAT WE WORKED WITH, OUR VENEZUELAN COLLEAGUES, ASKED US TO TAKE A SHOWER IN THE PLACES THAT

WE RENTED BECAUSE THEIR HOMES HAD NO RUNNING WATER. THEY HADN'T SHOWERED FOR WEEKS. THEY WOULD TELL US THIS WAS TYPICAL LIFE IN VENEZUELA. HOW WILL THEY INTERPRET THIS? BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT MADE IT A POINT TO SAY IT TWICE, TO SAY ONE THAT THEY WILL BE RICH AND ONE THAT THEY WILL BE FREE AND SAFE. WILL THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA UNDERSTAND THAT? WILL THEY HEAR THAT? >> OH, YES. YES. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. AND WITH UNCERTAINTY COMES CAUTION BECAUSE MADURO IS OUT. BUT DELCY RODRIGUEZ IS THERE. AND THE THE ECHELON, THE HIGH

ECHELON OF MADURO CHAVEZ REGIME IS STILL THERE. SO I THINK THERE. BUT BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT 2:10 A.M. CARACAS TIME NOT ONLY WENT IN AND BOMBED THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OF IMPORT IN CARACAS AND IN SOME OF THE PORTS, BUT THEN WENT IN AND TOOK OUT THE HEAD OF THIS REGIME AND HIS WIFE THAT ARE SO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. AND YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NO POWER, YOU TALK ABOUT NO WATER, YOU TALK ABOUT NO FREEDOM. TOM, THIS ISN'T THE COUNTRY. VENEZUELA,

WITH THE LARGEST OIL RESERVES ON PLANET EARTH. AND YET AND BY THE WAY, ONE OF SOME OF THE LARGEST MINES OF GOLD AND SILVER AND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, JUST EXTRAORDINARILY RICH. AND YET THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED. AND SO I THINK THERE I KNOW THERE IS EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT VENEZUELA AND THROUGHOUT THE 8 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THAT COUNTRY. BUT THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTION MARK OF WHEN, WHEN WILL THIS ENTIRE DARKNESS OF A REGIME BE OVER? >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND

SEE THOSE CELEBRATIONS. >> HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI, DOWN FROM OUR STUDIOS WHERE WE'RE BROADCASTING FROM RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO BRING IN MEET THE PRESS MODERATOR, KRISTEN WELKER FOR MORE ON THIS. KRISTEN, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED VERY PLAINLY, WHAT DOES AMERICA FIRST HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT JUST HAPPENED IN VENEZUELA? AND THE PHRASE, AT LEAST FROM WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING, SEEMS TO BE A SHAPESHIFTING PHRASE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT AMERICA, IT'S ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL. AS HE WAS SAYING. >> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY NOTABLE EXCHANGE. TOM, AND WE ARE STARTING

TO GET REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL ALLIES, FROM HIS POLITICAL FOES AS WELL. LET'S START WITH THE ALLIES, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THERE. THAT QUESTION ABOUT HOW HE JUSTIFIES THIS WITHIN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF HIS AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY. I WAS TALKING TO ONE TOP GOP STRATEGIST WHO SAID, LOOK, HE HAS GOT TO PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THIS TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE. HOW LONG DOES HE EXPECT THE POSSIBILITY OF U.S. TROOPS ON THE GROUND? AS PETER NOTED, HE DID LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO THAT. WHO SPECIFICALLY WILL BE IN CHARGE? WILL IT BE SECRETARY OF

STATE MARCO RUBIO WORKING WITH THE NEWLY INSTALLED PRESIDENT THERE? HOW EXACTLY WILL THAT FUNCTION? I TALKED TO SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM ON THE PHONE JUST MOMENTS AGO. TOM, LET ME READ YOU A LITTLE BIT OF OUR CONVERSATION. HE SAID THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT WAS VERY STRONG. HE BELIEVES HE SENT A MESSAGE THAT THE DAYS OF NARCO TERRORISM AND DRUG CALIPHATES IN YOUR BACKYARD ARE OVER. SO HE LIKED THAT PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. HE SAYS, LOOK, WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT. SO THAT UNDERSCORES, I THINK, TOM, THIS KEY TAKEAWAY, WHICH IS THAT THERE IS NO STATED TIMELINE

HERE FOR HOW LONG THE PRESIDENT EXPECTS THE UNITED STATES TO BE IN CONTROL OF VENEZUELA. HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO REBUILD. I PRESSED HIM ON THAT VERY IDEA. IS HE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRESIDENT HAVING CONTROL OF VENEZUELA? HE SAID THE CONTEXT MAKES SENSE. BUT HE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED, TOM, LONG TERM OPERATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. SO HE CALLED ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO SECURE THE OIL, QUICKLY, HELP REBUILD THE INSTITUTIONS. BUT, QUOTE, THE SOONER WE CAN HAVE AN ELECTION, THE BETTER. THAT IN UNMISTAKABLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PAST FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, THEY ARE

COMPLICATED. THEY DRAG ON. THEY HAVE COSTS, OF COURSE, U.S. LIVES. SO THAT CALL FROM ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S TOP ALLIES, WHO IS VERY HAWKISH WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SORTS OF THINGS, TOM, CALLING FOR THERE TO BE ELECTIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICS ALSO SPEAKING OUT, WE'RE HEARING FROM DEMOCRATS, THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE SENATE, CHUCK SCHUMER, SAYING THE IDEA THAT THE TRUMP THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PLANS TO NOW RUN VENEZUELA SHOULD STRIKE FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF ALL AMERICANS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND PAID THE DEVASTATING PRICE. CONGRESSMAN

RO KHANNA TELLING ME HE'S ENGAGED IN GEORGE W BUSH NATION BUILDING AND CHANGE. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON BUILDING UP AMERICA. ZOOMING OUT WHAT THIS MEANS, THERE WILL BE CALLS, VERY LOUD CALLS FROM CONGRESS FOR BRIEFINGS TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY FURTHER AND FUTURE PLANS. AND I GO BACK TO THAT ARTICLE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF, SUSIE WEISS, PARTICIPATED IN WITH VANITY FAIR WHEN SHE SAID THAT ANY ROBUST MILITARY ACTION WOULD REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHERE THIS DEBATE IS GOING TO GO FROM HERE. ONE FINAL POINT, TOM. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM

SAYING, QUOTE, IF I WERE CUBA, I WOULD BE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS NEWS CONFERENCE. SO IT SPEAKS TO PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FOR THE BROADER REGION, THE OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ARE WATCHING THIS SO CLOSELY CUBA AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. TOM. >> YEAH, THE DOMINO EFFECT THAT MAY OCCUR IN LATIN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OIL CUBA RECEIVING ABOUT 40% OF ITS OIL FROM VENEZUELA. AND SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAYING THAT COULD SOON END. I WANT TO BRING IN JOHN KILDUFF. HE'S AN OIL INDUSTRY EXPERT AT AGAIN CAPITAL

LLC. JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING OUR COVERAGE HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE OIL TO MAKE IT VERY SIMPLE, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE IT IS THAT AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES ARE JUST GOING TO GO TO VENEZUELA, REBUILD THE OIL INDUSTRY THERE, TAKE BACK ANY OIL THAT WAS NATIONALIZED BY HUGO CHAVEZ OR BY MADURO UNDER THEIR REIGNS OF POWER GIVEN BACK TO AMERICAN COMPANIES WHO ORIGINALLY OWNED THOSE EITHER THE OIL FIELDS, THE PLATFORMS HE MENTIONED OR OTHER SORT OF MACHINERY. AND THEN, I GUESS, REBUILD

AND RETRAIN THE INDUSTRY THERE. HOW QUICKLY DOES THAT HAPPEN? CAN THAT HAPPEN? >> IT CAN HAPPEN, TOM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT BOTH EXXON AND CHEVRON ARE BOTH OWED OVER $1 BILLION IN STRANDED INVESTMENTS THAT THEY MADE IN VENEZUELA OVER THE DECADES. SO THE BONES OF A TERRIFIC OIL INDUSTRY ARE CERTAINLY THERE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHAVEZ AND MADURO LORDING OVER A REAL DECIMATION, LITERALLY, OF THE VENEZUELAN OIL INDUSTRY. YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT VENEZUELA HAS A RICH HISTORY IN THIS IN THE OIL MARKETS. THEY ARE A FOUNDING MEMBER OF OPEC. THEY ALSO HAVE THE WORLD'S

LARGEST OIL RESERVES. OF COURSE, THAT MEANS OIL IN THE GROUND THAT NEEDS TO BE DUG OUT, NOT NECESSARILY PRODUCED OR EXPORTED. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE COULD BE A SMALL BUMP IN THEIR OUTPUT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, MAYBE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND BARRELS A DAY, WHICH WOULD HELP CONTINUE THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING ALREADY ON OIL PRICES. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS IN TERMS OF CUBA, THEY ARE IN BIG TROUBLE IN TERMS OF THEIR ENERGY SUPPLIES GOING FORWARD. THE OTHER THING TO NOTE, IMPORTANTLY FOR THE US OIL INDUSTRY, IS

THAT THIS VENEZUELAN OIL IS OF A SPECIAL GRADE. IT'S VERY HEAVY AND SOUR, PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED FOR US GULF COAST OIL REFINERIES, WHICH IS WHERE IT REALLY SPRUNG OUT FROM. SO THERE'S A LOT HERE IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL FOR THE VENEZUELAN OIL INDUSTRY, BOTH IN THE NEAR AND LONG TERM, GIVEN THE HISTORY, GIVEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS THERE, THAT COULD BE REPAIRED RATHER QUICKLY OVER TIME. >> FOR MOST OF US THAT AREN'T OIL EXPERTS LIKE YOURSELF, WILL AMERICANS NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE, WHETHER IT BE IN THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL, WHETHER IT BE IN

THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF GASOLINE? HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. >> THE OIL MARKET PRICES IN FORWARD LOOKING SUPPLY INCREASES OR DECREASES VERY RAPIDLY. I WOULD EXPECT OIL PRICES ON SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN THEY START TRADING AHEAD OF THE NEW WEEK, HERE TO BE DOWN A COUPLE OF DOLLARS A BARREL, GIVEN WHAT WHAT JUST HAS TRANSPIRED AND THE HOPES FOR WHAT COULD CONTINUE TO TO TO ADVANCE, CHEVRON HAS HUNG IN THERE MORE THAN ANY OTHER US OIL COMPANY TO TRY TO RECOUP THEIR INVESTMENT. THEY HAVE CONTINUED UP UNTIL JUST RECENTLY TO GET UNDER SPECIAL LICENSES

AND PERMITS ABOUT 100,000 TO 200,000 BARRELS A DAY. THEY COULD EASILY INCREASE THAT, AND THAT WOULD HELP LOWER LOCAL OR US OIL PRICES IN RELATION TO GLOBAL OIL PRICING. SO YES, US CONSUMERS WOULD SEE A FURTHER DECREASE AT THE PUMP ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. NOW, TOM. >> JOHN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE. I WANT TO BRING IN SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT AS WELL. SHE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE COURT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THESE INDICTMENTS, THE INITIAL INDICTMENT, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT PAM BONDI, THE

ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAID AFTER LAURA, I'VE BEEN GETTING TEXTS TODAY THROUGHOUT OUR COVERAGE OF PEOPLE ASKING ME WHY MADURO'S WIFE AS WELL, WAS INDICTED. SHE WAS A HIGH RANKING PERSON IN THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT, SOME SAY AS POWERFUL AS POPULAR. IF YOU IF YOU WERE SOMEBODY WHO SUPPORTED MADURO IN VENEZUELA, SHE WAS ONCE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL. BUT BOTH THESE LEADERS NOW INDICTED, AND THEY WILL GET THEIR DAY IN COURT IN THE UNITED STATES. >> THEY WILL. AND PART OF THE ISSUE HERE, TOM, AS YOU SEE THIS, SOMETIMES WHERE THE SPOUSE IS INCLUDED IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS

IN WHICH THEY WERE PRIVY TO CERTAIN MEETINGS AND OTHER DEALINGS IN THE HOPES THAT EVENTUALLY SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY FLIP ON HER HUSBAND AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THAT COULD BE USEFUL. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, BUT YOU'VE SEEN THAT USED SORT OF A PRESSURE POINT, IF YOU WILL, IN THE PAST IN SITUATIONS LIKE THESE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST STRIKING TO ME, TOM, AND I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD THE SAME REACTION. AND LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT'S LENGTHY NEWS CONFERENCE THERE. IN

TALKING ABOUT THE INTEREST IN OIL AND SQUARELY FOCUSED ON ALLEGATIONS AS IT RELATES TO DRUG TRAFFICKING, ESSENTIALLY ACCUSING MADURO AND HIS ASSOCIATES AT BEING AT THE TOP OF AN ENTERPRISE, A CONSPIRACY, IF YOU WILL, TO TRAFFIC DRUGS THROUGH MEXICO, THROUGH VENEZUELA TO HELP KNOWN MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLENT GANGS PERPETRATE CRIMES AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT EFFECTIVELY, REGIME CHANGE AND OTHER MATTERS OF OF IMPORTANT FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DEALINGS, BUT NOT SPECIFIC CRIMES THAT THE U.S. WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN INDICTING SOMEONE FOR

IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, AS THIS CONTINUES TO PLAY OUT IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME, TOM, THAT I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE EXPLOITED BY A ZEALOUS DEFENSE ATTORNEY. >> AND THEN WE HEARD SOMETHING THAT WAS INTERESTING IN THE NEWS CONFERENCE. WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGAL ANGLE ON ALL OF THIS, THERE WERE TWO INDICTMENTS. THERE'S ONE IN NEW YORK NOW. THERE WAS ONE IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA AS WELL. AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT OR SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAID SOMETHING ABOUT

THEY'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE WHERE THIS ENDS UP OR WHERE IT GOES. WE'VE HEARD THAT MADURO IS HEADED TO NEW YORK, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHICH COURT THIS ENDS UP IN. >> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS STARTS IN NEW YORK TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S THE HOOK THAT THEY'RE U. THINK IT'S PRETR THAT THIS STARTS IN NEW YORK TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S THE THE CHARGES ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME IN TERMS OF THE NARCO DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES. YOU DID HEAR THE PRESIDENT SUGGEST THAT FLORIDA. >> ALL RIGHT, LAURA JARRETT, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANALYSIS TO

F FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RICHARD ENGEL. RICHARD, WE WERE WATCHING THIS WITH THE GOVERNMENT THAT HE JUST TOOK OVER. A BIT CONFUSING AT TIMES, BUT FROM THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, THE PRESIDENT NOW, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT UNDER MADURO, RUBIO. AND RICHARD, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO THINK SHE'S JUST SEEN WHAT'S OCCURRED OVER LESS THAN 24 HOURS IN HER COUNTRY. BN HANDCUFFS FROM HIS COMPOUND ALONG WITH. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. WE WERE TALKING THROUGHOUT SPEECH, EXCHANGING NOTES AND PUTTING OUT SOME OF THE INHERENT VENEZUELA THAT HE WILL. THE PEOD HIM WILL BE IN CHARGE. BUT SO HE'S

NOT TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A REOCCUPATION OF THE COUNTRY OR AN OCCUPATION OF THE. THERE ARE ROUGHLY 15,000 AMERICAN TROOPS IN IRAQ STILL WENT INTO CIVIL WAR. SO YOU CONA WITH AMERICAN MILITARY, VERY INACCESSIBLE IN SOME AREAS. BUT HE DID SAY THAT RUN IT THROUGH SOME SORT OF THE SCENES, AND THAT THE OIL WOULD E HAND TO EXTRACT OIL. THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF COMPLIANT REGIMN ITSELF UP TO THE TO THE ASIAN S. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MONROE DOCTRINE, THE MONROE DOCTRINE, THAT, AS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AT THIS STAGE, HE DOES SEEM

TO SIGHTS SET ON OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. HE WANTS TO CREATE THIS RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK, AS LINDSEY GRAHAM SAID,.E WERE IN CUBA RIGHT NOW, HE WOULD BE NERVOUS SECURITY THAT IT'S CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES. IT'S A PRO-INDEPENDENCE OR PRO-AUTONOMY MOVEMENT, CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO CHINA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. APPLICATIONS FOR FOR VENEZUELA, NO DOUBT FOR LATIN AMERICA, CERTAINLY, WORLD AT LARGE. THOSE THOSE IMPLICATIONS. >> YOU NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, LEADERS THAT ARE FROM THE MADURO REGIME. YOU HAVE A MILITARY THAT WAS LOYAL TO MADURO, THOUGH THERE IS SOME REPORTING OUT THERE THAT THAT

COVERAGE OF THE COLECTIVOS, BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF WHAT SETS VENEZUELA APART FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. THEY HAVE ARMED PEOPR CITIZENS, THAT MADURO HAS GIVEN WEAPONS TO THAT. AND THEY SOMETIMES ARE SORT OF THE DIRTY POLICE, IF YOU WILL. THEY THEY WILL DO THE THINGS THAT THE MILITARY DOESN'T WANT AND THE U.S. AND WHATEVER AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES COME IN, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WALK OUT OF VENEZUELA LIKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS HAVE SINCE GOING BACK 2 OR 3 YEARS. FIVE YEARS REALLY. OR THEY WERE LOYAL TO THE SOCIALIST REGIMES. >> AND IT WAS A POOR COUNTRY. I

HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES LIKE YOU WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TO BUY FOOD, WERE ASKING, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE CURRENCY AND USE CREDIT CARDS AND USE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS TO ACCUMULATE ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF WEALTH. BUT ALL OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY BENEFITED FROM THE REGIME. SO YES, THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY MALICIOUS. AND WE SAW THESE THAT WERE PUT OUT BY BY VENEZUELA, BY BY MADURO, THAT THEY COULD PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY AGAINST IMPERIALISM AND THAT THEY WERE LOYAL TO HIM. WE WILL SEE IF THOSE CONTINUE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR A MAN, POTENTIALLY

ACCUMULATE MORE. SO THE MILITIAS ARE CERTAINLY A DANGER. CHAOS IS A AS NOW THE ENTIRE LATIN. >> GEIST UPON THIS. AND THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS, RIGHT. HE'S TRYING TO NEGOTIATE PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, AT TIME ATTACKING ANOTHER COUNTRY, VENEZUELA. THEY WILL WORK WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT. BUT THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS SORT OF ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE U.S. FOR NOW, AMERICAN AND NOT TRYING TO HIDE THE FACT THAT AMERICAN COMPANIES WILL GO IN. >> AND MANY COUNTRIES, THE ALLIES AND PARTNERS. AMERICA, WILL BE WATCHING THEIR WORDS BECAUSE THEY WON'T WANT TO. WE

LOOK FOR HISTORICAL PARALLELS, AND HISTORY NEVER REPEATS ITSELF. BUT JUST REFERENCING HON EARLIER. MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO 93 INTERVENTION THAT SOME HISTORIANS LOOK BACK AND SAY HAD SOME SUCCESSES. CHICKENS KILLED, 23 AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THAT ACTION. I WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGEST THAT THERE WAS A LARGER POSSIBLE ACTION GREG HAYES BEING TALKED ABOUT BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AS SOMEONE THAT HE IN A SENSE, YOU COULD SAY THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ AND THE

INVASION OF IRAQ, WHICH. MUCH OK ABOUT AMERICAN INTERVENTION AROUND THE WORLD IN THIS ERA THAT WE LIVE. HUGE QUESTION MARK. IS IT POSSIBLE IN VENEZUELA TO LEAVE SOME OF THE APPARATUS IN PLACE, AT THE SAME TIME BRING ABOUT WHAT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID? ANOTHER POINT IN YOUR QUESTION, TOM, THE THE THE WAY THAT COUNTRIES ARE THE OIL. AND IN THAT ANSWER HE REFERENCED CHINA AND HE SAIDF OIL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES. HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION ABOUT CHINA IN TERMS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE AND CHINA, US AND RUSSIA, US AND IRAN, US AND CUBA PLAY GAMES.

JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE IRANIAN REGIME IS THINKING HEARING THAT. >> YEAH. POINT, KIRA. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. STAND BY FOR US. I WANT TO GO BACK TO MAR A LAGO. >> WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY SUCH TIME AS WE CAN DO A SAFE, PROPER IN THE COUNTRY. UNTIL SUCH. WE CAN DO A SAFE, PROPER AND JUDICIOUS PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. AND THAT INCLUDES MANY FROM VENEZUELA THAT ARE NOW LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND WANT TO GO BACK TO THEIR HAD DECADES OF THAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. WE'RE THERE NOW. AND

WHAT THE PROPER TRANSITION CAN TAKE PLACE. SO WE'RE GOING TO STAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT SUCH TIME AS A PROPER TRANSITION CAN TAKE PLACE. AND WHAT COULD HAVE TAKEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR VERY LOYAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND START MAKING MONEY FOR THE COUNTRY. AND WE ARE READY TO STAGE. WE NEEDED TO DO SO. WE ACTUALLY ASSUMED THAT A SECOND WAVE WOULD BE NECESSARY, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST WAVE OF YOUR POINT. BUT WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER WAVE THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO DO THIS PARTNERSHIP OF VENEZUELA WITH THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A COUNTRY THAT AND IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE FROM VENEZUELA THAT ARE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES EXTREMELY HAPPY. THEY SENT A NETWORK RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFICKING COLOSSAL AMOUNTS OF DEADLY AND ILLICIT DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES, AS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT. AMERICANS, THE MANY, MANY AMERICANS, HUNDREDS. THOUSANDS OVER THE YEARS OF AMERICANS DIED BECAUSE OF HIM. >> TSIRKIN JOINS US NOW. JULIE, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MOMENT WHEN PRESIDENT. >> TRUMP SAID IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE U.S.. TO RU. >> TOM, YOU COULD HEAR A PIN, SAID

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, STEPHEN MILLER, AND OTHERS, BUT ALSO OFF TO THE SIDE WITH STEVE WITKOFF, THE ENVOY TO THE PRESIDENT THAT HAS HAD A HAND AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN U.S. THAT IS GOING TO RUN VENEZUELA, AT LEAST FOR THE SHORT TERM. HE A DATE. HE DIDN'T DEFINE WHETHER THERE WOULD BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. ARE HE AND HIS TEAM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE GROUP? HE SAID THAT WILL RUN THE POINTM TO RUBIO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT WHERE'S MENSTRUATION ENDORSES MARIA CORINA MACHADO, THE PERSON WHO Y VENEZUELANS KNOW, THE ELECTION BACK IN

2023 ON THE PHONE WITH HE DIDN'T SAY HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHICH KIND OF GROUP FROM THE UNITED STATES WOULD RUN THIS COUNTRY FOR NOW. BUT HE SAID MANY TIMES OVER THAT HE WOULD PROMPT WHAT HIS CONVERSATION WAS LIKE WITH NICOLAS MADURO. TRUMP SAID EARLIER ON FOX THIS MORNING THAT THE TWO LAST SPOKE A WEEK AGO. THE PRESIDENT AGAIN, SO MANY MORE QUESTIONS HERE. UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY IS THE UNITED STATES GOING TO BE SEIZING THIS OIL? VENEZUELA HAS ABOUT 300 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL OR THE STRIKE. WE KNOW, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE TO ON

CAPITOL HILL, THAT ONLY RELEVANT COMMITTEES AND RELEVANT LEADERSHIP FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS OPERATION AFTER IT WAS LEAKED. TOM. BUT STILL, A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY AFTER. BUT THE PRESIDENT TODAY, IN A NS CONFERENCE PRAISING THE OPERATION THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION. IT DID HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS AT LAGO. WE KNOW THE VICE PRESIDENT, ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT I JUST GOT FROM THE SPOKESPERSON. YOU'LL NOTE, TOM, THAT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST DAY THAT HE HAD THAT WAS EXTREMELY BUSY OF THE HOLIDAY WEEK. HE ANNOUNCED STRIKES NIGERIA AND NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA THERE LAST WEEK AT

THE END OF LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED A LAND STRIKE AGAINST VENEZUELA THE FIRST. AND THEN CW THAT HE MET WITH SECRETARY RUBIO, SECRETARY GENERAL VENEZUELA, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE PRESIDENT ORDERED THE STRIKES, ACCORDING TO GENERAL CAIN, AT LAST NIGHT AND THEN WATCHED IT UNFOLD OVER THE HOURS AFTER. THIS WAS A STRIKE THAT THEY HAD PLANNED FOR MONTHS, ONE THAT HE HAD AUTHORIZED AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, AND ONE READY TO EXECUTE AS RECENTLY AS FOUR DAYS AGO. BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO ASK IN THE ROOM IS WHETHER ANY U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WERE INJURED. WERE THERE

ANY VENEZUELAN CIVILIANS THAT WERE INJURED ON WE KNOW THAT THE GOAL, ACCORDING TO GENERAL CAIN, WAS THAT FOR THIS AND THEN PROCESSED AND CHARGED HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL, THOSE WERE THE CONDITIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD, THE U.S. MILITARY HAD. BUT WE ALSO KNOW, TOM, THIS WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE HOLD, NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER. BUT AS YOU IT IS CONGRESS THAT DETERMINES THAT THAT AUTHORIZES WAR THAT. >> ON THERE WAS THAT SORT OF VEILED THREAT THAT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LAUNCH A SECOND STRIKE, DECIDEDE

WON'T KNOW. AT LEAST WE WON'T KNOW TODAY. >> SIMILAR THREATS AFTER THE US, THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE U.S. WOULD GO IN FOR MORE IF THEY NEEDED THE QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD THEY NEED TO BE STRIKING, IF, IN FACT, THIS IS GOING TO UNFOLD IN THAT THE PRESIDENT SOMEWHAT VAGUELY DESCRIBED HERE, THAT THERE WOULD BE IN HELPING AMERICAN COMPANIES GO IN THERE AND EXPLOIT IT, WHAT WOULD THE NEED BE FOR MORE AGAIN, AGAINST VENEZUELA, PARTICULARLY AGAINST THE VENEZUELAN, FOR SORT OF FOLLOW ON ACTIVITY HERE, NOT JUST BY THE U.S. HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR

THAT MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH VENEZUELA TODAY. TOM, IS NOT JUST THE FACT PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND HIS WIFE WERE APPREHENDED AND TAKEN INTO MILITARY TO DO SO. TOM. >> YEAH. AND THEN, COURTNEY, AS FAR. WE KNOW ABOUT THE SIZE OF OUR FORCES THERE, RIGHT. IF THERE WERE A COVER OF DARKNESS. BUT WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW MANY FORCES, HOW MANY SHIPS DO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN THE REGION. AT THIS W THERE'S MORE THAN 15,000, WELL OVER 15,000 MEN AND WOMEN GROUP. BUT THERE'S FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ON

LAND, THERE'S TANKERS, THERE'S SUPPORT AIRCRAFT, THERE'S DRONES, THE SOME OF THE LARGER AIRCRAFT THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS OVERNIGHT. THEY MOSTLY. WHAT WOULD THE THREAT BE THAT THE U.S. WOULD REQUIRE PUTTING TROOPS ON THE GROUND THERE. SO IS THIS WE'VE E DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS JUST TODAY ALONE FOR WE TALKED ABOUT DRUGS. SO THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT THREAT BE THAT THE U.S. MILITARY WOULD BE GOING INTO A DRESS THAT WOULD DICTATE HOW. >> MANY PREPARE FOR THIS. THEY HAD BEEN. WOULD HAPPEN. AND ULTIMATELY IT HAPPENED TONIGHT. WE ALSO KNOW FROM OUR REPORT. >> AND REMEMBER, SHOCKINGLY,

PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT AUTHORIZING THAT COVERT CIA ACTION VENEZUELA LAST FALL. BACK IN OCTOBER, IT WAS IT WAS ROUTED U.S. MILITARY, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE GROUND, BUT WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS TRACKING, THIS PATTERN OF OF NICOLAS MADURO'S GENERAL CAIN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT PRECISELY PINPOINT TARGET, EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING. R, WE APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO BRING IN MY MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE HALLIE TRADING OUT IN THE STREETS. HALLIE, BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I'M INTERESTED. HOW DO YOU

THINK OUT WITHIN THE MAGE WITH THE AMERICA FIRST POLICY OFFENSIVE, IF YOU WILL, BOTH IN, IN GAZA AND NOW VENEZUELA. >> PIECE, AS YOU HEARD, MARCO RUBIO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, W WARS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN ALREADY FROM WITH YOUR AMERICA FIRST IDEALS. AND YOU HEAR THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED THAT HE THINKS THIS IS NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHY HE GOT INVOLVED HERE A LITTLE BIT ON NIGHTLY NEWS. HE WILL BE WITH US RIGHT HERE ON NBC NEWS. BUT FOR NOW, I'M HALLIE JACKSON IN WASHINGTON. WILL, IN HIS WORDS, RUN. VENEZUELA WILL TAKE

CONTROL OF VENEZUELA BASICALLY INDEFINITELY. ROLLING COVERAGE HOURS AFTER THE U.S. STAGED THAT LARGE SCALE ATTACK IN THE VENEZUELAN CAPITAL, REMOVING. CL LEADER, NICOLAS MADURO, ALONG WITH MADURO'S WIFE. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A BIG DEAL. THIS IS A BIG MOMENT HERE THAT MARKS THE MOST DIRECT AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN LATIN AMERICA IN DECADES. WE'VE GOT A LOT TO COVER HERE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME PERIOD, WHERE THE UNITED STATES WILL EFFECTIVELY RUN VENEZUELA. YOU HEARD THE TALK AG INVOLVED IN OIL REBUILDING, AS HE SAID THE OIL WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR HIM IN THIS INCREDIBLY HIGH

PROFILE WAY. AND THEN SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT YOU NOW RELAO THE LEGALITY OF THE ACTION. >> AND THE BIGGEST ONE, SURELY HAS TO BE WHAT HAPPENS IN VENEZUELA NOW. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP NEWS CONFERENCE ASKED THAT AND SAID, WELL, WHO'S GOING TO LEAVE VENEZUELA? PRESIDENT TRUMP IS INITIALLY LOOKING TO DELCY RODRIGUEZ, WHO WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT IN. WHO NOW APPEARS TO BE TAKING OVER. THERE APPEARS TO BE, OF COURSE, NO LONGER THERE. THE BIG PICTURE, THOUGH, OF COURSE, IS TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY OPERATION WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP DESCRIBED AS U.S. WAS ABLE TO SWITCH

OFF THE LIGHTS THERE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THIS OPERATION, TALKED ABOUT GEIST JUST QUITE SIMPLY A OPERATION BY THE U.S. MILITARY AND THEN HAS TO FACE A U.S. COURT. THAT IN ITSELF WILL BE A SPECTACLE IN THE DAYS AHEAD. SO WE'RE. HAVE KIND OF MULTIPLE. AND IT ISN'T CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT WHAT THE PLAN IS AT THIS. AT THIS STAGE, THERE T, AND THAT IS A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT IS NOT PLAYING GAMES. PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKING ABOUT U.S. CAPABILITIES AND SKILLS OUR. CAN SCARCELY IMAGINE CHINA WILL BE WATCHING IS SUCH A

SYMBOL OF A SHIFT IN U.S. POLICY, FOCUSING ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE ALSO SENDING MESSAGES TO LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD. >> HIS WAY TO THE UNITED STATES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS WITH HIS WIFE, OF COURSE, BASED ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID. NBS JESSE KIRSCH AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS SAYING NOW, I MEAN, TRULY, JESSE, FOR MONTHS SINCE SEPTEMBER, REALLY A RAMPING UP OF MILITARY PRESSURE IN THE CARIBBEAN, SPECULATION FOR WEEKS THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO MUSCLE MADURO OUT. >> SEEING A RIPPLE EFFECT CONTINUING ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN REGION. I'M CHECKING MY

COMPUTER HERE CONSTANTLY BECAUSE WE'RE JUST AT UPDATES TO FLIGHT SITUATIONS ACROSS HOME TO THE U.S. AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE SOME ARER TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS. AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, DETAILS THAT WERE NOT SHARED, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS, HAVE BEEN CANCELED, JUST SPEAKS TO THE IMPACT IN THE REGION UNFOLD. WE'VE HAD STATEMENTS COME IN FROM JETBLUE, FROM UNITED. IF YOU HAVE A PLANE THAT CAN'T GET FROM. POINT B, THAT CAN HAVE A CASCADING EFFECT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A BIT OF SABER RATTLING GOING ON.

BUT THIS, OF COURSE, TAKES THINGS TO A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL, WITH THE PRESIDENT. NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYING BOTH OF VENEZUELAN AMERICANS AND VENEZUELAN EXPATS, AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE THERE. IT WAS JUST. ELATION. PEOPLE TELL US THEY WERE OUT THERE AS EARLY AS 2 A.M. I GOT ON THE SCENE LOUD. IT WAS RAMBUNCTIOUS. THERE WAS MUSIC PLAYING. THERE WERE CHEERS, PEOPLE SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF VENEZUELA, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF. STATES, PEOPLE HOLDING UP SIGNS AND FLAGS POINTING BOTH TO THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT

THE FUTURE IS FOR THAT COUNTRY, BUT ALSO JUST MOMENTS OF JOY AND RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SEE THIS. OF COURSE, IT IS ABLE TO GET HERE TO BE WITH HER MOTHER. HER IS STILL IN VENEZUELA, AND SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIM FOR CLOSE TO THREE YEARS, POTENTIALLY HOPING WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE THE WAY THEY HAVE TO OPERATE AS ACROSS BORDERS. SO THAT IS THE SCENE, JUST A MICROCOSM APPEAR TO BE HAVING A RIPPLE EFFECT ON U.S. CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE REGION WHO ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY

HOME. AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE. NOW TO. >> GET MORE OF YOUR REPORTING. I KNOW AFTER YOUR TIME IN DORAL, YOUR TIME THERE. MONICA ALBA IS POSTED UP. AND MONICA, OBVIOUSLY, THE PRESIDENT DOWN AT MAR A LAGO TO THE UNITED STATES HERE. AND THERE ARE SOME. YOU HEARD KEIR AND JESSE TALK THROUGH SOME OF THEM, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP OFFICIALS IN VENEZUELA. THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO THE VENEZUELAN VICE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS NOW BEEN SWORN IN. RODRIGUEZ, SOMEBO WORKED ALONGSIDE MADURO FOR YEARS. >> TO BE ASKING THE FACT THAT IT

IS PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING OUT BEFORE THE COUNTRY, BEFORE THE WORLD, SAYING THAT THE IS GOING TO EFFECTIVELY RUN VENEZUELA. AND IT'S NOT LIKE DETAILS OF HOW THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK ARE STILL LEFT TO BE IRONED OUT, WHICH I. INCREDIF HOW THIS IS GOING TO DEVELOP IN ELSEWHERE, THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA THAT YOU MENTIONED, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, HAD BEEN SWORN IS EFFECTIVELY ACTING IN THAT LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, AMERICA FIRST, THAT THE U.S. IS GOING TO RUNNING VENEZUELA. AND THE PRESIDENT REALLY MADE HIS ANSWER, HIS DEFENSE. HE REALLY PREDICATED A LOT OF THIS DECISION MAKING, A

LOT OF THIS NOW NEW ENTANGLEMENT ON THAT EXACT MISSION ABOUT DEDICATED IN PART TO PRESIDENT G THAT SHE'S A NICE LITTLE FIGURE OUT HERE. AND THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN HINTING AT SOME ADDITIONAL MILITARY OPERATION, STRIKES ON LAND, AS HE CALLED IT, FOR WEEKS, BUT WE NOW KNOW WANTED TO DO IT, HE SAYS, FOR DAYS AGO. BUT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT OPTIMAL. AND THAT IS WHY HE DECIDED OVERW A WINDOW TO GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT AND GO AHEAD. >> BUT FLYABLE, AS HE PUT IT, IN THE PROCESS OF WHAT HE CALLED OR WHAT THE DEFENSE

EXFI, WHICH IS GETTING OUT OF VENEZUELA. >> YEAH, WE ARE LEARNING. IT DOES SEEM IT COULD BE RELATED THAT YOU REFERENCED THE PRESIDENT MENTIONING IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE, DAMAGE, AS YOU MENTIONED THERE, TO SOME OF THE AIRCRAFT. IT'S UNCLEAR EXACTLY THE EXTENT OF THAT. AGAIN, I THINK IN RAISING THIS, WE ALSO HAVE TO ASK ABOUT WHAT THE CAPACITY IN VENEZUELA NOW WITH THIS CURRENT OPERATION, WITH THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS E AFRAID OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND, SAYING THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE U.S. INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION LAST NIGHT, AND THE FATE OF THESE

POTENTIAL U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WHO COULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROLONGED ENTANGLEMENT FOR SOME LONG TIME TO COME. HALLIE. >> OUT FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PLAZA THAT'S MAYBE A BLOCK FROM WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE SITS. ARE THOSE RELATED MONICA, TO VENEZUELA? ARE YOU SEEING A GATHERING CROWD HERE IN WASHINGTON. >> AS IT'S SHUT DOWN FOR SECURITY PURPOSES? BUT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME CHANTS OF THINGS LIKE HANDS OFF EFFECTIVELY HEARING THAT GROWING, I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING. >> MONICA ALBA WATCHING IT ALL. MOM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO GO NOW TO

KEIR SIMMONS. BACK TO KEIR, BECAUSE KEIR, MON, IS POTENTIALLY AN IMPORTANT PLAYER HERE. OBVIOUSLY, MARIA NEXT STEPS DIRECTION IF YOU WILL, FROM HER. TELL US MORE ABOUT WHO SHE. >> IS FOR THAT AMBITION. AND WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON THESE STRIKES SINCE THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS. IT DID TAKE SOME TIME FOR HER TO BE TO, TO TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT OVER A SUSTAINED PERIOD, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A RISK TO HER FROM THE VENEZUELAN REGIME, FROM THE MADURO REGIME, OF SHE HAS BEEN A THREAT TO THEM BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY ABOUT DELCY

RODRIGUEZ IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE, AND THE SECRETARY RUBIO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DELCY RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ APPEARS TO BE THE PERSON JUST REFERENCING REMIND FOLKS. AND IT BEARS SAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT WE ARE JUST HOURS THE REGIME CHANGE. REGIME CHANGE JUST OCCURRED IN VENEZUELA INITIALLY, BUT THAT THEN THE HARD WORK BEGINS IN TERMS OF HOW HOW A COUNTRY SHOULD BE RUN, WHAT HOW TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE FROM VENEZUELA. BUT IS IT INSTEAD BRING ABOUT CHANGE THROUGH THE SAME? WELL WILL TELL YOU THAT THESE ARE NOT SOME . THAT SETS UP THE THAT THERE

IS A BATTLE FOR POWER, AND IT'S IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND EVEN MONTHS AHEAD. >> BUT HERE, THE PRESIDENT HAS FIRED AT LEAST VERBAL WARNING SHOTS TO SOME OTHER PRIORITY OF HIS. IF YOU ARE SITTING IN COLOMBIA RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE PETRO, HOW HOW SERIOUSLY ARE YOU TAKING THOSE WARNINGS. PRESIDENT SUGGESTS THAT HE BETTER WATCH HIMSELF. >> UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP? AND NOW, OF COURSE, 2026 IS THAT CAPITALS LEADERS ARE LISTENING. GROUP SECRETARY RUBIO SAID IT, DIDN'T HE IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE THROUGH THROUGH TODAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR IRANIN TEHRAN, THEY HAVE TARGET YOU. NOW,

IF YOU'RE THE LEADER IN IRAN RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE INEVITABLY IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PREPARED TO GO? AND IT'S NOT JUST IRAN AS YOU AS YOU MENTIONED, A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA MAYBE WORRYING IN A SIMILAR WAY. CERTAINLY CHINA IS A NATURALLY VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS GOVERNMENT IN MANY WAYS. AND HOW CHINA, HOW BEIJING IS VIEWING THIS IS OR WHETHER THEY CONCLUDE FROM THIS, ACTUALLY, THIS IS A GREEN LIGHT FOR COUNTRIES TO INTERVENE IN THEIR OWN REGIONS.D WE LIVE IN. I MEAN, THESE THINGS, WE AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO. >> HAVE REGION AROUND THE WORLD.

>> ALL POLITICAL EVEN TO THEIR PEOPLE. THE DICTATOR AND TERRORIST. IS FINALLY GONE. AND VENEZUELA. >> INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE COVERAGE AFTER THESE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS TODAY. >> NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I MEAN, THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT SORT OF ALLUDE TO THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES RUN VENEZUELA. I SUGGEST, I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SUGGESTING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING. I THINK THE WARNING HE GAVE LEADERS IS PROBABLY TARGETED,

PARTICULARLY AT THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE, BEING A PRIORITY NAY THINKING RIGHT NOW. >> HE SAID. UNTIL THERE IS SOME KIND OF A SAFE TRANSITION. BUT WHEN PRESSED ABOUT THAT, SUGGESTED HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT NEW ELECTIONS DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN VENEZUELA UNLESS AND UNTIL THE WAS DESCRIBED AS A LENGTHY HELPS UNDERSTAND WHAT HER ROLE COULD BE. >> DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TRUST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION. THAT BEEN SORT OF IN THE STREETS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, TRUST THE OPPOSITION. AND I THINK THOSE INSTITUTIONS ARE CRITICAL IN ANY TYPE OF TRANSITION BACK

TO VENEZUELA IN THE FUTURE. I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT MAY BE SUGGESTING THERE IS THAT TEN MONTHS OUT BEFORE NEW ELECTIONS ARE CALLED, AND THEN THE COUNTRY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECT ITS NEXT UNTIL THEN, IT'S GOING TO BE A POWER SHARING STRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES DELCY AS DEMOCRATIC GAME, AND THAT WILL SORT OF MAINTAIN UNTIL ELECTIONS ARE CALLED. AND AGAIN, SOME TYPE OF. TRANSITION BACK TO DEMOCRACY FOLLOWS. >> AND HOW DO YOU. >> SEE THE OIL? THE OIL SECTOR IN VENEZUELA IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR VENEZUELA. IT'S BEEN THAT WAY HISTORICALLY. VENEZUELA

HAS BEEN SITTING ON, YOU KNOW, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. AND SO VENEZUELA IS ONE OF THE BIG PLAYERS IN OIL. AND I THINK THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING TO TAKE A DOMINANT POSITION VENEZUELAN OIL SECTOR AND LEVERAGE THAT POSITION AS A MEANS OF AFFECTING VENEZUELAN OIL INTO THE GLOBAL OIL MARKET. >> BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I JUST WANT TO GET A. NEXT, BUT ALSO HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THIS UNFOLD. BECAUSE I JUST FOR SOMEBODY THIS HIGH PROFILE, FOR SOMEBODY IN THE POSITION OF POWER THAT NICOLAS MADURO HAS BEEN IN, IS LIKELY THERE WERE

COOPERATORS, INSIDERS, IN OTHER WORDS. >> CERTAINLY SOUNDS CREDIBLE. I MEAN, THE WON'T SAY ENTIRE EASE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT, COMPLICATED STATES WAS ABLE TO GO IN WITH RELATIVE EASE AND EXTRACT MADURO IN THE COVER OF NIGHT. IE DEGREE OF, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO UNCOVER IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW, COMPLICITNESS OF OF OTHER IMPORTANT ACTORS ON THE T, THIS WAS ALL ABOUT TIMING. IF MEMBERS OF THE POLITICAL TO ALL OF THIS THIS HAS BEEN A BUILDUP, BY THE WAY, THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS

IN THE MAKING, AT LEAST IN KNOW, ONCE THE UNITED STATES DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO START INTRODUCING MILITARY FOR VENEZUELA, YOU KNOW, AS AN IMPORTANT COUNTRY IN THIS HEMISPHERE, NOT JUST IN THE CONTEXT OF DEMOCRATIC BUT AE CONTEXT OF, YOU KNOW, HARBORING AMERICAN ADVERSARIES. >> I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK HERE TO WASHINGTON AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE BUILDING A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM WHERE I'M SITTING, , OUR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT. AND WHILE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE OUT DEVELOPED IN VENEZUELA, I KNOW WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM AT LEAST ONE SENATOR COMING UP IN THE NEXT 20

MINUTES OR SO. RIGHT? >> YEAH.. EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM TIM KAINE. THAT IS THE DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA. HE A KEY PART OF THIS DEBATE ON CAPITOL HILL. BUT SIMILAR MEASURES HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY FEW REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SIDED WITH THAT IDEA. FOR THE MOST PART, RUBIO AND SECRETARY HEGSETH, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING MEMBERS ALL MORNING, ALL DAY TODAY, SORT OF WALKING THEM THROUGH JUS ACTION, WHICH DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MISSION. YOU CAN NOTIFY CONGRESS THAT IT WOULD ENDANGER THE OPERATION, ENDANGER THE MISSION. AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AT CONFERENCE STEPPED IN AND

SAID, CONGRESS TENDS TO LEAK. WE DON'T WANT LINKERS ARGUMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE TO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED WITH AT LEAST ONE SKEPTIC. THAT'S MIKE LEE OF UTAH. IS THAT THE REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T NEED AUTHORIZATION IN THIS CASE? JURISDICTION? NOW, THAT BEING SAID, THERE HAVE BEEN. REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THEY DISAGREE WITH WITH THE PRESIDENT IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS. SHE CAME OUT AND SAID MAGA VOTED TO END FOREVER BOY, WERE WE WRONG WHEN WE VOTED FOR TRUMP THINKING THAT, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL SEE THAT WAR POWERS

VOTE NEXT WEEK. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER MORE REPUBLICANS WILL ACTUALLY THAT EFFORT. SO FAR, THOUGH, HALLIE, IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT'S THE CASE. >> WE KNEW THIS END ROUTE BACK FROM THE CARIBBEAN OR FROM CARIBBEAN TO THE UNITED STATES. HE IS SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO A WEEK, ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE OFFICIALS. TALKING WITH NBC NEWS, NICOLAS MADURO IS ON HIS WAY TO THE UNITED STATES, WHERE HE WILL. AND THEN PUT BEHIND BARS SET TO FACE A SWEEPING. THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE MOVING FORWARD, COURTNEY, PRESUMABLY AS EXPECTED, ON THE PART OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND AS WE

FROM OFFICIALS INSIDE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO A MISSION THAT WAS. >> AND THEN THE QUITE A BIT OF MILITARY DETAIL FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, GENERAL DAN CANE, WAS WHETHER THERE INJURED. WE ARE NOW LEARNING THAT, IN FACT, THERE WERE CITIES WITH THE MILITARY. A CASUALTY REFERS TO BOTH SOMEONE, INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE KILLED OR INJURED. SO VERY CRITICALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL WHO WERE INJURED. NOW, WE ALSO EXPLAINED IT HERE AS THE U.S. SPECIFICALLY AS THE U.S. WAS TRYING TO EXTRACT MADURO AND HIS WIFE. COMPOUND. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, EXPLAINING THAT THE

COMPLETELY DESTROYED IT, WAS ABLE TO FLY BACK, BUT NOW ALSO LEARNING THAT IN FACT, THERE WERE SEVERAL AMERICANS WHO INJURED DURING THE COURSE OF THESE OPERATIONS, THIS OPERATION. HALLIE. >> WE ALSO HEARD A REPORT, STATES HAD SOME KIND OF ROLE IN BASICALLY BLACKING OUT CARACAS WHEN THIS MISSION WAS UNDERTAKEN. >> THAT REALLY RAISED MY EYEBROWS, TOO, BECAUSE WE DON'T NORMALLY HEAR ABOUT THIS JAM. AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS TO ESSENTIALLY CREATE, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS EXPLAINED IT, A PATHWAY THIS IN THIS CASE, FOR THIS, THIS MISSION THAT MANY OF THE POSSIBLE THREATS AS POSSIBLE.

NOW, ONE WAY WE'VE SEEN THIS AIE PAST WITH U.S. MILITARY MISSIONS WHERE THEY WILL MEANS IN WHICH THAT HAPPENED. BUT HE DID SAY THE U.S. DID IT. REMEMBER, THE U.S. ALSO HAD A AT THAT THEY'VE BEEN FLOWING INTO THE REGION IN RECENT WEEKS THAT HAVE SIMILAR USED IN THIS CASE. >> THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS, TOO, COURTNEY, IS THE POTENTIAL OF, AS YOU'VE TALKED AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR COVERAGE OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND, U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE. BUT HE WENT A STEP FURTHER, AND HE SAID SOMETHING ALONG

THE LINES OF, T. ESSENTIALLY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD THEN HAVE A HAND IN. >> SO REMEMBER, HE DIDN'T JUST TALK ABOUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BUT RULE OUT, AND HE EVEN THREATENED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECOND. IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHAT ADDITIONAL TARGETS THE U.S. WOULD NEED TO GO AFTER, IF, IN FACT, THIS PERIOD IS GOING TO PLAY OUT THE WAY THAT THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINED IT WITH, TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MILITARY TO SECURE LOCATIONS LIKE POTENTIALLY OIL AND GAS INF THE MOTIVATION HERE, YOU KNOW, OF THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> HALLIE COURTNEY KUBE, THAT'S SUPER INTERESTING, AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND AS I KNOW E CONTINUING TO MAKE PHONE CALLS AS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING NOW FOR THE BETTER PART OF WITH JESSE KIRSCH. WE'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN THE THICK OF IT THERE, AS YOU HAVE. CELEBE REMOVAL OF NICOLAS MADURO. >> NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. EVERY SO OFTEN THE MUSIC WILL PICK UP. YOU'LL HEAR HORNS PEOPE FLAGS OF VENEZUELA FLYING HERE ACROSS THE STORY OF VENEZUELA. HALLIE AND PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY SAY WE HAVE NOT FELT COMFORTABLE TO

STEP IN. THEY'VE TOLD ME THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN CARACAS, SOME OF. NOW, SOME E FAMILY MEMBERS ARE STILL GETTING WORD OF THEM REACTING, OF COURSE, TO WHAT THEY SAY IS A REGIME THAT HAS BEEN OPPRESSIVE, MANY OF THEM WAITING DECADES A CHANGE, FOR FREEDOM IN VENEZUELA. AND AGAIN, THE PARTY HERE, HERE. AND I'VE BEEN CHECKING AROUND OTHER BUSINESSES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THERE ARE JUST SMALL GATHERINGS AND CELEBRATIONS AS FAR AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. AGAIN, DORAL HERE, ONE OF THE LARGE PRESENCE, THEY ARE MAKING SURE EVERYTHING HERE STAYS ORDERLY. AND FOR THE

MOST PART I CAN SAY THAT IT HAS SOME LEADERSHIP HERE FROM MIAMI, AND SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL. >> HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS WHO'VE RELAYED SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING BEEN IN THIS BEEN G THE ESCALATING TENSIONS IN VENEZUELA FOR MONTHS NOW. >> ENERGY IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, HALLIE. I MEAN, I GOT TO TELL YOU, WE HAVE TALKED TO TO MOTHERS, TO FATHERS HERE ASKING THEM SENSE OF WHAT THEY WERE THINKING AS THEY SAW SOME OF THOSE BOATS STRIKES, SOME OF THEM SAYING GEIST OPTIMISM, A LOT

OF THEM EXCITED WHEN WHEN THE OPPOSITION LEADER WAS OSLO RECEIVING HER NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, MANY SAYING THEY WANTED MANY OF THEM NOT AFRAID TO SHOW THEIR FACES, MANY OF THEM EAGER TO RESTORE THEIR BUSINESSES AND OPEN THEIR DOORS AND JUST WELCOME HERE, SOME OF THEM STILL SAYING NOT QUITE YET, THAT THERE'S STILL THAT CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM, AS I MENTIONED. BUT AGAIN, HALLIE, AS YOU THE SOUNDS, HEAR THE ECHOES OF THIS CROWD. YEAH. >> OUT THERE, I KNOW YOU'LL REMAIN OUT THERE THROUGH THE BETTER PART OF THE AFTERNOON AS WE GET MORE DEVELOPMENTS. OBVIOUSLY. ON NOW TO

THE UNITED STATES AFTER THAT ATTACK ON VENEZUELA, DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AT STANFORD LAW SCHOOL. PROFESSOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. >> PLEASURE TO BE WITH >> AND LET ME START WITH MADURO'S FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT, PROFESSOR OF THE LEGALITY OF WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS UNDERTAKEN HERE? THEE QUESTIONS. ONE IS, IS IT LAWFUL FOR THESE IN ORDER TO CAPTURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED UNDER U.S. LAW? AND I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS QUITE CLEARLY NO. THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY A USE

OF FORCE IN THEIR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AGAINST AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, EXCEPT IN SELF-DEFENSE. AND THERE'S, I THINK, PLAUSIBLE CLAIM HERE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD A SELF-DEFENSE AND IT WOULD RUN THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, YOU'D SUBMIT A YOU'D SUBMIT AN INDICTMENT, AND THE OTHER COUNTRY WOULD. TO REVIEW IT. THAT WOULD BE A FORMAL LEGAL PROCESS. NOW, THIS WOULD BE. >> THE LEADER OF ANOTHER COUNTRY LIKE THIS. >> EXTRADITION IS THE NORMAL WAY THAT WE OBTAIN JURISDICTIONN COUNTRY. NOW, YOU KNOW NO ONE. >> BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL. ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY OF THAT KIND OF

PUSHBACK? >> WELL, IT'S LIMITS NECESSARILY, TO RESOLVE DISPUTES. THERE'S NO INTERNATIONAL POLICE FORCE NOW, COUNTRIES STATES LIKE THIS, THE REASON WHY THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IS STRUCTURED OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT. SO IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT WE WILL SEE ANO ALLEGATIONS OF AGGRESSION BY BONDED TO RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE WITH SANCTIONS AND ISOLATING RUSSIA. ORGANIZATIONS. THE UNITED STATES HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING THE MOST POWERFUL NEIGHBORS, IF THAT'S THE NORM. AND THAT'S WHAT THE WORLD WAS LIKE THROUGH THE 17TH AND 18TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES. IF THAT'S THE NORM, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO INVADE

THEIR NEIGHBORS TO PURSUE THEIR FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES, AS THE UNITED STATES HAS DONE HERE. PRESIDENT, AS YOU WELL KNOW, HAS JUSTIFIED THIS ACTION. AND WE HEARD THIS FROM HIS TIME AT HOME DOMESTICALLY. DOES THAT ARGUMENT HOLD UP IN AN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF LAW? >> I DON'T THINK IT'S AN BECAUS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT. OH MY GOD, THE FENTANYL CRISIS CAUSING MANY DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FENTANYL IS A SERIOUS ONE. IF YOU IF YOU DO A IF YOU REVIEW COUNTRY, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE DIFFICULT FOREIGN POLICY RELATIONS, THE FACT THAT

IT MIGHT BE DOING THINGS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO YOU ARE NOT JUSTIFICATIONS FOR INVADING THE COUNTRY. >> AND AND WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF VENEZUELA'S SOVEREIGN OIL? IN OTHER WORDS, ANOTHER ANOTHER NATION LIKE THE UNITED PRESIDENS SUGGESTED THAT THE U.S. WOULD GO IN, WOULD REBUILD OYSHER HERE. >> IT POORLY, I'M AFRAID, IF THE UNITED STATES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BASICALLY COME IN AND TAKE THE ASSETS OF ANOTHER. TO RESTRUCTURE THE GOVERNANCE OF ANOTHER STRUCTURE, YOU'RE THERE. THIS OIL PROBABLY RUNS AFOUL OF AN OLD STANDING PROHIBITION IN THE LAW OF ARMED. MAKES IT UNLAWFUL

TO ENGAGE IN PILLAGE. THERE'S YOU'RE ABLE TO KIND OF MANAGE THESE ASSETS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE OR OCCUPYING FORCE. >> AND MY CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD TODAY. FOLKS WHO ARE PERIPHERY TO THE LEGAL PIECE OF THIS, THE ACT NOW IS ON HIS WAY, BASED ON MULTIPLE OFFICIALS AND THE REPORTING OF OUR COLLEAGUE TOM WINTER ON HIS WAY TO THE UNITED NEW YORK, WHERE HE WILL BE BOOKED AND PROCESSED AND PUT BEHIND BARS, LET'S CALL IT A REST SEPARATE FROM FROM THE PROCESS LEGALLY, THAT WOULD UNFOLD IN S.D.N.Y.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY HELPFUL DISTINCTION TO MAKE. MADURO REGIME, SO TO SPEAK, IS ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT LINE PROSECUTORS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ARE GOING TO BE FACING. COME, PROSECUTORS MAY POINT TO THE FACT THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT YEARS AGO, AND THE THERE'S SOME CHANGES HERE AND THERE, BUT MOSTLY. SAME. THE SITUATION THAT IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN 2020 IS THE FASHION. AND THAT'S WHERE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, MAYBE TO SOME SUCCESS, MAYBE NOT, COULD TRY F. RIGHT. IF YOU CAN'T GO AFTER THE ACTUAL CHARGES. >> THAT AT

SOME POINT IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE, YOU WOULD HAVE A SITTING FEDERAL JUDGE NEEDING TO MAKE ON WHETHES MASSIVE MILITARY ACTION TAKEN TO. >> REMOVE A TYPE OF ARGUMENT, AND FINDS A JUDGE THAT FINDS THIS PROBLEMATIC IN SOME WAY,. E THE SORT OF RESPONSE THAT THAT'S GOING TO RECEIVE FROM THIS EXPANSIVE VIEW. AND WE'VE SEEN CLASHES WITH ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FEDERAL JUDGES, ISSUEF IMMIGRATION, WHERE THIS COMES UP AGAIN, THIS IS I GOT A LOT THIS MORNING, BUT THAT THAT WAS DIFFERENT. AND I THINK THIS IS PRESENTING A REALLY UNPRECEDENTED. FOR THE FOR THE COURTS

TO TO WEIGH IN ON SOMETHING. >> THAT THE NORIEGA AND THE SITUATION IN PANAMA YEARS AGO. LAURA. >> YEAH. WELL, OBVIOUSLY SOME 36 YEARS AGO NOW AND FACING A NUMBER OF FEDERAL CHARGES, HE EVENTUALLY THE MILITARY WENT IN AND AND MANAGED TO CAPTURE MADURO, WHICH YOU SEE HIM IN HIS SWEAT SUIT OBVIOUSLY NOT PREPARED. AND THE PRESIDENT EVEN SAID HE. >> WAS YET EARLY HOURS. YET AS IT RELATES TO. RELATES TO NORIEGA. I WONDER IF YOU SEE IT THIS WAY, LAURA, WHICH IS THIS, DID THAT? IT DOES SEEM LIKE READING THIS INDICTMENT, THERE WAS POTENTIALLY

A DEGREE OF HIGH LEVEL FROM AT LEAST SOMEBODY WHO KNEW SOMETHING IN ORDER TO. >> GET THAT WOULD AFFECT SORT OF THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR FOR HOW IT WAS DONE. BUT IT TALKING TO THE PROFESSOR, IT STRUCK ME THAT, YOU KNOW, MECHANISM TO STOP THE ADMINISTRATION FROM DOING THIS BASICALLY IS NOT THERE. IT'S IMPEACHMENT. AND WE KNOW POLITICALLY THAT'S NOT REALLY ON THE TABLE. AND SO UNLESS CONGRESS DECIDES. >> AND IT'S A GOOD POINT, LAURA, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUCK BY WHEN YOU. OUT AND DOING THE WORK OF FILING MOTIONS, DOING

DISCOVERY WHATEVER PIECES TO THIS. LAURA, THE S.D.N.Y HAS HANDLED HIGH PROFILE CASES BEFORE. RIGHT? GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW. PROSECUTORS MIGHT HANDLE SOMETHING THAT IS MASSIVE OR. >> OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IS KNOWN FOR BEING ABLE THESE TYPE OF NARCO TERRORISM CASES, IF YOU WILL. THIS IS NOT HOW TO DO IT. THE ISSUE IS, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO SORT OF THE GEOPOLITICAL BACKDROP TO THIS. IT'S IT'S NOTU KNOW, ON THE ON THE CORNER OF HARLEM. THEY HAD TO GO INTO. >> WITH US

ON THE LINE HERE, BELIEVE IS JOINING US, A JOURNALIST BASED IN VENEZUELA. SHE IS I KNOW THAT YOU HEARD SOME OF THE EXPLOSIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN CARACAS. TELL US MORE. >> YES. IT ALL AROUND 2 A.M. IN THE MORNING LOCAL TIME. A BIG SMOKE, BLACK SMOKE, JUST COVERING CARACAS. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WHEN I WHILE I WAS EXPERIENCING THAT, I STARTED RECEIVING CALLS, REPORTS OF PEOPLE. DIFFERENT PARTS OF CARACAS AND LA GUAIRA AS WELL, IN THE PORT OF. WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE TO COVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING

ON VENEZUELAN SOIL, AND PEOPLE WERE NOT READY FOR THIS PEOPLE. HOURS LATER, IN HUGE LINES IN FRONT OF SUPERMARKETS AND PHARMACIES OF THE NEXT DAYS. >> LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS, ANA, AT WHAT POINT AND. THESE LINES THAT YOUK ABOUT, BUT TAKE ME BACK TO THESE OVERNIGHT HOURS. IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING. >> IMMEDIATELY AS THE BOMBING STARTED. IT WAS COUPLE OF OF LARGE EXPLOSIONS. THE CONFLICT AND PART OF THE OPERATION THAT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED AT THE BEGINNING. DECEMBER. HE DID SAY BACK THEN THAT THE SHIPS IN THE CARIBBEAN,

I KNEW THAT THE CONFLICT WAS ABSOLUTELY FOR VEN. VENEZUELA HAS SEEN IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. MY EYES. I COULDN'T REALLY BELIEVE I WAS IN SHOCK, AND I THINK EVERYONE AROUND WAS AS WELL. PEOPLE FROM THEIR BALCONIES JUST SHOUTING AND IT WAS CLEAR. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A PART OF OF AN THE MILITAR. >> YOU MENTIONED, ANA, THAT YOU WENT OUT SCARED. WERE THEY IN FEAR? WERE THEY WERE THEY TAKING THESE THESE MEASURES AS R SENSE IN TALKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE? >> THEY WERE CALMLY WAITING FOR THEIR BUT I COULD SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, BEING

NERVOUS. THEY WERE HER MEDICATION BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT PREPARED. SHE WASN'T READY. AND SHE WAS SCARED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE GET , LIKE IN THE NEXT GET BACK TO THE NEW NORMAL. BECAUSE DEFINITELY THINGS HAVE CHANGED. AND IT'S I PEOPLE IN LINE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEN THEY WOKE UP WITH BOMB BANG AND HOURS LATER WITHOUT NICOLAS MADURO IN. NOT E HASN'T RESIGNED. BUT HE WAS CAPTURED IN COMMON IN THE ENTIRE CIVILIAN POPULATION. UNCD YOU SAY THAT THAT IS THE PREDOMINANT FEELING? >> HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IT'S COMPLICATED TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE PAST MONTH WHAT HAPPENED. BUT TODAY, NO ONE WAS TRULY BELIEVING OR UNDERSTANDING WHAT JUST. CARACAS AND OTHER PARTS OF OF THE BIGGEST HAAKE AMONG CIVILIANS, AMONG REGULAR CITIZENS, REGULAR VENEZUELANS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE BRINGING OTHER PICTURES OF DIVINE JUSTICE WHILE COMPARING ONE PICTURE TO TO THE OTHER. THERE ARE A LOT OF FEELINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF OF OF THINGS THAT IS OPENLY TALKING ABOUT THIS ON THE STREETS LOUDLY. I MEAN. >> OUT OF FEAR. VANESSA HERRERA, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU. WE'RE

SO GLAD YOU'RE SAFE. JULIE TSIRKIN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT WHO IS NEAR THE PRESIDENT'S FLORIDA. LAGO. AND, JULIE, OBVIOUSLY SOME DRAMATIC RECOUNTING. I'LL ASK OUR TEAM TO SHOW IT HERE IN, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT A WAR ROOM. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A SITUATION IS ESSENTIALLY HIS SKIFF, IF YOU WILL, HIS SECURITY PHOTOS. >> YOU SEE THEM THERE FLANKED BY THE SAME MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET, HIS ADMINISTRATION THAT I SAW THERE TODAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE OTHER GENTLEMAN YOU SEE IN THOSE PHOTOS, GENERAL. C, HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS

OF STAFF. HE TOLD US TO A PLACE THAT THEY GOT TO THIS WEEK, FINALLY, WHEN THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZED THE STRIKE ULTIMATELY LAST NIGHT, AND YOU'RE SEEING SCREEN OF HOW THEY WATCHED THIS OPERATION TAKE PLACE, THE PRESIDENT AND JD VANCE, WHO I'M TOLD, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESPERSON, DID CHECK IN WITH THE PRESIDENT YESTERDAY AT HIS GOLF CLUB AHEAD OF THIS OPERATION TAKING PLACE. BUT IN AN EFFORT ON THE BACK OF THEIR SCREEN THAT THERE IS AN X PAGE OPEN THAT APPEARS TO BE THE PAGE OF THE SOURCE INTEL PAGE ON X RUN BY SOMEBODY GIVING THEM

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AFTER THE. CONFERENCED EARLIER TODAY AT MAR A LAGO, ACCORDING TO THE POST, THAT THERE WILL NOT BE U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WHICH IS A QUESTION THAT WE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT MULTIPLE. HE SEEMED TO LEAVE ON THE TABLE AS A POSSIBILITY. NOW, HE REFERENCING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER TODAY, THERE WILL NOT BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, THIS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HE TOLD US IN THE ROOM EARLIER TODAY. BUT STILL, TRUMP SAYS THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE WANT TO SEE TAKE OVER AT THIS MOMENT. SO FOR NOW,

THE U.S. WILL BE IN ACE PRESIDENT. BUT AS YOU HEARD HIM SAY, AND AS YOU JUST HEARD TO DO, IF SHE COOPERATES, THEN THERE WILL BE NOT FURTHER ESCALATION BY THE U.S. MILITARY HALLIE. >> AND INDICATION OF WHETHER WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT AGAIN OVER THE COURSE OF THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. >> YET MEANS WE DO NOT REST OF THE DAY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NECESSARILY WON'T HEAR FROM HIM ONLINE. CAIN, HEGSETH AND STEPHEN MILLER, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO WAS ALSO IN THE PHOTOS IN THAT ROOM, HEARING, OF COURSE, SOME GRIEVANCES,

ESPECIALLY FROM DEMOCRATS, THAT THEY WERE NOT BRIEFED AND WARNED AHEAD OF TIME OPERATION, SECRETARY RUBIO AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING IT'S BECAUSE MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED IN THESE SCENARIOS. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP POINTED TOWARD HIM WHEN HE WAS PATEL, THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, ALSO THERE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROOM. SO THE PRESIDENT HAS HIS.T WHAT HE CALLS HIS WINTER WHITE HOUSE IN THAT MAKES MAKES ABOUT STRIKES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK UNDER IN NIGERIA. SO THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY BUSY HOLIDAY TWO THE PRESIDENT AND OF COURSE CULMINATING WITH THIS MAJOR OPERATION

OVERNIGHT. >> JULIE REFERENCED ALONGSIDE THERE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH, AS WELL AS HE IS TAKING ON AN INCREASINGLY MULTI-HYPHENATED JOB TITLE HERE, AS HE'S SERVING MANY ROLES IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. >> AND ABSOLUTELY. MARCO RUBIO HAS BEEN ON THIS SINCE WHEN DOWNGRADES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POST WAR, 80 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL VERY IMPORTANTLY, MARCO RUBIO'S THINKING AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, AS SECRETARY OF STATE, HE THINKING AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. AS SECRETARY OF STATE, HE LAID SEVEN MONTHS IN OFFICE. HE WOULD HAVE HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, BECAUSE HE

HAS BEEN SPENDING SO, SO MUCH TIME WORKING IN ADDITION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. SO IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING TRANSITION FOR MARCO BUT CERTAINLY VENEZUELA, CUBA, ALL OF THIS, NICARAGUA, OF CUBA, HE'S OBVIOUSLY CUBAN-AMERICAN. HE COMES FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY. HE COMES FROM MIAMI. THIS CRITICALLY PART OF HIS IDENTITY. AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE SUSTAINING THEIR, YOU KNOW, REALLY DECIMATED ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE EMBARGO THAT HAS BEEN GOING DECADES, WITH THE BRIEF INTERRUPTION DURING THE OBAMA YEARS WHEN CUBA BAILED OUT MADURO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WHEN THE US FIRST

STARTED TAKING TRUMP WON, BAILED HIM OUT WITH MILITARY, WITH INTELLIGENCE, WITH VICE PRESIDENT. WHETHER SHE REALLY, AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO COOPERATE WITH THEM THEY WILL RUN THIS, HOW WILL THEY RUN THE SECURITY? WHAT WILL TODAY IS THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF NORIEGA OF PANAMA, THE DICTATOR OF PANAMA'S SURRENDER TO THE US 36 YEARS AGO, THE LAST TIME THE US AND VENEZUELA. WHO HAS HAD TO ACCEPT ALL OF THESE VENEZUELAN REFUGEES. BUT OF COURSE, HIS ANTI-TRUMP. THEY ARE NOW NONPERMANENT MEMBERS TEMPORARILY. CHINESE ENVOY JUST IN THE 48 HOURS MEETING WITH MADURO. SO

I THOUGHT THE TOUGH AS NAILS TODAY IN HIS COMMENTS AT THAT NEWS CONFERENCE AND SAYING THAT THIS IS A WARNING TO OTHER REGIMES IN THE REGION, AND LET'S SEE THE WAY THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE REACTS TO. >> AND THE PRESIDENT HAS NICKNAMED IT HE'S HE'S RIFFING OFF OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE, OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THE SHOW OF FORCE IN LATIN AMERICA, CALLING IT THE DON ROAD ZONE PARTY. FOR EXAMPLE, OUTGOING CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ABOUT HOW THAT COMPORTS WITH WHAT HE RAN HIS CAMPAIGN ON NO NEW WARS, BEING THE PRESIDENT OF PEACE. >> SO THERE IS A

IN 2026 OF THE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY AND THAT IT WILL IT WILL TAKE GET ATTENTION FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM AND RUSSIA AND OTHERS THAT THIS PRESIDENT THE CONSISTENT SORT OF FALLBACK POSITION HAS BEEN TO BELIEVE VLADIMIR PUTIN OVER EVERYONE ELSE BELIEVE IN PUTIN. THE STRONGMAN'S RIGHT CLAIMS VERY QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS, ACCORDING TO US INTELLIGENCE. ACCORDING TO MATT WHITAKER, AMBY TO DENIALS FROM UKRAINE, THE ZELENSKYY ACCEPTED THAT AT FACE VALUE FROM PUTIN AND SAID, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, ZELENSKYY HAS TOS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REALLY BY ONE OF HIS CLOSEST AMBASSADORS, MATT WHITAKER AT NATO. SO, YOU

KNOW, HIS POSITION IS ALWAYS TO BELIEVE PUTIN OVER EVERYONE ELSE. YOU KNOW, FRANKLY QUESTIONED ZELENSKYY. THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A UKRAINE SUMMIT IN LED BY MACRON. WE BELIEVE THAT THE UN WOULD WEATHER THIS WILL CHANGE THAT. >> PLENTY OF INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE AS, OF COURSE, THE FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, REACTING TODAY AS WELL TO THE OUSTING THE THE AND GEORGE, I KNOW WE TALKED JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE CROWD HAS ONLY BUILT. ARE YOU SEEING NOW THIS OF PEOPG TO THIS, TO THIS NEXUS FOR VENEZUELA? >> LOOK OVER TO MY

RIGHT. MORE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO FILTER IN HERE. THIS BECOMING THE EPICENTER OF THE PARTY HERE. AND NO COINCIDENCE. AGAIN, DORAL, KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO REALLY TALK. THEY WERE HIDING. A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES HERE WEREN'T AS BUSY. THEY WEREE ADMINISTRATION'S CHANGES, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE SAYING THEY ARE EAGER TO RETURN HOME, SOME SAYING THEY MAY STILL WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS ALL BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAS STRUCK ME THE MOST HERE TODAY IS TALKING TO. I TALKED TO ONE FATHER WHO IS HERE WITH HIS CHILD SOMEWHERE IN THIS CROWD, SAYING

I HAD TO CALL MY FAMILY. I HAD WHO IS STILL IN CARACAS RIGHT NOW. AND HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THREE IN THE MORNING WHEN WORD STARTED TO TRICKLE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN VENEZUELA. AND AGAIN, EVERY SO OFTEN YOU WILL SEE JUST THIS SURGE OF PEOPLE BEGINNING THESE CHANTS OF CARS THAT ARE JUST DRIVING BY THE PARKING LOT HERE, MANY OF THEM WITH FLAGS, BOTH VENEZUELA. IT GETS THE CROWD RILED UP. THEY ARE CHANTING, THERE IS MEDIA, MANY VENEZUELAN FLAGS HERE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. AND AGAIN, SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE SAY

THEY HAVE NO PLANS ON GOINGS CELEBRATION, THIS REGIME CHANGE THAT THEY ARE AWAITING WORD TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN CARACAS THAT THEY CAN GO OUT ONTO THE STREETS AND REJOICE THEM SAYING, RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THOSE PARTIES LIKE THIS ARE HAPPENING. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND, THERE'S JUST MORE PEOPLE HERE. >> HALLIE GEORGE SOLIS. THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM OUR VANTAGE I APPRECIATE THAT. LET ME BRING YOU BACK HERE TO WASHINGTON, WHERE OUR CONGRESSIONAL VENEZUELA. NOW, WALK US THROUGH WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS

LATER, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALSO HEARING FROM THE SCHUMER AS WELL. >> THAT'S RIGHT. I'M GOING TO START WITH THAT, CHUCK SCHUMER AND HAS ANNOUNCED PLAN TO RUN VENEZUELA IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE AN GANG T BRIEFING, FOLLOWED BY BRIEFINGS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. THIS OPERATION IN VENEZUELA, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARCO RUBIO AND EVEN TRUMP ARGUING THAT THEY COULDN'T NOTIFY CONGRESS. BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE ENDANGERED THE OPERATION OR, IN TRUMP'S WORDS, SPECIFIED INFORMATION ALL THE TIME. AND SO TYPICALLY THEY WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN MOST CASES OF MAJOR OPERATIONS.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN SORT OF THE COMMON STORYLINE. AND TIM KAINE, HE'S A DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA, HE'S ACTUALLY HOLDING A MEDIA AVAILABILITY RIGHT NOW. HE'S FOE NEXT WEEK TO BLOCK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM FURTHER OUT. WHAT PRECEDENT THIS SENDS, ESPECIALLY WHAT MESSAGE IT SENDS TO OTHER FOREIGN LEADERS, PLACES LIKE CHINA OR THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS, WHETHER IT WAS THE STRIKES ON THE BOATS OR THE STRIKES ON THE LAND, OR EVEN THE ATTACK THAT CAPTURE OFS MADURO, THAT, OF COURSE, HAS NOT HAPPENED. IT'S THERE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THESE THEY ARO LAWMAKERS IS THAT THEY DON'T NEED

CONGRESSIONAL TO CAPTURE MADURO. SO WE HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE CRITICIZED THE TRUMP INCLUDING MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, A FORMER ALLY OF THE PRESIDENT'S TIME NEXT WEEK. SO CERTAINLY, THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS STILL HAVE. >> MEL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU THERE ON CAPITOL NEW FALLOUT, AF THAT REACTION AS WELL. >> AND AS WELL IN THE NEXT, LET'S SEE, 20 MINUTES OR SO. SO WE'LL BE HEARING FROM HIM RELATIVELY HE OF COURSE, IS A KEY VOICE HERE AS HE IS THE TOP DEMOCRATIC LEADER. >> NBC NOW, NBC NEWS NOW

THE LEADER OF VENEZUELA, NICOLAS MADURO, WAS CAPTURED BY U.S. FORCES DURING A OVERNIGHT MILITARY OPERATION IN CARACAS. VIDEO. YOU SEE MADURO EXPLOSIONS SHOWS THE FIRE, THE SMOKE IN THE CAPITOL. AT THIS MOMENT, WE KNOW MADURO FLOWN TO NEW YORK CITY, ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE OFFICIALS. FAMILIAR LOCATION. HE WILL HE WILL BE BOOKED, PROCESSED AND PUT BEHIND BARS. IT COMES AS PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS DOWN IN MAR A LAGO, WHERE HE IS SPENDING HIS HOLIDAY BREAK, IS LAYING OUT HIS HINTING AT AND HOW THE COUNTRY WILL BE GOVERNED MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN

IT RELATES TO VENEZUELAN OIL. HERE'S PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY. SOMEBODY ELSE GET IN. AND WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE HAD FOR THE LAST LONG PERIOD OF SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY UNTIL SUCH JUSTICE FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. AND THAT INCLUDES MANY FROM VENEZUELA THAT ARE NOW LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAVE THE GOOD OF THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE IN MIND. WE'VE HAD DECADES OF THAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. >> WAY TO NEW YORK CITY. BASED ON OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD NBC NEWS,

THERE WILL BE A PROCESS THAT PLAYS OUT FROM HERE. VENEZUELA. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THIS IS REGIME CHANGE. MADURO CHARGED WITH TERS WIFE WILL APPEAR IN A CARRYING OUT AN OVERNIGHT RAID. PRESIDENT TRUMP DESCRIBING IT AS LIKE WATCHING A TV SAYING THAT U.S. SPECIAL FORCES AND U.S. OF THE AIR STRIKES ON VENEZUELA WHILE THIS WAS TAKING PLACE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THIS TOR THAT THE SPECIAL THE SPECIAL FORCES ARE MADURO AND HIS WIFE, NOW FACING AN AMERICAN COURT, THE VENEZUELAN LEADER, NOBEL PRIZE WINNER DESCRIBING THIS AS AN HOUR OF WHETHER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE SOME

KIND OF A DEAL WITH DULCE RODRIGUEZ, WHO WAS MADURO'S VICE PRESIDENT, WHETHER SHE WILL TAKE OVER AND WHETHER SHE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN VENEZUELA. THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS. WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS. ALL OF THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE JUST IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. AND AS WE KNOW IT CAN BE DAYS SCARCELY IMAGINE. AND MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNDERSCORING THAT THINGS HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE HERE. BUT THE BIG QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT NOW FOR WHAT IS THE PLAN TO RUN VENEZUELA IN THE WEEK THAT THE US IS RUNNING VENEZUELA? >> YOU TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP MOVING

FORWARD, KEIR AND WHAT I? WE WERE ON THE PHONE EARLIER WITH THE VENEZUELAN JOURNALIST. LONG LINES AT SUPERMARKETS, PHARMACIES, AS PEOPLE ARE SEEKING TO TRY TO HUNKER DOWN FOR WHATEVER. NEXT FEW DAYS. HERE, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE OPPOSITION LEADER, MARIA, THE FUTURE OF A DEMOCRATICALLY LED VENEZUELA. SO THEN TELL US MORE ABOUT DELCY RODRIGUEZ, THE CURRENT VICE HAS BEEN RECENTLY SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT. THE NEW PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA. >> CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH MADURO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO IF IT DOES THAT SHE HAS, IF YOU LIKE, DONE A DEAL WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OF

POWERFUL PEOPLE WITHIN VENEZUELA WHO KIND OF CONGREGATED AROUND AND SO THERE IS A REAL QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SHE HAS THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE NOT JUST IN MADURO'S NAME, BUT IN HER NAME IN VENEZUELA. I MEAN, E ARGUED BY SOME THAT THE MISTAKES WAR, THAT THE US ISN'T MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE THAT IN VENEZUELA. BUT WE ARE SO EARLY WITH THIS HIMSELF SAYING IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THEY HAD THE IS MORE TO COME WITH THIS. AND AGAIN, JUST ONE MORE CRUCIAL POINT HERE. AND WE'VE BEEN. RIGH THE DAY. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT

THAT. THE US CONSIDERS THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE ITS REGION AND THAT IT'S DETERMINED TO ASSERT ITSELF. >> KEIR SIMMONS, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH YOUR ANALYSIS AND WITH YOUR US TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN VENEZUELA, WHICH THE PRESIDENT VERY PUBLICLY IN REMARKS THAT WE AIRED LIVE. NBC NEWS, DID NOT NOT ONLY RULE OUT, BUT SAID WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID. NEW YORK POST, WHERE IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS LOOKING TO EITHER WALK THAT BACK OR CLARIFY. HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S CURRENTLY IS ON TROOPS IN VENEZUELA. >> AND I THINK IT'S REALLY NOTABLE EARLIER. BUT

NOW HE'S SAYING ESSENTIALLY HE'S PUTTING THIS ON THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA GUYS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING HERE, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING THAT ESSENTIALLY CRITERIA HE'S GOING