Former US President Joe Biden earns a massive pension of $417,000, which is reportedly the largest amount for any president in US history. This pension reportedly exceeds the salary of US President Donald Trump $400,000 as of 2026. According to the National Taxpayers Union, the amount is “historically unusual”, even bigger than the sum of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.&nbsp;<h2>Why is Biden receiving an unusually high pension?</h2>According to the National Taxpayers Union, the large amount of pension is due to Joe Biden's long political career. He had served 44 years in public service, decades in the Senate and two terms as Vice President, before serving as President. Due to his long career in public service, he is eligible for a CSRS pension, which could be approximately $166,000 per year, including a small spousal benefit.&nbsp;He also earns a pension under the Former President Act Pension, which is equivalent to the pay of a Cabinet secretary (Executive Level I), approximately $250,600 annually. In addition to the pension money, he is entitled to taxpayer-funded allowances for office space, staff, equipment and travel. For 2026, this budget for Biden's office and support is reportedly over $1.5 million.&nbsp;<h2>Trump’s wealth vs presidential salary</h2>However, this comparison is futile with the US President Donald Trump's wealth. Trump is the first billionaire to hold the presidential office. His vast net worth is incomparable to his salary amount. In fact, Trump has reportedly donated his annual salary in his first and second terms to the federal agencies. His vast wealth stems from his real estate, cryptocurrencies, the Trump Media and Technology group, licensing and brand deals. Trump's net worth as of January 2026 is $6.6 billion.&nbsp;

Former US President Joe Biden earns a $417,000 pension, higher than Donald Trump’s $400,000 presidential salary. Here’s why

Former US President Joe Biden earns a massive pension of $417,000, which is reportedly the largest amount for any president in US history. This pension reportedly exceeds the salary of US President Donald Trump $400,000 as of 2026. According to the National Taxpayers Union, the amount is “historically unusual”, even bigger than the sum of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama. Why is Biden receiving an unusually high pension? According to the National Taxpayers Union, the large amount of pension is due to Joe Biden's long political career. He had served 44 years in public service, decades in the Senate and two terms as Vice President, before serving as President. Due to his long career in public service, he is eligible for a CSRS pension, which could be approximately $166,000 per year, including a small spousal benefit. He also earns a pension under the Former President Act Pension, which is equivalent to the pay of a Cabinet secretary (Executive Level I), approximately $250,600 annually. In addition to the pension money, he is entitled to taxpayer-funded allowances for office space, staff, equipment and travel. For 2026, this budget for Biden's office and support is reportedly over $1.5 million. Trump’s wealth vs presidential salary However, this comparison is futile with the US President Donald Trump's wealth. Trump is the first billionaire to hold the presidential office. His vast net worth is incomparable to his salary amount. In fact, Trump has reportedly donated his annual salary in his first and second terms to the federal agencies. His vast wealth stems from his real estate, cryptocurrencies, the Trump Media and Technology group, licensing and brand deals. Trump's net worth as of January 2026 is $6.6 billion.

Former US President Joe Biden earns a $417,000 pension, higher than Donald Trump’s $400,000 presidential salary. Here’s why

How Joe Biden’s pension exceeds Donald Trump’s $400,000 presidential salary

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 6) mused about cancelling the 2026 midterm elections while addressing a room full of Republican lawmakers. The remarks made on the fifth anniversary of the Jan 6 riots, where Trump's followers stormed the Capitol, quickly drew attention and sparked fears about the POTUS's 'dictator' dreams. Notably, during campaigning for the 2024 US elections, Trump had notoriously stated that once the White House was his, he would "only" be a "dictator" for a day.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403">January 6 anniversary: Rioters or heroes? How Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</a><h2>Trump to cancel US midterm elections?</h2>Trump, during his Tuesday visit to the Kennedy Center for the House Republican retreat, spoke about the looming elections. Complaining about the prospect of running against Democrats again, he floated the idea before pulling back, and half-smiling said, "they should cancel" while repeating claims that "they" always call him a "dictator"."I won't say cancel the election, they should cancel the election because the fake news will say 'he wants the elections cancelled. He's a dictator.' They always call me a dictator," he said with a smile.Once again bashing his predecessors, he added, "nobody's worse than Obama and the people that surrounded Biden".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-trolls-allies-and-rivals-alike-with-donroe-doctrine-cartoon-after-maduro-capture-1767691813384">Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture</a>"But even if it's successful, they don’t win. I don't know what it is. There’s something psychological, like you vote against," Trump added before touting his swing states' wins during the 2024 elections. However, he noted that a presidential win often comes with a midterm loss. "They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm," he said, adding that he wished someone could explain "what the hell is going on with the mind of the public because we have the right policy."<h2>Trump worried about getting impeached AGAIN</h2>The speech also carried a warning. Trump reminded lawmakers that Democrats impeached him twice during his first term and said failure in the midterms would invite another attempt."You gotta win the midterms," he said. "Because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached." &nbsp;

Donald Trump joked about cancelling the 2026 midterms while addressing Republican lawmakers. The comments, made on the fifth anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots, have sparked revived fears about the POTUS's ‘dictator’ dreams.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 6) mused about cancelling the 2026 midterm elections while addressing a room full of Republican lawmakers. The remarks made on the fifth anniversary of the Jan 6 riots, where Trump's followers stormed the Capitol, quickly drew attention and sparked fears about the POTUS's 'dictator' dreams. Notably, during campaigning for the 2024 US elections, Trump had notoriously stated that once the White House was his, he would "only" be a "dictator" for a day. Also read | January 6 anniversary: Rioters or heroes? How Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege Trump to cancel US midterm elections? Trump, during his Tuesday visit to the Kennedy Center for the House Republican retreat, spoke about the looming elections. Complaining about the prospect of running against Democrats again, he floated the idea before pulling back, and half-smiling said, "they should cancel" while repeating claims that "they" always call him a "dictator". "I won't say cancel the election, they should cancel the election because the fake news will say 'he wants the elections cancelled. He's a dictator.' They always call me a dictator," he said with a smile. Once again bashing his predecessors, he added, "nobody's worse than Obama and the people that surrounded Biden". Also read | Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture "But even if it's successful, they don’t win. I don't know what it is. There’s something psychological, like you vote against," Trump added before touting his swing states' wins during the 2024 elections. However, he noted that a presidential win often comes with a midterm loss. "They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm," he said, adding that he wished someone could explain "what the hell is going on with the mind of the public because we have the right policy." Trump worried about getting impeached AGAIN The speech also carried a warning. Trump reminded lawmakers that Democrats impeached him twice during his first term and said failure in the midterms would invite another attempt. "You gotta win the midterms," he said. "Because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached."

Donald Trump joked about cancelling the 2026 midterms while addressing Republican lawmakers. The comments, made on the fifth anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots, have sparked revived fears about the POTUS's ‘dictator’ dreams.

Did 'dictator' Trump just threaten US midterms? POTUS worried about getting impeached AGAIN

"I have a very good relationship with him. He's not that happy with me because you know they're paying a lot of tariffs now because they're not doing the oil," Trump said

US President Reiterates Good Relationship with India Leader

President Trump warns of a second military attack on Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro. The US now demands full cooperation from the interim government in Caracas.

Venezuela President captured: Trump warns Venezuela to cooperate or risk new U.S. military attack

Cuba has launched its strongest condemnation of the US military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was "captured", accusing Washington of acting as the self-proclaimed “owner of the world” and treating Latin America as its private “backyard”. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Cuban Ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera described the 3 January raid, which left 33 Cuban security personnel dead, as a blatant violation of sovereignty.&nbsp;“It is part of their philosophy that they are the owner of the world and they should… guide the world in the direction they decide,” Aguilera said. “Nobody could support an action like this against a sovereign country like Venezuela, against the constitutional government of Venezuela, against the independence of one country of our region."&nbsp;The ambassador tied the action directly to a resurgent Monroe Doctrine, which he called unacceptable domination. “They are treating us like a backyard… We cannot accept that,” he declared, warning that the US seeks control over the region’s strategic resources, particularly Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.&nbsp;Cuba has declared two days of national mourning for the fallen Cubans, whom Aguilera said died “defending President Nicolás Maduro” after being deployed at Caracas’s request to reinforce presidential security. “If one day they decide to touch Cuban soil, they will receive the same answer,” he vowed.<h2>How do you see the development that has happened in your region, the US intervention in Venezuela?</h2>We were following the situation very closely. It has not started yet. A few months ago, the Trump administration, and especially the Secretary of State and the Minister of War, mobilised a lot of military resources in the Caribbean region threatening Venezuela.&nbsp;Suddenly it happens. We are expecting that they will respect international law, or they will follow the UN Charter, but at the end of the day, they are following their own interest and not the interests of the international community. They made this terrorist attack against Venezuela, against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. They sent, in my opinion, a terrorist group to execute the legitimate president who was elected by the people in Venezuela and take him to New York to start preparing this trial against President Maduro and also his wife. Expression of a unilateral action of the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nobody could support an action like this against a sovereign country like Venezuela, against the constitutional government of Venezuela, against the independence of one country of our region. You were following the press conference, and they announced the result of this operation. We are very concerned. They said that the United States will not accept any government in what they say, their neighbourhoods, they say, their areas of influence, Latin America and the Caribbean.&nbsp;&nbsp;Any country that doesn't have a government that follows the interests of the US. They are treating us like the backyard of the US. Latin America and the Caribbean countries, where we spent more than 200 years to reach our own independence from the US, from Spain, and from different colonies. But they try to treat Latin America as its own area of influence, and they have the right, you know, over all the strategic mineral resources and natural resources, the oil of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, for their own benefits. We cannot accept that. The US is treating and attacking one Latin American country, following their interest in the natural resources of our countries. So we cannot accept that. We must raise our voice and make it very clear that this is unacceptable, not only for Latin America, but also for the whole world.<h2>Does the development which we have seen in Venezuela, the American intervention? Worry you?</h2> Any country should be worried about what happened. The same day, he also announced their interest in having Greenland as a US territory against even their allies in Europe. Same threat against Iran, and other countries, Nigeria. Every day, we are following different actions of one country against another in the world. I don't see China or any other country attacking another one or making military invasions. It is the US, because it is part of their philosophy that they are the owner of the world and they should, because for some reason, they have the role to guide the world in the direction they decide. Cuba has been subjected for more than 65 years to this policy of the blockade, which is the longest blockade that any nation has suffered. During the first Trump administration, he adopted 243 measures specifically against Cuba in order to suffocate the Cuban economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-gop-is-going-to-make-history-with-midterm-polls-trump-gop-zoharan-mamdani-democratic-party-house-republican-retreat-trump-1767716495772">'GOP IS GOING TO MAKE HISTORY WITH MIDTERM POLLS': Trump</a>&nbsp;During this administration, one of the first decisions signed by Trump was to re-include Cuba in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorists is totally unfair, because Cuba has been a victim of the terror action committed from the US territory and with the support of the US government. We are not, we have not committed any action of terrorists against any nation. We are providing medical services. We are providing educational services to the world, not terrorist actions. The idea is, as I said, to strangle the Cuban economy, to cut any financial income to Cuba. They are trying to cut all direct flights from the US to Cuba. We have more than 2 million Cubans living in the US. They are also stopping all the oil supply to Cuba.&nbsp;&nbsp;We are not producing all the oil that we require. Less than 40%. The rest we should import from other countries. They are following all routes where the oil is supplied to Cuba, all the vessels, the international companies, in order to cut this possibility to the Cuban economy, to supply energy to our people, to develop our economy. They are, for example, trying to disrupt the medical services that Cuba provides to more than 60 countries in the world. So the idea is to isolate Cuba and to try to cut all the financial income to our economy, to try to create problems for our people, and, very important at the same time, to develop a media campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;The idea is how to mobilise the Cuban people against the government as the target, and it could justify a military action against Cuba, because to say people are against the government expressing on the street, and the Cuban government is trying to punish all these people, and we should make a military invasion to put order in Cuba. It's the same idea, the same idea they are doing in other countries, including Venezuela. So it's clear that these policies of the blockade are completely isolated in the international community.&nbsp;&nbsp;Every year, the Cuban government presents in the United Nations a resolution containing the US blockade towards Cuba, and the huge majority of the international community for 33 years has rejected this policy of the blockade. So nobody in the world, not a single country, well, just two, three countries. The rest of the international community is very clear that this policy should come to an end, and the Cuban people have a right to live in peace and to develop all the capacity that we have in order to provide more quality of life to our people.&nbsp;<h2>Donald Trump has said that Cuba is next in line. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has also made comments against your country. How do you see these comments as well?</h2> It's very dangerous, not only for Cuba. &nbsp;This person (Trump), who is in charge of this government now, is a very dangerous person. We know them very well. For example, you mentioned Marco Rubio. He started his political career saying that he was Cuban, that his father, when escaping from the dictatorship of the Cuban revolution to the US, was lying. It's lying because their parents went to us before the Cuban Revolution, looking for economic opportunities in us. It happens in Latin America.&nbsp;&nbsp;The people are travelling to the US, trying to reach the US in order to look for opportunities. Because unfortunately we, the Latin Americas, are suffering this long policy of extracting our minerals, our financial resources, our natural resources, from the US companies that, for example, in Cuba, more than 80% of the best land of Cuba to produce the sugar cane and others belong to the US companies before the revolution, and the revolution was a break point of this to give back to the Cuban people our resources, our region, in our country, and from the very beginning we start, of course, opposing to this.&nbsp;So I consider that any country, Latin America, could be a target of this policy of the US. In our case, I see it well. Remember that in the 90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba remained almost isolated. At that time, I remember Bush's father was the president of the US, and they said, This is the moment we are going to defeat the Cuban revolution. We are 35 years later. We are here, and we will continue, because the only option for the Cubans is to support and to remain independent. Otherwise, we will be a new colony from the US. They understand very well that we should be resilient enough, but at the same time, we should continue trying to develop under these circumstances. We should develop our economy. We should try to find solutions to our project, to continue providing quality of life to our people, and to show that in our case, socialisation is the best possibility to preserve independence, sovereignty and self-determination in front of this big empire, the biggest empire, just 90 miles from our country.<h2>When the incident happened, when the intervention happened, we saw that the President was taken by the American forces and taken to New York. Now, your government, your country, have announced a period of mourning because many Cubans have died as well. Can you just tell us about how the Cuban side is looking at it, and what these Cubans were doing in Venezuela?&nbsp;</h2> We have a long-standing, close relationship between our two governments. The Bolivarian government requests that Cuba provide some support because of our expertise to reinforce the safeguard team of President Maduro, and we sent some people to fulfil this responsibility. And at the moment, they made this a surprise attack on the presidential palace, many of them were there, and well, 32 people were killed in combat. 33 Cubans.&nbsp;They were fulfilling their responsibility. It is Cuba, what they did defending the President Nicolas Maduro. It is an expression. What Cuba is ready to do. If one day they decide to touch the Cuban soil, they will receive the same answer that we're going to defend our land until the last consequence. Let me tell you that we have always been in this position to develop a normal relationship with the US.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is very important, because even when US citizens travel to Cuba, they discover that there are no feelings against them. We know very well the position of the government and what is the position of the US population. And we have historical relations with those in this country, and we are always offered the possibility to start a conversation based on mutual respect. During the period of the Obama administration, we were able to sit together to discuss our big differences. The problem is that they (Trump) don't want to have this opinion. There's a guiding ideology from this extreme right ideology from their side, that the only way is to defeat the Cuban Revolution.&nbsp;<h2>Trump has come up with a new doctrine. It's actually an old doctrine, but it has his name. That's the Donroe doctrine, which is the Monroe Doctrine.</h2>(Donroe Doctrine) Cannot be accepted. They said that they cannot accept a socialist country in the Latin American region. They will not accept any government that is against the US interest.&nbsp;&nbsp;They said that Latin America belongs to them. They have the right to dominate Latin America. The Monroe Doctrine follows this idea, regarding Latin America and the Caribbean region for Americans. And they said, Latin America is for the US, and we cannot accept it. They cannot impose any politics on our region. We cannot accept it. It's clear. Is clear. We cannot accept that the relationship with the US could be guidance.&nbsp;<h2>How do you see India's reaction after the American intervention in Venezuela?</h2>Well, I was reading the statement of the Indian government, and they are calling for a diplomatic solution through negotiation, through the people to talk and to find cooperation together in order to reach an agreement. It is one of the principles of international law, all problems should be solved in a diplomatic way and not through war. It is clear to me.&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, India is playing a more important role in the international community every day, and India is part of the BRICS. &nbsp;India this year is in the Presidency of BRICS. It offered, of course, the opportunity to continue enhancing the cooperation among the BRICS members, but also to extend to the global south, and India is considered the voice of the Global South. I saw that, for example, in the case of Cuba, we are next Monday, June 12, we are celebrating the 66 years of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, and in all these years, the relationship has been built on the basis of mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity. We have received many gestures from the Indian government, for example, supporting Cuba against the policy of the blockade. India has moved all these 33 years against the policy of the blockade, also providing some support to Cuba.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recently, we suffered a strong hurricane, and the Indian government decided to send some material resources, in terms of medication, to the Cuban population. We are very glad and recognise this strong connection between our two countries. We have been a very close partner in the international organisations, including in the non-alignment movement, G77, but also in the United Nations. And we have cooperated very closely with the two countries in order to defend the rights of the global south in the international organisation as well. I'm pretty sure they will continue to strengthen the political, economic cooperation between the two countries.&nbsp;<h2>Cuba has many friends. Russia is your close friend. There are other countries as well. In fact, I believe I've read somewhere that you spoke on the Iranian side as well. What are your expectations from these countries?</h2> Well, we have relationships with more than 180 countries. We have embassies in more than 145 countries all over the world. We have an excellent relationship with all the Latin American and Caribbean countries. We, for example, have a CARICOM with all the Caribbean countries as well, a very close and historical relations. We have a relationship with all the African countries and the African Union as well. This year, the African Union adopted a resolution against the blockade towards Cuba.&nbsp;&nbsp;We also have a memorandum of cooperation with the European Union. For more than 20 years, we have developed close cooperation with the European Union in many fields, for example, in food security, in energy sustainability, and also in human rights. Of course, with the Asian countries, you mentioned Russia, but I can mention, and also other countries, such are Vietnam, China, of course, I already mentioned India.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Cuba has declared two days of national mourning for the fallen Cubans, whom Aguilera said died “defending President Nicolás Maduro” after being deployed at Caracas’s request to reinforce presidential security.

Cuba has launched its strongest condemnation of the US military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was "captured", accusing Washington of acting as the self-proclaimed “owner of the world” and treating Latin America as its private “backyard”. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Cuban Ambassador to India Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera described the 3 January raid, which left 33 Cuban security personnel dead, as a blatant violation of sovereignty. “It is part of their philosophy that they are the owner of the world and they should… guide the world in the direction they decide,” Aguilera said. “Nobody could support an action like this against a sovereign country like Venezuela, against the constitutional government of Venezuela, against the independence of one country of our region." The ambassador tied the action directly to a resurgent Monroe Doctrine, which he called unacceptable domination. “They are treating us like a backyard… We cannot accept that,” he declared, warning that the US seeks control over the region’s strategic resources, particularly Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Cuba has declared two days of national mourning for the fallen Cubans, whom Aguilera said died “defending President Nicolás Maduro” after being deployed at Caracas’s request to reinforce presidential security. “If one day they decide to touch Cuban soil, they will receive the same answer,” he vowed. How do you see the development that has happened in your region, the US intervention in Venezuela? We were following the situation very closely. It has not started yet. A few months ago, the Trump administration, and especially the Secretary of State and the Minister of War, mobilised a lot of military resources in the Caribbean region threatening Venezuela. Suddenly it happens. We are expecting that they will respect international law, or they will follow the UN Charter, but at the end of the day, they are following their own interest and not the interests of the international community. They made this terrorist attack against Venezuela, against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. They sent, in my opinion, a terrorist group to execute the legitimate president who was elected by the people in Venezuela and take him to New York to start preparing this trial against President Maduro and also his wife. Expression of a unilateral action of the United States. Nobody could support an action like this against a sovereign country like Venezuela, against the constitutional government of Venezuela, against the independence of one country of our region. You were following the press conference, and they announced the result of this operation. We are very concerned. They said that the United States will not accept any government in what they say, their neighbourhoods, they say, their areas of influence, Latin America and the Caribbean. Any country that doesn't have a government that follows the interests of the US. They are treating us like the backyard of the US. Latin America and the Caribbean countries, where we spent more than 200 years to reach our own independence from the US, from Spain, and from different colonies. But they try to treat Latin America as its own area of influence, and they have the right, you know, over all the strategic mineral resources and natural resources, the oil of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, for their own benefits. We cannot accept that. The US is treating and attacking one Latin American country, following their interest in the natural resources of our countries. So we cannot accept that. We must raise our voice and make it very clear that this is unacceptable, not only for Latin America, but also for the whole world. Does the development which we have seen in Venezuela, the American intervention? Worry you? Any country should be worried about what happened. The same day, he also announced their interest in having Greenland as a US territory against even their allies in Europe. Same threat against Iran, and other countries, Nigeria. Every day, we are following different actions of one country against another in the world. I don't see China or any other country attacking another one or making military invasions. It is the US, because it is part of their philosophy that they are the owner of the world and they should, because for some reason, they have the role to guide the world in the direction they decide. Cuba has been subjected for more than 65 years to this policy of the blockade, which is the longest blockade that any nation has suffered. During the first Trump administration, he adopted 243 measures specifically against Cuba in order to suffocate the Cuban economy. Also Read: 'GOP IS GOING TO MAKE HISTORY WITH MIDTERM POLLS': Trump During this administration, one of the first decisions signed by Trump was to re-include Cuba in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorists is totally unfair, because Cuba has been a victim of the terror action committed from the US territory and with the support of the US government. We are not, we have not committed any action of terrorists against any nation. We are providing medical services. We are providing educational services to the world, not terrorist actions. The idea is, as I said, to strangle the Cuban economy, to cut any financial income to Cuba. They are trying to cut all direct flights from the US to Cuba. We have more than 2 million Cubans living in the US. They are also stopping all the oil supply to Cuba. We are not producing all the oil that we require. Less than 40%. The rest we should import from other countries. They are following all routes where the oil is supplied to Cuba, all the vessels, the international companies, in order to cut this possibility to the Cuban economy, to supply energy to our people, to develop our economy. They are, for example, trying to disrupt the medical services that Cuba provides to more than 60 countries in the world. So the idea is to isolate Cuba and to try to cut all the financial income to our economy, to try to create problems for our people, and, very important at the same time, to develop a media campaign. The idea is how to mobilise the Cuban people against the government as the target, and it could justify a military action against Cuba, because to say people are against the government expressing on the street, and the Cuban government is trying to punish all these people, and we should make a military invasion to put order in Cuba. It's the same idea, the same idea they are doing in other countries, including Venezuela. So it's clear that these policies of the blockade are completely isolated in the international community. Every year, the Cuban government presents in the United Nations a resolution containing the US blockade towards Cuba, and the huge majority of the international community for 33 years has rejected this policy of the blockade. So nobody in the world, not a single country, well, just two, three countries. The rest of the international community is very clear that this policy should come to an end, and the Cuban people have a right to live in peace and to develop all the capacity that we have in order to provide more quality of life to our people. Donald Trump has said that Cuba is next in line. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has also made comments against your country. How do you see these comments as well? It's very dangerous, not only for Cuba. This person (Trump), who is in charge of this government now, is a very dangerous person. We know them very well. For example, you mentioned Marco Rubio. He started his political career saying that he was Cuban, that his father, when escaping from the dictatorship of the Cuban revolution to the US, was lying. It's lying because their parents went to us before the Cuban Revolution, looking for economic opportunities in us. It happens in Latin America. The people are travelling to the US, trying to reach the US in order to look for opportunities. Because unfortunately we, the Latin Americas, are suffering this long policy of extracting our minerals, our financial resources, our natural resources, from the US companies that, for example, in Cuba, more than 80% of the best land of Cuba to produce the sugar cane and others belong to the US companies before the revolution, and the revolution was a break point of this to give back to the Cuban people our resources, our region, in our country, and from the very beginning we start, of course, opposing to this. So I consider that any country, Latin America, could be a target of this policy of the US. In our case, I see it well. Remember that in the 90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba remained almost isolated. At that time, I remember Bush's father was the president of the US, and they said, This is the moment we are going to defeat the Cuban revolution. We are 35 years later. We are here, and we will continue, because the only option for the Cubans is to support and to remain independent. Otherwise, we will be a new colony from the US. They understand very well that we should be resilient enough, but at the same time, we should continue trying to develop under these circumstances. We should develop our economy. We should try to find solutions to our project, to continue providing quality of life to our people, and to show that in our case, socialisation is the best possibility to preserve independence, sovereignty and self-determination in front of this big empire, the biggest empire, just 90 miles from our country. When the incident happened, when the intervention happened, we saw that the President was taken by the American forces and taken to New York. Now, your government, your country, have announced a period of mourning because many Cubans have died as well. Can you just tell us about how the Cuban side is looking at it, and what these Cubans were doing in Venezuela? We have a long-standing, close relationship between our two governments. The Bolivarian government requests that Cuba provide some support because of our expertise to reinforce the safeguard team of President Maduro, and we sent some people to fulfil this responsibility. And at the moment, they made this a surprise attack on the presidential palace, many of them were there, and well, 32 people were killed in combat. 33 Cubans. They were fulfilling their responsibility. It is Cuba, what they did defending the President Nicolas Maduro. It is an expression. What Cuba is ready to do. If one day they decide to touch the Cuban soil, they will receive the same answer that we're going to defend our land until the last consequence. Let me tell you that we have always been in this position to develop a normal relationship with the US. It is very important, because even when US citizens travel to Cuba, they discover that there are no feelings against them. We know very well the position of the government and what is the position of the US population. And we have historical relations with those in this country, and we are always offered the possibility to start a conversation based on mutual respect. During the period of the Obama administration, we were able to sit together to discuss our big differences. The problem is that they (Trump) don't want to have this opinion. There's a guiding ideology from this extreme right ideology from their side, that the only way is to defeat the Cuban Revolution. Trump has come up with a new doctrine. It's actually an old doctrine, but it has his name. That's the Donroe doctrine, which is the Monroe Doctrine. (Donroe Doctrine) Cannot be accepted. They said that they cannot accept a socialist country in the Latin American region. They will not accept any government that is against the US interest. They said that Latin America belongs to them. They have the right to dominate Latin America. The Monroe Doctrine follows this idea, regarding Latin America and the Caribbean region for Americans. And they said, Latin America is for the US, and we cannot accept it. They cannot impose any politics on our region. We cannot accept it. It's clear. Is clear. We cannot accept that the relationship with the US could be guidance. How do you see India's reaction after the American intervention in Venezuela? Well, I was reading the statement of the Indian government, and they are calling for a diplomatic solution through negotiation, through the people to talk and to find cooperation together in order to reach an agreement. It is one of the principles of international law, all problems should be solved in a diplomatic way and not through war. It is clear to me. Well, India is playing a more important role in the international community every day, and India is part of the BRICS. India this year is in the Presidency of BRICS. It offered, of course, the opportunity to continue enhancing the cooperation among the BRICS members, but also to extend to the global south, and India is considered the voice of the Global South. I saw that, for example, in the case of Cuba, we are next Monday, June 12, we are celebrating the 66 years of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, and in all these years, the relationship has been built on the basis of mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity. We have received many gestures from the Indian government, for example, supporting Cuba against the policy of the blockade. India has moved all these 33 years against the policy of the blockade, also providing some support to Cuba. Recently, we suffered a strong hurricane, and the Indian government decided to send some material resources, in terms of medication, to the Cuban population. We are very glad and recognise this strong connection between our two countries. We have been a very close partner in the international organisations, including in the non-alignment movement, G77, but also in the United Nations. And we have cooperated very closely with the two countries in order to defend the rights of the global south in the international organisation as well. I'm pretty sure they will continue to strengthen the political, economic cooperation between the two countries. Cuba has many friends. Russia is your close friend. There are other countries as well. In fact, I believe I've read somewhere that you spoke on the Iranian side as well. What are your expectations from these countries? Well, we have relationships with more than 180 countries. We have embassies in more than 145 countries all over the world. We have an excellent relationship with all the Latin American and Caribbean countries. We, for example, have a CARICOM with all the Caribbean countries as well, a very close and historical relations. We have a relationship with all the African countries and the African Union as well. This year, the African Union adopted a resolution against the blockade towards Cuba. We also have a memorandum of cooperation with the European Union. For more than 20 years, we have developed close cooperation with the European Union in many fields, for example, in food security, in energy sustainability, and also in human rights. Of course, with the Asian countries, you mentioned Russia, but I can mention, and also other countries, such are Vietnam, China, of course, I already mentioned India.

Cuba has declared two days of national mourning for the fallen Cubans, whom Aguilera said died “defending President Nicolás Maduro” after being deployed at Caracas’s request to reinforce presidential security.

Cuba Ambassador Aguilera: US believes It Is the 'owner of the world', Latin America its 'Backyard'

US President Donald Trump says PM Modi is unhappy with high American tariffs on Indian goods. Trump linked the penalties to New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil.

‘PM Modi not that happy with me’: Donald Trump reveals India's response on tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 06) declared that the Republican party under his leadership is going to make history in the upcoming midterm elections and claimed that Americans are having a very successful presidency with him at the helm. "We are going to make history with a midterm victory, he said. The United States midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.&nbsp;Trump delivered these remarks at a gathering of House Republicans, which was convened to ensure the GOP House members are aligned on their agenda at the start of a critical midterm election year, which could have a significant effect on the trajectory of Trump's last two years in the office.&nbsp;The midterm polls assumed added significance as the Republican Party suffered defeat in the local elections held after &nbsp;Trump's massive victory in the 2024 presidential polls. The GOP lost its bastion, Miami, to Democrat Eileen Higgins after nearly three decades. Similarly, the Republicans got defeated in New York City by Zohran Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist.&nbsp;All 435 seats of the US House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 US Senate will be up for grabs, along with 39 gubernatorial posts in the upcoming midterm elections. Capitalising on US military success in the Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela, Trump hailed the mission as being very tactically sound "It was amazing - nobody was killed. They knew we were coming, and they tried to get protection, but it went in vain."&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-i-am-waiting-colombian-president-dares-trump-to-come-get-me-after-us-threats-1767712551761"> 'I am waiting': Colombian President Gustavo Petro dares Trump to ‘come get me’ after US threats</a>&nbsp;Further boasting about the strikes, the US president said that the entire Venezuela was plunged into darkness as the US military cut the electricity of the entire nation "Almost the electricity of the entire nation was cut. The only light people had was candle". Continuing his allegations against deposed Venezuelan president Maduro, Trump accused him of killing millions of people. "He's a violent guy, and he has killed millions of people. They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas." POTUS also took a swipe at the media and claimed that the press had lost all its credibility "The Press is uncredible ( without taking the name of any particular media org). Some media reported 97 % negative news, some 93%. They don't have &nbsp;credibility."

Speaking at a House Republicans retreat, Trump boasted about the US military operation in Venezuela, saying the entire country was plunged into darkness, leaving candles as the only source of light.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 06) declared that the Republican party under his leadership is going to make history in the upcoming midterm elections and claimed that Americans are having a very successful presidency with him at the helm. "We are going to make history with a midterm victory, he said. The United States midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026. Trump delivered these remarks at a gathering of House Republicans, which was convened to ensure the GOP House members are aligned on their agenda at the start of a critical midterm election year, which could have a significant effect on the trajectory of Trump's last two years in the office. The midterm polls assumed added significance as the Republican Party suffered defeat in the local elections held after Trump's massive victory in the 2024 presidential polls. The GOP lost its bastion, Miami, to Democrat Eileen Higgins after nearly three decades. Similarly, the Republicans got defeated in New York City by Zohran Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. All 435 seats of the US House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 US Senate will be up for grabs, along with 39 gubernatorial posts in the upcoming midterm elections. Capitalising on US military success in the Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela, Trump hailed the mission as being very tactically sound "It was amazing - nobody was killed. They knew we were coming, and they tried to get protection, but it went in vain." Also Read: 'I am waiting': Colombian President Gustavo Petro dares Trump to ‘come get me’ after US threats Further boasting about the strikes, the US president said that the entire Venezuela was plunged into darkness as the US military cut the electricity of the entire nation "Almost the electricity of the entire nation was cut. The only light people had was candle". Continuing his allegations against deposed Venezuelan president Maduro, Trump accused him of killing millions of people. "He's a violent guy, and he has killed millions of people. They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas." POTUS also took a swipe at the media and claimed that the press had lost all its credibility "The Press is uncredible ( without taking the name of any particular media org). Some media reported 97 % negative news, some 93%. They don't have credibility."

Speaking at a House Republicans retreat, Trump boasted about the US military operation in Venezuela, saying the entire country was plunged into darkness, leaving candles as the only source of light.

'GOP IS GOING TO MAKE HISTORY WITH MIDTERM POLLS': Trump

Colombian President Gustavo Petro hit back at Donald Trump's threats after a US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicholas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flore, from Caracas. Criticising the operation, Petro on Monday challenged Trump in a statement saying, "Come get me. I'm waiting for you here."&nbsp;"If they [the US] bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the 'jaguar' of the people," he warned.&nbsp;Petro, was served as a leftist guerrilla fighter in the 1990s, said, "I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again."&nbsp;Columbain president's remarks came after, Trump, in a press conference following the capture of Nicolus maduro, cautioned that Petro should "watch his a**."&nbsp;"He’s making cocaine, and they’re sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass," Trump said.&nbsp;The White House on Sunday took a swipe at deposed Venezuelan President Maduro in a video posted on social media. The clip showed a montage of Maduro daring the US to “come and get me”, followed by footage of US strikes and the capture of the Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-machado-venezuela-soft-power-trump-oil-1767705808683">Machado offers to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;The video also contains scenes from Trump's press briefing on the operation in Venezuela, during which the US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that Maduro "had his chance – until he didn't".&nbsp;The ongoing tensions between the US and Colombia sharply escalated when President Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of a similar operation against Petro, accusing him of trafficking drugs in America. &nbsp;"Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you," Trump stated.&nbsp;In October, the Trump administration had sanctioned Petro and members of his family over ties to the illegal drug trade.

The ongoing tensions between the US and Colombia sharply escalated when President Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of a similar operation as Maduro against Petro, accusing him of trafficking drugs in America.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro hit back at Donald Trump's threats after a US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicholas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flore, from Caracas. Criticising the operation, Petro on Monday challenged Trump in a statement saying, "Come get me. I'm waiting for you here." "If they [the US] bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the 'jaguar' of the people," he warned. Petro, was served as a leftist guerrilla fighter in the 1990s, said, "I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again." Columbain president's remarks came after, Trump, in a press conference following the capture of Nicolus maduro, cautioned that Petro should "watch his a**." "He’s making cocaine, and they’re sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass," Trump said. The White House on Sunday took a swipe at deposed Venezuelan President Maduro in a video posted on social media. The clip showed a montage of Maduro daring the US to “come and get me”, followed by footage of US strikes and the capture of the Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores. Also Read: Machado offers to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Donald Trump The video also contains scenes from Trump's press briefing on the operation in Venezuela, during which the US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that Maduro "had his chance – until he didn't". The ongoing tensions between the US and Colombia sharply escalated when President Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of a similar operation against Petro, accusing him of trafficking drugs in America. "Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you," Trump stated. In October, the Trump administration had sanctioned Petro and members of his family over ties to the illegal drug trade.

The ongoing tensions between the US and Colombia sharply escalated when President Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of a similar operation as Maduro against Petro, accusing him of trafficking drugs in America.

'I am waiting': Colombian President Gustavo Petro dares Trump to ‘come get me’ after US threats

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, in an interview with Fox News, offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with the US President Donald Trump.She also thanked Trump for his intervention in Venezuela and for abducting Nicolas Maduro. She claimed it was a “huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.” Despite her overt alignment with the US hegemony and corporate agenda, she was deemed not fit for the top role in Venezuela.&nbsp;Fox News anchor Hannity asked Maria Corina Machado, “Did you at any point offer to give him the Nobel Peace Prize?”Machado responded, she didn't, “We want to give it to him. Share it with him.” &nbsp;Machado has been trying to gather support from the international community. In the process, she has made several claims, from privatising all resources of Venezuela and profiting US companies to moving the Venezuelan embassy in Israel to occupied Jerusalem, to dedicating her Nobel Prize to US President Donald Trump.Trump says he won't back Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, because she has no support in Venezuela."I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader," said Trump," She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NOW: Maria Machado is on FOX NEWS making a FOOL of herself. <a href="https://t.co/0EBTTHgm47">pic.twitter.com/0EBTTHgm47</a>&mdash; Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerHakimian/status/2008366227962335628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Every country struggles with its inner crisis, and it tries to find a solution for itself. Europe had the bloodiest French Revolution, which set off a series of subsequent revolutions across the continent; the US had its Civil War. Chavismo's social welfare record is not propaganda, massive wealth distribution, upliftment of a large number of people from poverty, universal health care and education. These were material changes that made a difference in the lives of underprivileged people. But it is also true that Chavismo was not devoid of corruption, and required diversifying its economy and institutional reform. Venezuela was not exceptional in having inner turbulence or economic crisis. The majority of this was caused by the market crash of 2014 and the repeated sanctions by the US. What is exceptional is the externalisation of the internal crisis.Western moral institution operates within a Euro-Atlantic moral framework, which uses soft powers such as the Nobel Peace Prize to serve its geopolitical interests. It's not that Machado won the Nobel Prize, so she is legitimate; the Nobel Prize itself works within a power system which prioritises which discourse is important.&nbsp;

Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel win, praise for Trump, and Venezuela’s oil politics reveal how Western soft power legitimises regime change while ignoring deeper crises.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, in an interview with Fox News, offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with the US President Donald Trump.She also thanked Trump for his intervention in Venezuela and for abducting Nicolas Maduro. She claimed it was a “huge step for humanity, for freedom and human dignity.” Despite her overt alignment with the US hegemony and corporate agenda, she was deemed not fit for the top role in Venezuela. Fox News anchor Hannity asked Maria Corina Machado, “Did you at any point offer to give him the Nobel Peace Prize?” Machado responded, she didn't, “We want to give it to him. Share it with him.” Machado has been trying to gather support from the international community. In the process, she has made several claims, from privatising all resources of Venezuela and profiting US companies to moving the Venezuelan embassy in Israel to occupied Jerusalem, to dedicating her Nobel Prize to US President Donald Trump. Trump says he won't back Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, because she has no support in Venezuela. "I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader," said Trump," She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect."

Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel win, praise for Trump, and Venezuela’s oil politics reveal how Western soft power legitimises regime change while ignoring deeper crises.

Machado offers to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Donald Trump

Trump's new plan to “run” the Latin American country Venezuela with 30 million people could see Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller thrust into a position of power as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is busy. After the stunning capture of the ousted leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, US President Donald Trump seized the country's oil reserves and claimed that they are not at war with Venezuela. But he would not need Congressional approval to send a second strike. However, the important question remains who is actually ‘running’ the country. Vice President Delcy Rodrigues has taken control of the military, and the Supreme Court has put her in the role of acting President of Venezuela.&nbsp;&nbsp;US President Donald Trump, in a telephonic interview with NBC News, suggested that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller will jointly run the country when asked who will be leading, Trump said, “Me.” There is no clear legal and institutional framework for how the United States could run a country of 30 million, but that did not stop Trump from threatening “boots on the ground” and demanding “total access” from the Venezuelan interim leadership.&nbsp;According to reports from the Washington Post, the President is relying on a handful of business insiders to look after foreign affairs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the nation's top diplomat. He was supposedly the &nbsp;"Venezuela hawk' and was reportedly the most desirable candidate to shoulder the responsibility. But he has his hands full as acting administrator of the US Agency for International Development, and acting archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration. So the responsibility of day-to-day monitoring could likely fall on Stephen Miller.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">COLLINS: Stephen, you&#39;re part of the group the president has said is running Venezuela. What exactly are your day to day responsibilities? STEPHEN MILLER: .... heh heh heh. The president has asked Secretary Rubio to be the lead. COLLINS: But what are you specifically doing?… <a href="https://t.co/6atA9G3hE8">pic.twitter.com/6atA9G3hE8</a>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/2008359708571123741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stephen Miller is the architect behind the Project 2025 and the Trump administration's aggressive deportation project, close to 3000 immigrants per day. Miller was also heavily involved in the alleged drug war in Mexico and Venezuela. Miller, late at night, went on an ahistorical pro-empire rant on social media, which appeared like a bad imperial fever dream. The post talks about the premise of the Great Replacement theory, a far-right conspiracy theory floated by the French author Renaud Camus, which imagines a kind of reverse colonisation taking place from the third world countries toward the empires of old.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Not long after World War II the West dissolved its empires and colonies and began sending colossal sums of taxpayer-funded aid to these former territories (despite have already made them far wealthier and more successful). The West opened its borders, a kind of reverse…&mdash; Stephen Miller (@StephenM) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/2008035701804208224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump claims the US will “run” Venezuela after Maduro’s capture, with Stephen Miller emerging as a key figure amid legal and political uncertainty.

Trump's new plan to “run” the Latin American country Venezuela with 30 million people could see Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller thrust into a position of power as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is busy. After the stunning capture of the ousted leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, US President Donald Trump seized the country's oil reserves and claimed that they are not at war with Venezuela. But he would not need Congressional approval to send a second strike. However, the important question remains who is actually ‘running’ the country. Vice President Delcy Rodrigues has taken control of the military, and the Supreme Court has put her in the role of acting President of Venezuela. US President Donald Trump, in a telephonic interview with NBC News, suggested that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller will jointly run the country when asked who will be leading, Trump said, “Me.” There is no clear legal and institutional framework for how the United States could run a country of 30 million, but that did not stop Trump from threatening “boots on the ground” and demanding “total access” from the Venezuelan interim leadership. According to reports from the Washington Post, the President is relying on a handful of business insiders to look after foreign affairs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the nation's top diplomat. He was supposedly the "Venezuela hawk' and was reportedly the most desirable candidate to shoulder the responsibility. But he has his hands full as acting administrator of the US Agency for International Development, and acting archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration. So the responsibility of day-to-day monitoring could likely fall on Stephen Miller.

Donald Trump claims the US will “run” Venezuela after Maduro’s capture, with Stephen Miller emerging as a key figure amid legal and political uncertainty.

Will Stephen Miller 'Run' Venezuela? Trump’s plan raises alarm

US President Donald Trump’s second term is taking shape through bold foreign policy moves. After a dramatic overnight raid that captured Venezuela’s president and his wife, Trump has issued fresh warnings to other nations in Washington’s orbit in recent days.

After Venezuela, THESE nations are Donald Trump's next potential targets: Here's why

Elon Musk has shared a humorous post containing a meme that showed a fictional screenshot of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s confiscated iPhone, ‘revealing’ chats he had with various leaders, including US President Donald Trump, under whose orders he was extracted to the US to stand trial in alleged drug offences. The meme shows profile pics of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Canada’s ex-PM Justin Trudeau, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, and Trump. The idea seems to be to share the possible last messages Maduro may have received before the American military operation on January 3. The shock and absurdity of Maduro’s US capture is evident in the meme photo, which is imagined as a ‘screenshot’ of his phone’s last chat history.<h2>Maduro’s capture</h2>On January 3, US forces seized Maduro from his presidential residence in the Venezuelan capital Caracas in what was essentially a regime change operation. He was brought to New York, where he appeared before a court on Monday (Jan 6). Maduro pleaded not guilty, and claimed he was kidnapped.<h2>What is in the Maduro meme photo shared by Musk?</h2>The original meme was shared by Musk with a simple comment: ‘Banger’ and a laughing emoji. The meme has got 26 million views and thousands of replies.The satirical screenshot of Maduro’s iPhone Messages app shows texts from the leaders, with&nbsp;a “CONFIDENTIAL” watermark overlaid, adding to the faux-leaked vibe of the meme.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-i-was-kidnapped-venezuelan-president-nicol-s-maduro-pleads-not-guilty-in-us-court-1767561352618">‘I was kidnapped’: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court</a><h2>Decoding the meme: What each leader told Maduro before his capture</h2>Putin says, “We make deal, no tell Trump”, possibly referring to secretive alliances between Russia and Venezuela often involving oil, military support, or anti-US pacts. The “no tell Trump” suggests fear of US intervention by Trump, as well as Putin's poor English.Xi, who is identified in the screenshot as “Chino” or Chinese, says: “Trump berry FAFO”. This appears garbled or intentionally poorly translated to mock Xi’s broken English. “Berry” is probably meant as “very,” and “FAFO” could be an acronym for the internet slang “f*** around and Find Out”. This could be referring to defence secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that Maduro ‘effed around and found out’, while detailing the Caracas operation to media along with Trump on January 4. China has several large investments in Venezuela and has given loans to the country. There are also oil deals which Trump could jeopardise for China.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed</a>Trudeau is identified as “Gringo Canada”, and says “Come to Canada whenever ;)”. While Gringo is an ironic slang used mainly by Latin Americans to refer to North Americans, the winky face symbol and invitation allude to Canada’s reputation for offering asylum to left-leaning exiles like Cuban refugees. While Trudeau is no more in power, it is a mockery of his progressive policies and criticisms of Trump.Zelensky asks, “Can I borrow $500 million?”, which is poking fun at Ukraine’s heavy reliance on international aid amid its war with Russia, with billions in US funding under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Zelensky is known for his frequent requests for financial or defence aid, which he is seeking from Maduro, given Venezuela’s oil wealth.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-s-next-7-dictators-who-won-t-sleep-peacefully-after-nicholas-maduro-s-extraction-1767529921852">Who's next? 7 dictators and leaders who won't sleep peacefully after Nicholas Maduro’s extraction</a> Kim Jong-un, labelled “Otro Chino”, meaning “Another Chinese”, says: “you are homoseshuro”. This is possibly a deliberate misspelling of “you are homosexual,” as a childish or homophobic insult. “Otro Chino” lumps Kim in with Xi, alluding to North Korea’s alliance with China and shared authoritarianism with Venezuela.Donald Trump’s message is interestingly ‘sent’ at 2.08 am, which is around the time Maduro was captured in the intervening night of January 3 and 4. The US president only says: “come outside”, which is shown as unread with a blue dot.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Banger 😂 <a href="https://t.co/u5kA0RVW9q">https://t.co/u5kA0RVW9q</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2008199691918340589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Elon Musk shared a viral meme claiming Maduro’s confiscated iPhone revealed fake chats with Trump, Putin, Xi and others. What could be the meaning of their cryptic messages? Let's decode


Elon Musk has shared a humorous post containing a meme that showed a fictional screenshot of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s confiscated iPhone, ‘revealing’ chats he had with various leaders, including US President Donald Trump, under whose orders he was extracted to the US to stand trial in alleged drug offences. The meme shows profile pics of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Canada’s ex-PM Justin Trudeau, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, and Trump. The idea seems to be to share the possible last messages Maduro may have received before the American military operation on January 3. The shock and absurdity of Maduro’s US capture is evident in the meme photo, which is imagined as a ‘screenshot’ of his phone’s last chat history. Maduro’s capture On January 3, US forces seized Maduro from his presidential residence in the Venezuelan capital Caracas in what was essentially a regime change operation. He was brought to New York, where he appeared before a court on Monday (Jan 6). Maduro pleaded not guilty, and claimed he was kidnapped. What is in the Maduro meme photo shared by Musk? The original meme was shared by Musk with a simple comment: ‘Banger’ and a laughing emoji. The meme has got 26 million views and thousands of replies. The satirical screenshot of Maduro’s iPhone Messages app shows texts from the leaders, with a “CONFIDENTIAL” watermark overlaid, adding to the faux-leaked vibe of the meme. Also read: ‘I was kidnapped’: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court Decoding the meme: What each leader told Maduro before his capture Putin says, “We make deal, no tell Trump”, possibly referring to secretive alliances between Russia and Venezuela often involving oil, military support, or anti-US pacts. The “no tell Trump” suggests fear of US intervention by Trump, as well as Putin's poor English. Xi, who is identified in the screenshot as “Chino” or Chinese, says: “Trump berry FAFO”. This appears garbled or intentionally poorly translated to mock Xi’s broken English. “Berry” is probably meant as “very,” and “FAFO” could be an acronym for the internet slang “f*** around and Find Out”. This could be referring to defence secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that Maduro ‘effed around and found out’, while detailing the Caracas operation to media along with Trump on January 4. China has several large investments in Venezuela and has given loans to the country. There are also oil deals which Trump could jeopardise for China. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed Trudeau is identified as “Gringo Canada”, and says “Come to Canada whenever ;)”. While Gringo is an ironic slang used mainly by Latin Americans to refer to North Americans, the winky face symbol and invitation allude to Canada’s reputation for offering asylum to left-leaning exiles like Cuban refugees. While Trudeau is no more in power, it is a mockery of his progressive policies and criticisms of Trump. Zelensky asks, “Can I borrow $500 million?”, which is poking fun at Ukraine’s heavy reliance on international aid amid its war with Russia, with billions in US funding under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Zelensky is known for his frequent requests for financial or defence aid, which he is seeking from Maduro, given Venezuela’s oil wealth. Also read: Who's next? 7 dictators and leaders who won't sleep peacefully after Nicholas Maduro’s extraction Kim Jong-un, labelled “Otro Chino”, meaning “Another Chinese”, says: “you are homoseshuro”. This is possibly a deliberate misspelling of “you are homosexual,” as a childish or homophobic insult. “Otro Chino” lumps Kim in with Xi, alluding to North Korea’s alliance with China and shared authoritarianism with Venezuela. Donald Trump’s message is interestingly ‘sent’ at 2.08 am, which is around the time Maduro was captured in the intervening night of January 3 and 4. The US president only says: “come outside”, which is shown as unread with a blue dot.

Elon Musk shared a viral meme claiming Maduro’s confiscated iPhone revealed fake chats with Trump, Putin, Xi and others. What could be the meaning of their cryptic messages? Let's decode

‘Banger’: Musk shares meme of Maduro’s ‘confiscated iPhone’. Here’s what the messages in it might mean

US President Donald Trump's administration after carrying out the audacious operation that ended in the abduction of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has now pushed out a cartoon meant to provoke rivals and allies alike. Here's all you need to know.<h2>Why is the cartoon provocative?</h2>The provocative cartoon shows a basketball bat wielding Trump stomping on global allies. Trump, in his trademark dark colour suit and red tie is pictured with one foot planted on South America, the continent where Venezuela is located and his other foot stretched to stomp Canada and Alaska in North America. What's more the cartoon Trump is doing so while holding in his left hand a baseball bat with the words "Donroe Doctrine" emblazoned on it, a play on "Monroe Doctrine".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/VoELTNtIF2">pic.twitter.com/VoELTNtIF2</a>&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2007558804582609344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403">January 6 anniversary: Rioters or heroes? How Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</a><h2>Trump's chest-beating continues</h2>The provocative cartoon is Trump administration's latest chest-thumping move aimed at showcasing his prowess. Following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilian, the White House, Department of State and Trump's cabinet have released a steady stream of images and clips in this theme. "This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened," said one posted by Marco Rubio's Department of State.In another, posted by Katie Miller, the wife of Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, showed an image of Greenland painted in US colours, with a one word caption "SOON".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SOON <a href="https://t.co/XU6VmZxph3">pic.twitter.com/XU6VmZxph3</a>&mdash; Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-swears-in-delcy-rodriguez-as-acting-president-days-after-maduro-abduction-1767674124349">Who's Delcy Rodriguez? Maduro's second-in-command sworn in as acting president</a><h2>What is Donroe Doctrine?</h2>'Donroe Doctrine' is Trump's play on the Monroe Doctrine, the 1823 declaration by the fifth US president, James Monroe, asserting dominance in the Western Hemisphere. A core idea behind American foreign policy for centuries, the US foreign policy stated that Europe should stay out of the Americas, and in turn, the US would stay out of Europe.Now, Trump has slapped his name on the policy principle. "The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot, by a real lot. They now call it the Donroe document," he said at a news conference. "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again," he insisted.&nbsp;

After seizing Venezuela’s president, Donald Trump’s administration has now shared a taunting cartoon showing Trump stomping rivals. Here's all you need to know.

US President Donald Trump's administration after carrying out the audacious operation that ended in the abduction of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has now pushed out a cartoon meant to provoke rivals and allies alike. Here's all you need to know. Why is the cartoon provocative? The provocative cartoon shows a basketball bat wielding Trump stomping on global allies. Trump, in his trademark dark colour suit and red tie is pictured with one foot planted on South America, the continent where Venezuela is located and his other foot stretched to stomp Canada and Alaska in North America. What's more the cartoon Trump is doing so while holding in his left hand a baseball bat with the words "Donroe Doctrine" emblazoned on it, a play on "Monroe Doctrine".

After seizing Venezuela’s president, Donald Trump’s administration has now shared a taunting cartoon showing Trump stomping rivals. Here's all you need to know.

Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture

The Trump administration has moved to fundamentally reshape the United States’ pediatric vaccine schedule, breaking with years of scientifically backed recommendations that reduced disease with routine shots. The change, announced on Monday (Jan 5) by the US health department, rolls back long standing recommendations that helped sharply reduce childhood illness and hospitalisation. Under the new framework, the government will no longer advise that all children routinely receive vaccines against several common diseases, including rotavirus and seasonal influenza.The dramatic shift were announced by the US health department, led by long-time vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instead will recommend that shots preventing those illnesses as well as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease be administered for select groups of high-risk individuals or when parents and a child's doctor deem them warranted, rather than as standard practice.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403">Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</a>The agency had already shifted to this recommendation model for Covid-19 shots in 2025.At the end of 2024, the CDC was recommending 17 pediatric immunizations for all individuals, the agency said. Now that number is 11.President Donald Trump praised the changes, noting that the "MAHA Moms" -- a base of online influencers who ardently support Kennedy's agenda -- "have been praying for these common sense reforms for many years."Trump's message heralding the schedule overhaul followed a TruthSocial post rife with false statements about vaccine safety and recommendations that contradict scientific consensus.The decision follows Trump's directive last month that health officials compare the US vaccine schedule to peer countries abroad.They were notably focused on Denmark. The new US recommendations now more closely resemble&nbsp;that country's schedule."After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the US childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health," Kennedy said in a statement.But medical and public health experts slammed the overhaul.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunfire-erupts-near-venezuela-presidential-palace-days-after-nicolas-maduro-capture-1767663847877">Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture</a>Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said "the US child vaccine schedule is one of the most thoroughly researched tools we have to protect children from serious, sometimes deadly diseases.""It's so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule should be grounded in evidence, transparency and established scientific processes, not comparisons that overlook critical differences between countries or health systems," he told journalists.Experts at the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative out of the University of Minnesota, recently noted that the US had already been in line with global consensus.Denmark, project researchers said, represents more of an outlier among "peer countries" than a standard."Denmark's schedule reflects a set of choices made in a small, highly homogeneous country with a centralized health care system that guarantees universal access to care, low baseline disease prevalence, and strong social infrastructure," the group wrote."Those conditions do not apply to the United States, not even close."- 'More confusing for parents' -Senator Bill Cassidy, whose deciding vote confirmed Kennedy's controversial appointment as health chief last year, said that "changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors."The Republican, himself a doctor, said doing so would "make America sicker."States have the authority to mandate vaccinations, but generally CDC recommendations wield significant influence over state policies.US officials have said that access as well as insurance coverage of vaccines should remain in place, even for shots not broadly recommended by the federal government."All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing," said Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal health insurance programs."No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease."But public health authorities warned that the changes would only sow doubt and confusion, especially as vaccine skepticism has mushroomed in the wake of the pandemic.O'Leary said the shift "just makes things more confusing for parents and clinicians.""Tragically, our federal government can no longer be trusted" to provide vaccine recommendations, he added. &nbsp;

The Trump administration has slashed the US childhood vaccine schedule, dropping routine shots for flu, rotavirus and more. Health experts warn it risks confusion, fear, and a rollback of decades of disease control.

The Trump administration has moved to fundamentally reshape the United States’ pediatric vaccine schedule, breaking with years of scientifically backed recommendations that reduced disease with routine shots. The change, announced on Monday (Jan 5) by the US health department, rolls back long standing recommendations that helped sharply reduce childhood illness and hospitalisation. Under the new framework, the government will no longer advise that all children routinely receive vaccines against several common diseases, including rotavirus and seasonal influenza. The dramatic shift were announced by the US health department, led by long-time vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instead will recommend that shots preventing those illnesses as well as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease be administered for select groups of high-risk individuals or when parents and a child's doctor deem them warranted, rather than as standard practice. Also read | Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege The agency had already shifted to this recommendation model for Covid-19 shots in 2025. At the end of 2024, the CDC was recommending 17 pediatric immunizations for all individuals, the agency said. Now that number is 11. President Donald Trump praised the changes, noting that the "MAHA Moms" -- a base of online influencers who ardently support Kennedy's agenda -- "have been praying for these common sense reforms for many years." Trump's message heralding the schedule overhaul followed a TruthSocial post rife with false statements about vaccine safety and recommendations that contradict scientific consensus. The decision follows Trump's directive last month that health officials compare the US vaccine schedule to peer countries abroad. They were notably focused on Denmark. The new US recommendations now more closely resemble that country's schedule. "After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the US childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health," Kennedy said in a statement. But medical and public health experts slammed the overhaul. Also read | Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said "the US child vaccine schedule is one of the most thoroughly researched tools we have to protect children from serious, sometimes deadly diseases." "It's so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule should be grounded in evidence, transparency and established scientific processes, not comparisons that overlook critical differences between countries or health systems," he told journalists. Experts at the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative out of the University of Minnesota, recently noted that the US had already been in line with global consensus. Denmark, project researchers said, represents more of an outlier among "peer countries" than a standard. "Denmark's schedule reflects a set of choices made in a small, highly homogeneous country with a centralized health care system that guarantees universal access to care, low baseline disease prevalence, and strong social infrastructure," the group wrote. "Those conditions do not apply to the United States, not even close." - 'More confusing for parents' - Senator Bill Cassidy, whose deciding vote confirmed Kennedy's controversial appointment as health chief last year, said that "changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors." The Republican, himself a doctor, said doing so would "make America sicker." States have the authority to mandate vaccinations, but generally CDC recommendations wield significant influence over state policies. US officials have said that access as well as insurance coverage of vaccines should remain in place, even for shots not broadly recommended by the federal government. "All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing," said Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal health insurance programs. "No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease." But public health authorities warned that the changes would only sow doubt and confusion, especially as vaccine skepticism has mushroomed in the wake of the pandemic. O'Leary said the shift "just makes things more confusing for parents and clinicians." "Tragically, our federal government can no longer be trusted" to provide vaccine recommendations, he added.

The Trump administration has slashed the US childhood vaccine schedule, dropping routine shots for flu, rotavirus and more. Health experts warn it risks confusion, fear, and a rollback of decades of disease control.

US bows to 'MAHA Moms': Trump administration scraps universal childhood shots for flu, rotavirus

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US has already collected, and is likely to receive over $600 billion from tariffs, claiming the policy has strengthened America's finances and bolstered national security. He also accused the media of playing down the issue ahead of an important Supreme Court decision.&nbsp;In a post on his social media platform on Truth Social app, Trump said, "We have taken in, and will soon be receiving, more than 600 Billion Dollars in Tariffs, but the Fake News Media refuses to talk about it because they hate and disrespect our Country, and want to interfere with the upcoming Tariff decision, one of the most important ever, of the United States Supreme Court."&nbsp;He also asserted in the post that framed trade measures are directly connected to the global standing of the nation. "Because of Tariffs, our Country is financially, AND FROM A NATIONAL SECURITY STANDPOINT, FAR STRONGER AND MORE RESPECTED THAN EVER BEFORE," Trump wrote.&nbsp;After Trump came to power in January 2025, he used tariffs as a national security and foreign policy tool, imposing huge tariffs on countries globally on imports of their products. In addition, he has also imposed a 50 per cent tariff on the import of products from India.<h3>India pushes ahead to diversify exports</h3>India is planning to extend the country's exports away from the US, and it is likely to gather pace in the coming ahead, according to an article in the South China Morning Post. The article shows that New Delhi has maintained a resolute approach to the punitive levies, ever since US President Donald Trump imposed penal import tariffs of 50 per cent on India last year. However, India still kept the door open to negotiations.&nbsp;The US is the biggest export destination for India, accounting for around 18 per cent of the country’s total goods exports, including apparel and leather items, with a large Indian diaspora driving demand for these products.&nbsp;However, the article notes that it is uncertain whether New Delhi and Washington can reach a trade agreement, given India’s resistance to opening sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy to US imports. Experts also doubt that the US will make any major reductions to its tariffs.

After Trump came to power in January 2025, he used tariffs as a national security and foreign policy tool, imposing huge tariffs on countries globally on imports of their products. In addition, he has also imposed a 50 per cent tariff on the import of products from India.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US has already collected, and is likely to receive over $600 billion from tariffs, claiming the policy has strengthened America's finances and bolstered national security. He also accused the media of playing down the issue ahead of an important Supreme Court decision. In a post on his social media platform on Truth Social app, Trump said, "We have taken in, and will soon be receiving, more than 600 Billion Dollars in Tariffs, but the Fake News Media refuses to talk about it because they hate and disrespect our Country, and want to interfere with the upcoming Tariff decision, one of the most important ever, of the United States Supreme Court." He also asserted in the post that framed trade measures are directly connected to the global standing of the nation. "Because of Tariffs, our Country is financially, AND FROM A NATIONAL SECURITY STANDPOINT, FAR STRONGER AND MORE RESPECTED THAN EVER BEFORE," Trump wrote. After Trump came to power in January 2025, he used tariffs as a national security and foreign policy tool, imposing huge tariffs on countries globally on imports of their products. In addition, he has also imposed a 50 per cent tariff on the import of products from India. India pushes ahead to diversify exports India is planning to extend the country's exports away from the US, and it is likely to gather pace in the coming ahead, according to an article in the South China Morning Post. The article shows that New Delhi has maintained a resolute approach to the punitive levies, ever since US President Donald Trump imposed penal import tariffs of 50 per cent on India last year. However, India still kept the door open to negotiations. The US is the biggest export destination for India, accounting for around 18 per cent of the country’s total goods exports, including apparel and leather items, with a large Indian diaspora driving demand for these products. However, the article notes that it is uncertain whether New Delhi and Washington can reach a trade agreement, given India’s resistance to opening sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy to US imports. Experts also doubt that the US will make any major reductions to its tariffs.

After Trump came to power in January 2025, he used tariffs as a national security and foreign policy tool, imposing huge tariffs on countries globally on imports of their products. In addition, he has also imposed a 50 per cent tariff on the import of products from India.

'Far stronger & more respected': Trump claims US will receive over $600 billion in tariffs, hits out at media

US President Donald Trump admitted that the ousted opposition leader and the Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado doesn't have the "support" and "respect" to govern the Venezuelan nation. This comes after a year of the Western media and journalists rallying around Maria Corina Machado and her candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was supposedly the “rightful” winner. According to them, Nicolas Maduro has allegedly stolen the election.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even though there were political divisions within Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution. But it did not constitute an overwhelming majority. Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said that the opposition party, months ahead of the election, started to claim that they would not accept the results. In fact, independent US media, Peoples Forum, Peoples Dispatch and Real News Network, have reported that claims by the US corporate media about a rigged 2024 Venezuelan election were circulated just hours after the polls closed. It cites more than 800 international election observers on the ground, which paints a very different picture.&nbsp;&nbsp;On January 3, 2026, the US conducted a military operation in Venezuela and abducted Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores. Soon, when enquired about Maria Corina Machado as the potential leader. Trump responded, "I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect."&nbsp;&nbsp;Machado had become an international figure following the election and the riot that ensued after the result. She continued her campaign within the international community, leaving out the impact of US sanctions, the multiple US-backed coup attempts in Venezuela since 2002.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">María Corina Machado is 100 % aligned with the US and president Trump: &quot;China lent, Russia armed and Iran entrenched itself. They bet on Maduro. And, like him, they are about to lose their investment.&quot;<a href="https://t.co/qLp8VaB9Oq">pic.twitter.com/qLp8VaB9Oq</a>&mdash; Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmaRincon/status/1986206389585276985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">¿Dónde está el 70% que votó por Edmundo González? Son como el Cartel de los Soles, no existen. <a href="https://t.co/D0DxOYj1rV">pic.twitter.com/D0DxOYj1rV</a>&mdash; Doña Ligia 🇨🇴🇻🇪🇵🇸 (@ligia281243) <a href="https://twitter.com/ligia281243/status/2008123838421438753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: 🇻🇪🇺🇸 Members of the Venezuelan opposition are now joining the anti-US protests across Venezuela <a href="https://t.co/fjRkBKsYXc">pic.twitter.com/fjRkBKsYXc</a>&mdash; Megatron (@Megatron_ron) <a href="https://twitter.com/Megatron_ron/status/2008171514961785138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Most of the Liberal and Conservative US Media, from ABC News, CNN, to Fox News, united in support of Machado. A report from the Washington Post claimed that Trump opposes Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado leading the country because she won the Nobel Peace Prize that he so desperately wanted. In an interview with NBC News, Trump said that it was not the case. She legitimately lacks support among Venezuelans.

Donald Trump said Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado lacks support and respect to govern, contradicting Western media narratives after Maduro’s abduction.

US President Donald Trump admitted that the ousted opposition leader and the Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado doesn't have the "support" and "respect" to govern the Venezuelan nation. This comes after a year of the Western media and journalists rallying around Maria Corina Machado and her candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was supposedly the “rightful” winner. According to them, Nicolas Maduro has allegedly stolen the election. Even though there were political divisions within Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution. But it did not constitute an overwhelming majority. Venezuela’s National Electoral Council said that the opposition party, months ahead of the election, started to claim that they would not accept the results. In fact, independent US media, Peoples Forum, Peoples Dispatch and Real News Network, have reported that claims by the US corporate media about a rigged 2024 Venezuelan election were circulated just hours after the polls closed. It cites more than 800 international election observers on the ground, which paints a very different picture. On January 3, 2026, the US conducted a military operation in Venezuela and abducted Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores. Soon, when enquired about Maria Corina Machado as the potential leader. Trump responded, "I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect." Machado had become an international figure following the election and the riot that ensued after the result. She continued her campaign within the international community, leaving out the impact of US sanctions, the multiple US-backed coup attempts in Venezuela since 2002.

Donald Trump said Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado lacks support and respect to govern, contradicting Western media narratives after Maduro’s abduction.

Trump says Machado doesn’t have 'support' and 'respect' to govern

Five years after the US Capitol riots, Jan 6 still haunts American politics. From violent rioters to mass pardons, lawsuits and even jobs inside Trump’s administration. Here's how Trump rewrote the story of Jan 6 rioters.

Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege

Trump foreign policy 2026, Iran nuclear threat, North Korea hypersonic missiles, US national security, global conflict risk 2026

'Iran or North Korea': Who is a bigger threat for Donald Trump's America in 2026?

The capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces dismantles Iran's strategic hub in the Americas. It chokes Tehran's shadow economy, ends military cooperation, and emboldens protesters in Iran.

'Partner in crime': 7 ways Nicholas Maduro's capture could hurt Iran and Ali Khamenei

Greenland’s government has sharply rejected renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could take control of the Arctic island, calling the idea unacceptable and disrespectful. In an unusually blunt response, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, condemned what he described as reckless talk of annexation, insisting that the island’s future is not up for debate. He said Greenlanders had reached their limit after repeated comments from the US president implying Washington might seize the territory.&nbsp;Trump, speaking at the weekend, claimed the United States needed Greenland for security reasons, reviving concerns about potential coercion or military pressure. Greenland is largely self-governing but remains part of the Danish kingdom, with Copenhagen responsible for defence and foreign affairs. Nielsen stressed that while Greenland is willing to engage in dialogue, discussions must respect international law and established diplomatic channels. He criticised what he called provocative statements made through social media rather than formal negotiations, reaffirming that Greenland belongs to its people and will remain so.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/carcasses-in-caracas-us-running-venezuela-is-a-bad-idea-and-we-ve-seen-that-movie-before-maduro-in-court-trump-us-plan-for-venezuela-analysis-1767608186780">Carcasses in Caracas: US 'running' Venezuela is a bad idea, and we've seen that movie before. How it failed in Latin America</a>&nbsp;Denmark echoed this stance, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissing the idea that the US could justify taking over Greenland and saying that no country has the right to annex any part of the Danish realm. The European Union also weighed in, reiterating its commitment to national sovereignty and territorial integrity. EU officials said these principles are non-negotiable, particularly when the borders of an EU member state are involved.&nbsp;Trump’s remarks follow recent US military action in Venezuela and come amid rising geopolitical tension in the Arctic, where melting ice has intensified competition over shipping routes, minerals, and strategic influence among the US, China, and Russia. Nordic countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, voiced strong support for Denmark and Greenland, underlining that decisions about the territory rest solely with Copenhagen and Nuuk.

'Enough is enough. Give up your fantasies about annexation': Nordic neighbours rally behind Greenland after Trump's comments

Greenland’s government has sharply rejected renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could take control of the Arctic island, calling the idea unacceptable and disrespectful. In an unusually blunt response, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, condemned what he described as reckless talk of annexation, insisting that the island’s future is not up for debate. He said Greenlanders had reached their limit after repeated comments from the US president implying Washington might seize the territory. Trump, speaking at the weekend, claimed the United States needed Greenland for security reasons, reviving concerns about potential coercion or military pressure. Greenland is largely self-governing but remains part of the Danish kingdom, with Copenhagen responsible for defence and foreign affairs. Nielsen stressed that while Greenland is willing to engage in dialogue, discussions must respect international law and established diplomatic channels. He criticised what he called provocative statements made through social media rather than formal negotiations, reaffirming that Greenland belongs to its people and will remain so. Also Read: Carcasses in Caracas: US 'running' Venezuela is a bad idea, and we've seen that movie before. How it failed in Latin America Denmark echoed this stance, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissing the idea that the US could justify taking over Greenland and saying that no country has the right to annex any part of the Danish realm. The European Union also weighed in, reiterating its commitment to national sovereignty and territorial integrity. EU officials said these principles are non-negotiable, particularly when the borders of an EU member state are involved. Trump’s remarks follow recent US military action in Venezuela and come amid rising geopolitical tension in the Arctic, where melting ice has intensified competition over shipping routes, minerals, and strategic influence among the US, China, and Russia. Nordic countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, voiced strong support for Denmark and Greenland, underlining that decisions about the territory rest solely with Copenhagen and Nuuk.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejects US takeover talk, warning Donald Trump that threats and pressure have no place between allies

Nicolás Maduro appears before a New York federal judge today alongside wife Cilia Flores, facing charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses from a 2020 SDNY indictment unsealed post-capture.

Maduro's in NY Court: Narco-Terror Charges with Wife Cilia Flores in NYC

Tesla CEO Elon Musk met US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for dinner on Saturday. The meeting came hours after appreciating the US president for a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Sharing a picture from the dinner, Elon Musk said in a post on X, “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS. 2026 is going to be amazing!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Had a lovely dinner last night with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>. 2026 is going to be amazing! <a href="https://t.co/1Oq35b1PEC">pic.twitter.com/1Oq35b1PEC</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2007910921914769832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier on Saturday, Elon Musk reshared an image posted by the White House that showed Maduro blindfolded on board the USS Iwo Jima. "Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere," Musk commented on the image.&nbsp;In the early hours of Saturday, US forces carried out launched an operation in Caracas, targeting a military installation and detaining Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores. Both of them were taken to New York to face federal narcotics-related charges, where Maduro is currently being held at a detention facility and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.&nbsp;While addressing a press conference, President Trump said the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela until what he described as a "safe, proper and judicious transition" is achieved.&nbsp;Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth later elaborated on the statement, saying the move meant Washington would dictate the terms. "It means we set the terms. President Trump sets the terms. It means the drugs stop flowing, it means the oil that was taken from us is returned, ultimately, and that criminals are not sent to the United States," the Defence Secretary said.<h3>Tensions grew between Trump &amp; Musk</h3>After Trump won the Presidential election, Musk became a close ally in January 2025, advising on the government efficiency effort and setting up DOGE, a task force that focused on curbing federal expenditure and streamlining operations. He emerged as one of the Republican Party’s largest financial backers, donating hundreds of millions of dollars during the 2024 election cycle, according to Reuters.&nbsp;Relations later became strained after Musk openly opposed spending measures supported by Trump, especially the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” arguing that it would significantly increase federal expenditure.

Dinner between Musk and Trump came hours after appreciating the US president for a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Previously, Elon Musk reshared an image posted by the White House showing Maduro blindfolded on board the USS Iwo Jima.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk met US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for dinner on Saturday. The meeting came hours after appreciating the US president for a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Sharing a picture from the dinner, Elon Musk said in a post on X, “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS. 2026 is going to be amazing!”

Dinner between Musk and Trump came hours after appreciating the US president for a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Previously, Elon Musk reshared an image posted by the White House showing Maduro blindfolded on board the USS Iwo Jima.

Trump-Musk patch-up during 'lovely dinner' with Melania? Here's what we know

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sharply rebuked President Trump's renewed claim that the U.S. "needs Greenland," insisting Washington has "no right to annex" the Danish territory. The confrontation reignited after Trump's "SOON" post following the Venezuela strike, with Frederiksen calling any takeover talk "absolutely absurd" given Greenland's strategic Arctic position amid Russian and Chinese activity.


‘U.S. Has No Right To Annex’: Denmark Bristles After Trump’s ‘We Need Greenland’ Claim; ‘SOON

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife face U.S. charges of conspiring to engage in narco-terrorism, with Maduro scheduled to appear before a judge in New York. The serious allegations come after his capture by U.S. forces, marking a dramatic escalation in legal actions against the former Caracas strongman. 

Maduro Faces Judge in NY: Charged with Wife in Narco-Terror Plot | WION

Trace the rise of Nicolas Maduro from a Caracas bus driver and union leader to the Presidency of Venezuela. Know how he became the hand-picked successor of Hugo Chavez.

From bus driver to President: The story of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Narco-terrorism is the use of drug money to fund political violence. Trump says Nicolás Maduro for leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy, alleging he runs the 'Cartel of the Suns'. Donald Trump accused Maduro of using cocaine as a weapon to attack the US. 

What is narco-terrorism, and why did Trump say Nicolás Maduro is leading it?

Following military action in Venezuela, the US has announced it will temporarily oversee the country until a “judicious transition” can take place. 


Venezuela Under Attack: 'US Will Temporarily Run Venezuela Until Judicious Transition' 

Operation Absolute Resolve emerged from months of careful planning despite public reassurances that the US did not seek regime change, Trump privately weighed the risks of escalation. Final authorization came just before Christmas, delayed slightly by weather conditions. 


Inside Trump’s High-Risk ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’: How Was Maduro’s Capture Planned & Executed 

US military strikes in Venezuela reportedly killed 40 people, according to the New York Times. The operation, part of escalating US–Venezuela tensions, has raised international concerns over humanitarian impact and regional stability.

US Attacks Venezuela: 40 Killed in US Strikes on Venezuela: NYT

Experts warn that the latest US move could escalate tensions and trigger wider global instability. Analysts caution that the decision may have far-reaching political, economic, and security implications across multiple regions.

US Attacks Venezuela: Experts Warn US Move Could Trigger Wider Global Instability

Global financial markets are bracing for potential price shifts after the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.


US–Venezuela: Financial Markets Prepare for Price Changes Following Maduro Capture

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