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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump Says In Interview He's In Charge Of Venezuela; Maduro's VP Rodriguez Formally Sworn In As Interim Leader; Danish PM: A U.S. Attack On A NATO Ally Would End Alliance; Colombia Increasing Security Along Border With Venezuela; Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired January 06, 2026 - 04:00 ET
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RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and welcome to our viewers.
Joining us from the U.S. and all around the world, I'm Rahel Solomon live in New York. And we begin this morning with our breaking news coverage.
Questions this morning remain over who is currently running Venezuela after the U.S. operation to capture the now ousted president, Nicolas Maduro.
In a new interview, President Donald Trump summed up who he believes is in charge in Venezuela with one word, me.
He also told NBC News that Venezuela will not have new elections anytime soon saying, quote, we have to fix the country first.
Meantime, the Trump administration is defending its actions in Venezuela, stressing that there is no U.S. occupation there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE WALTZ, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: As Secretary Rubio has said, there is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation.
In furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades. The United States arrested a narco trafficker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: The U.N. Ambassador there referring to Nicolas Maduro who appeared Monday alongside his wife for their first appearance in a U.S. federal court on drug and weapons charges both pleaded not guilty.
CNN's Kristen Holmes is following all of the developments from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: There are still a lot of questions to what President Trump means when he says the United States is in control of Venezuela or will run Venezuela. And we still have not gotten really any kind of clarity.
Of course, we've heard Secretary of State Marco Rubio say it was more about policy, but we've also heard President Trump say in an interview that he himself was ultimately going to run the country.
We did hear from Stephen Miller, one of the deputy chiefs of staff, too, Donald Trump trying to explain to our Jake Tapper why exactly it was that the United States was in control of Venezuela. Here's what he said.
STEPHEN MILLER, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: By definition, we are in charge because we have the United States military stationed outside the country. We set the terms and conditions.
For them to do commerce, they need our permission. For them to be able to run an economy, they need our permission. So the United States is in charge.
HOLMES: So clearly there, Miller saying that the threat of the military, the leverage over the economy is what they are going to use. They mean the United States, the administration, to try and control Venezuela, to get Venezuela to do what the United States wants.
But it is interesting to hear President Trump and his team say that the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, is cooperating with the United States, that she's had conversations with Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and that they're optimistic that she's going to be able to work with them.
Of course, we say work with the United States. It does seem, based on what we've heard from President Trump, that that means do what the United States wants Venezuela to do largely, if you ask President Trump when it comes to oil.
But again, there are still a lot of questions as to what exactly this looks like moving forward, how the United States is going to be working with Venezuela. And again, what is going to be happening in the day today?
Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: And some lawmakers seem even more confused about the situation in Venezuela after a classified briefing from the Trump administration on Monday night.
Democrats say that they were not given any legal justification for why Congress wasn't informed before the U.S. strike and accused the administration of having no plan for what comes next.
However again, House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed that the U.S. is not occupying Venezuela and will play a limited role in the region.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): The way that this is being described, I think, is accurate. This is not a regime change. This is demand for change in behavior by a regime.
We don't expect troops on the ground. We don't expect direct involvement in any other way beyond just coercing the new, the interim government to -- to -- to get that going.
REP. JIM HIMES (D-CT): He doesn't have the answers because he doesn't know what's going to happen tomorrow or the next day. What's really concerning is that he doesn't have a plan.
And this is, of course, what hurt us in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Libya. There's no plan for the day after that.
REP. ADAM SMITH (D-WA): I don't think they have a clear plan. And I also think that when President Trump says that we're running Venezuela and starts talking about how we're doing this for the oil, that really undermines the ability to have any sort of effective transition, because the people of Venezuela don't want to be ruled by the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:05:18]
SOLOMON: Meanwhile, in Venezuela's capital, hundreds of protesters came out and support of captured President Nicolas Maduro. Demonstrators could be seen holding banners and signs in favor of the former president.
The outpouring of support comes as Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was formally sworn in as the country's interim leader on Monday.
President Trump says that he believes that Rodriguez is willing to do what the U.S. thinks is necessary to, quote, make Venezuela great again. But he also wouldn't rule out a second military operation if Rodriguez stops cooperating.
CNN's Paula Newton has more on a landmark day of Venezuela's National Assembly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a bold statement that the old guard in Venezuela is still in charge.
Lawmakers in the National Assembly gathered to open a new session, an unprecedented one, as a loyal operative of the regime of Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as acting president.
Even in taking the oath, Delcy Rodriguez denounced Maduro and his wife's capture, saying she was in pain for the kidnapping of two heroes.
While Maduro was shackled and on his way to his first appearance in a New York courtroom, his inner circle returned to a familiar playbook, calling on Venezuelans to hit the streets and protest Maduro's incarceration.
Even his son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, was installed once again in parliament, emotionally pledging his allegiance to Rodriguez.
Adding, the homeland is in good hands, dad.
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): We seem to have swapped one head of the snake for another. And we absolutely have to make sure that what the result -- that -- that the result from the arrest and removal of Maduro, who was illegally holding office and who violated U.S. and international law, that we move towards a transition.
NEWTON (voice-over): On the streets of Caracas, the shock of the last few days is giving way to a return to business as usual and a regime that is all too familiar.
Hundreds of political prisoners remain in custody and citizens have been warned, the regime is aggressively hunting down U.S. collaborators.
Government media parrots the line that the entire country stands with Maduro, even though Rodriguez is herself now vowing to engage in a cooperative agenda with the U.S.
The regime, though, its guardians still in place, returned emboldened to this performative display.
In fact, the events of the last few days seem to vindicate the revolutionary ideals among Maduro loyalists that the U.S. posed a clear and present danger to the country and only a dogmatic, zealous devotion to the regime could fight.
Paula Newton, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: And since the raid on Venezuela, the Trump administration has issued warnings to several other governments from Iran to Colombia to Cuba, even Mexico. But its focus could first turn to the Danish territory of Greenland.
President Trump has reminded everyone of his desire to take over the island. Telling reporters on Sunday, let's talk about it again in 20 days.
None of this is going over well in Greenland or Denmark. Now the White House deputy chief of staff is openly questioning Denmark's claim to the territory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILLER: The real question is, by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?
The United States is the power of NATO. For the United States is secure the Arctic region to protect and defend NATO and NATO interest. Obviously, Greenland should be part of the United States.
Nobody's going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Let's go to CNN, international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, who joins us live from London. Nic, good morning.
I want to get to Greenland in just a moment. But first, just walk us through some of the reaction we've heard from European leaders, allies and foes of the U.S., some who have spoken out critically against the operation of Venezuela. Others, taking a more muted tone.
What -- what are we hearing?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. It's been a more cautious tone. If you look at the European Union, if you look at the U.K., the -- the language that's being used, it's critical of Maduro. British saying no tears lost over -- over his departure.
European Union saying that this -- he -- Maduro did not have legitimacy to -- to rule in Venezuela.
Of course, what's happened now with Rodriguez being -- being sworn in is, you know, is an open question that the Europeans will have to and others will have to digest as well.
[04:10:05] But the -- the tone has been one not to criticize President Trump directly for what he's done, but to try to put up guardrails saying that -- that international law should be followed, that international humanitarian law should be followed, that human rights should be respected. This is a tone we've heard coming from the U.N. as well.
And I think this is an effort and an attempt to try to push the United States towards using diplomacy in its next steps with Venezuela, as opposed to using force.
But it's very clear that the lack of criticism, despite essentially saying, not quite going as far as the U.N. and saying that international law has been broken, but by sort of hinting that they are concerned about it, it -- it shows that there's a line that they don't want to cross because the relationship, their relationship in European Union, U.K.'s, others, is important economically for security reasons.
And they also potentially are very concerned about how President Trump would react if they came up -- if he was directly criticized.
SOLOMON: Yes. A bit of a thorny issue for -- for some of those European leaders.
Nic, on the issue of Denmark and Greenland, we did hear the Deputy U.N. Ambassador for Denmark criticize the operation in Venezuela as they once again face renewed concerns over the sovereignty of -- of Greenland.
Walk us through what we're hearing there and what appears to be Greenland and -- and Denmark taking these threats from the U.S. pretty seriously.
ROBERTSON: Yes. The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said this should be taken seriously. We've heard from both her and the Prime Minister in -- in Greenland pushing back very strongly against the United States.
In fact, Frederiksen has warned that if the United States was to try to take Greenland, then that would be the demise of NATO, that this was sort of in a way break that security alliance, that powerful security alliance has been alive and perhaps the biggest security block in the world since the World -- since World War II, that -- that would lead to an ending of that. And that I think is -- is of concern for Europeans.
We know that there's a coalition of the willing talks going on in -- in Paris today about the future of Ukraine, about U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. We know from the French who are hosting this that there will be discussion about Venezuela.
It's likely going to be on the margins of that that the European leaders who will be there will be discussing it.
We know, for example, yesterday the British prime minister talked with the Norwegian prime minister now. It wasn't announced publicly that they discussed President Trump's latest announcements on Greenland.
But I think we can be quite sure that the nature of that discussion would -- would have touched on that topic as well. It is key to both of them.
It strikes at the concerns in Europe that perhaps Donald Trump is getting more serious about Greenland.
SOLOMON: Yes, perhaps not publicly documented, but how could they not discuss the issue?
Nic Robertson, live for us there in London. Nic, thank you.
All right. And still ahead for us, the United Nations warns that the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela could worsen in the aftermath of the U.S. military operation. The details just ahead.
Also, how Colombia is reacting to the U.S. operation and neighboring Venezuela? And what the leader of Colombia is saying to President Trump, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:15:49]
SOLOMON: Welcome back. New video shows gunfire and anti-aircraft fire in Venezuela's capital on Monday night. This reportedly came after a misunderstanding and confusion between different security groups near the presidential palace.
Venezuela's Ministry of Communication and Information also saying that police fired at drones that were, quote, flying without permission. Caracas so clearly on edge after the U.S. operation to capture President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.
And deposed Venezuelan President Maduro, and his wife's next hearing, is scheduled for March 17th. Maduro and Cilia Flores are indicted on drug and weapons charges. They pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance in New York on Monday with Maduro declaring, I am still the president of my country through a translator.
Their lawyers say that a formal bail application will be filed later.
And a large crowd had gathered outside the courthouse in Manhattan with demonstrators offering mixed reactions to the U.S. operation. Maduro's attorneys describe it as an abduction.
CNN legal analyst Jim Schultz explained how this point may prove to be the first major hurdle in the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM SCHULTZ, CNN LEGAL COMMENTATOR: Well, they're going to file a motion to dismiss relative to those issues, right? Arguing that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated. There was a 1989 memo authored by Bill Barr when -- during the Bush -- during the first Bush administration that basically opined that it's OK to violate the U.N. authority on this. That it's OK to extract a criminal out of a foreign country, that it's within the president's power by and through those of the attorney general to -- to take someone out of their country when they violated laws in the United States.
That memo is going to be put to the testiness. And I expect that's going to be the first motion out of the gate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: United Nations is sounding the alarm on the possible intensification of instability in Venezuela, and nearly eight million people there need urgent support.
The U.N. warns that humanitarian response plans -- plan for Venezuela remains, quote, critically underfunded. According to the agency, only 17 percent of the more than $600 million needed was received. That makes the appeal for Venezuela one of the least funded in the world.
The U.N. warns that more support is urgently needed to deliver lifesaving aid to the country's most vulnerable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[04:20:04]
STEPHANE DUJARRIC, U.N. SPOKESPERSON: The situation in Venezuela remains dire. At the start of this year, some 7.9 million people in Venezuela need -- found to need urgent support. This is the equivalent of more than a quarter of the country's population.
We continue to provide assistance to the most vulnerable, including food, healthcare, and protection services. The U.N. emphasizes the importance of respect of international law and the need to protect civilians and preserving humanitarian operational continuity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: After the U.S. operation to remove Maduro, Colombia is increasing its security across its border with Venezuela.
Colombia's president firing back at President Trump saying that he would, quote, take up arms if the U.S. attacked his country.
CNN's David Culver has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's get in here. You got it?
CULVER (voice-over): This is the show of force Colombian commanders want the world and perhaps mostly Washington to witness.
CULVER: And so here it is now evening, going into late in the night. And we're about to see some of the many patrols that have sprawled out across the 1,300-plus miles of border between Colombia and Venezuela.
CULVER (voice-over): The government says it's now deployed some 30,000 Colombian troops to its eastern border.
CULVER: Military commanders stressed that their priority is security and stability more than anything else. It may look like an escalation, but they say this is about being prepared for whatever situation might unfold.
But you can't look past the timing, and that is all of this happening as scrutiny from Washington intensifies.
CULVER (voice-over): At all hours, the Colombian military increasingly present here.
CULVER: What is the priority right now?
CULVER (voice-over): Pushing back on claims from the Trump administration that they're not doing enough to stop criminal organizations and drugs from crossing the border.
LT. COL. JHONNATAN ARCOS, COLOMBIAN ARMY (through text translation): The deployment of troops is to guarantee the sovereignty of the territory.
CULVER (voice-over): Adamant, they're focused on guaranteeing and defending Colombia's sovereignty and primarily its citizens.
ARCOS (through text translation): For the defense of the territory and especially the defense of Colombians.
CULVER (voice-over): And yet despite the show of force, life here, pretty normal for the moment.
CULVER: You can see steady traffic coming in from Venezuela into Colombia. This is the Simon Bolivar Bridge, takes you right into Venezuela.
CULVER (voice-over): Or out of Venezuela -- in Maria's case, if only for a couple of hours.
She's got a doctor's appointment in Colombia.
CULVER: She says everything's calm.
CULVER (voice-over): She's among those still living in Venezuela, willing to tell us on camera she's happier with Maduro gone.
CULVER: She says as soon as Maduro became president, everything just went downhill from there. So, she's hoping it can revert back to the way it was. So she says before. CULVER (voice-over): In a seemingly forgotten, tucked away mountain community here in Cucuta, Colombia, many we meet dream bigger for Venezuela's future.
CULVER: And this is a community that's basically a migrant settlement.
She thinks there are more Venezuelans in this community than Colombians. Mind you, we're in Colombia.
CULVER (voice-over): This family left Venezuela two years ago, intentionally keeping close to their homeland.
CULVER: Do you want to go back?
She would love to go back. OK. That's where the better room is. And they have running water and electricity.
CULVER (voice-over): And yet, before returning, she, like most here, want to see lasting changes take shape.
The neighbor has internet, and so they -- they share it.
So this is their kitchen. One bedroom there.
CULVER (voice-over): Incredibly modest but better still, she insists, than life on the other side of the border.
CULVER: She said, life in Venezuela was incredibly difficult. Even working, she said, we had to make choices. Do you buy clothes? Do you buy food?
CULVER (voice-over): She's among the nearly three million who've left Venezuela to settle in Colombia in recent years, believed to be the largest Venezuelan diaspora outside of Venezuela.
CULVER: She said her husband wanted to stay close to their homeland, so they're just over the border. Secondly, she was worried about the journey to the U.S.
CULVER (voice-over): And yet, before returning, she, like most here, want to see lasting changes take shape.
CULVER: Do you think the U.S. can change things in -- in Venezuela?
She does think the U.S. actually can contribute, not to do everything, but to at least make a better Venezuela. And she sees it.
[04:25:03]
CULVER (voice-over): Until then, they've made this home.
She says, go back three years ago, and this was a mess. It didn't look anything like this, but the community came together. And now, it's a place where a lot of the kids gather and they play.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: Our thanks to David Culver there.
And still ahead, we are learning more about the timeline of Operation Absolute Resolve. Still ahead, a closer look at how the U.S. military captured Nicolas Maduro and sent him to a New York jail.
Plus, we are live in Buenos Aires with a look at what may come next for the people of Venezuela now that Maduro is gone. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOLOMON: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just praising the U.S. military following the mission to capture Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Nicolas Maduro got to meet some great Americans wearing night vision goggles three nights ago.
