The reaction to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro roughly falls into two camps: those who celebrate the downfall of a corrupt narco-terrorist and those who condemn it as a suspected breach of international law.
Prime Minister Mark Carney chose a third option, a wishy-washy, bland statement that neither praised the detention on moral grounds nor criticized it on the basis it might be illegal.
Pro-Nicolas Maduro protesters who turned up in Times Square and outside the Brooklyn federal lock-up where the former Venezuelan leader is being held were organized by hardcore left-wing group The People’s Forum, which has close ties to China.
The group — also behind anti-Israel demonstrations around the nation — called for “emergency protests nationwide” shortly after President Trump announced Saturday US forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
On cue, fake astro-turfed pro-Maduro marches. Weird how these people are expressing ZERO emotion compared to the tears of joy from the anti-Maduro celebrations.
You notice their fancy, professionally printed signs? This reeks of Soros. pic.twitter.com/CIKc1p9R3L
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) January 4, 2026
Why Yesterday's Pro-Maduro Protests Looked Like Astroturf pic.twitter.com/vthcVi2iZm
— joe t (@jtinaglia) January 5, 2026
The US has faced widespread condemnation for a “crime of aggression” in Venezuela at an emergency meeting of the United Nations security council.
Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain were among countries that on Monday denounced Donald Trump’s decision to launch deadly strikes on Venezuela and snatch its leader, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to stand trial in the US.
“The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,” Sérgio França Danese, the Brazilian ambassador to the UN, told the meeting. “These acts constitute a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
Even Ana Navarro of “The View” had to admit that President Trump did a good thing by removing Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela: “For us, this is a very, very happy day. … It brought me to tears. It brought me great joy.” pic.twitter.com/MTZMpysiu2
— The Western Journal (@WesternJournalX) January 5, 2026
When it comes to the country with the world’s largest oil reserves, U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t mince words on why U.S. commandos seized Venezuela’s president. “They stole our oil,” Mr. Trump said.
Put aside for a moment clear violations of international law from U.S. actions and the fact “our” oil somehow ended up under Venezuela’s soil.
A picture Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded in a tracksuit aboard a U.S. navy ship conjures images of other oil-rich autocrats deposed by Washington and its proxies: Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. Neither of those interventions ended well.
NYC: Venezuelans who are happy Maduro is out, clash with American liberals who don't know where Venezuela is on a map pic.twitter.com/CrhG1DFnkV
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) January 5, 2026
So many critics cite “international law” while ignoring the sheer delight of the Venezuelan people at Maduro’s removal.
The ignominious capture of Nicolás Maduro proves, if nothing else, that America no longer bothers with pretences.
It wasn’t always so. Back in the autumn of 2002, the US military machine was gearing up to invade Iraq and destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Yet instead of sending his forces into action as rapidly as possible, George W Bush chose to place the case for war before the United Nations General Assembly, promising on Sept 12 2002 to “work with the UN Security Council for the necessary resolutions”.
The Liberals and Conservatives offered completely different responses to the Trump administration’s abduction of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
Those responses reflect the worldview of each party. For Conservatives, foreign policy is rooted in values; for Liberals, in interests.
On Saturday morning, not long after word arrived that American special forces had captured and abducted Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued a statement on X. “Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narcoterrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.”
Five dimensional chess? Or is it six?
The usual suspect have, in fact, gone from “No Kings” to complaining that Trump has somehow violated international law. This is true only to the extent that “international law” means “a wish-fulfillment tool for the Left.” Which is its chief use now.
But what Trump did is basically indistinguishable — except for being much swifter and cheaper — than what George H.W. Bush did with Manuel Noriega, the “President” of Panama (not recognized as such by the United States due to election fraud) just as Maduro was the “President” of Venezuela, but not recognized as such by the United States (and other countries) due to election fraud.
🇻🇪I’m in tears. In the middle of the night, a husband woke his wife just to tell her that President Trump had confirmed Maduro’s capture, a moment they never thought they would witness. pic.twitter.com/XC09r2Hzl7
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) January 3, 2026
OTTAWA – Foreign policy experts say Ottawa should reach out to nations threatened by the United States to co-ordinate a response to the Trump administration’s actions against Venezuela.
The U.S. shocked the world this weekend when it captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid that followed months of airstrikes on Venezuelan boats Washington said were trafficking drugs.
Max Cameron, a professor at the University of British Columbia who studies the politics of Latin America, says this could be the first step in Washington’s deployment of its new national security strategy, which calls for the U.S. to exert more control over North and South America.
The sound of clanking leg shackles could be heard moments before Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro walked into the door of a New York City courtroom for the first time.
He then told packed rows of reporters and the public that he had just been “kidnapped”.
Minutes after his entrance, the Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked Maduro to confirm his identity so the proceedings could start.
More … I saw how Maduro was humbled in court
Venezuela’s ‘kidnapped’ ex-president tried to put on a defiant front as he was heckled at Manhattan hearing
North American oil prices climbed by more than one per cent on Monday following the upheaval in Venezuela over the weekend, while stock prices of some large Canadian oil and gas companies have fallen.
A barrel of West Texas Intermediate, the North American benchmark, was trading about 1.5 per cent higher by midday, up nearly $1 to just over $58 US. Prices remain relatively cheap and are about $15 lower than compared to one year ago.
Meanwhile, several Canadian oil and gas companies are taking a hit to their stock price. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s energy index was down about 4.5 per cent by midday Monday.
After the U.S. abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military-raid, there was simultaneous celebration and global outcry.
While many Venezuelans praised the capture of a man widely considered to be an authoritarian ruler — who is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity — protesters around the world also denounced the U.S.’s assault.
Venezuelan man confronts and calls out anti Venezuelan war paid protesters/ANTIFA in Switzerland. Not a single person was of Venezuelan descent. pic.twitter.com/VXuuo5cU0W
— (@AprilSpark1890) January 4, 2026
Few people are more upset about Nicolás Maduro’s arrest than the descendants of the Fidel Castro regime in Cuba. (Well, except for maybe the Democrats in Congress and other white leftists in the United States.)
Current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has come out swinging against the Donald Trump administration’s recent actions both in person and on social media. But while he talks a good game about “imperialism,” his demeanor is anything but tough. The man is obviously terrified, and rightfully so.
The Cuban government has said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
It said the dead were members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, with two days of national mourning declared.
A short statement did not elaborate on the role of the Cubans in Venezuela, but the two governments are long-standing allies, with Cuba providing security support in exchange for oil.
Justin Trudeau was unavailable for comment.
Many of those who tuned in to US President Donald Trump’s news conference on Saturday were probably hoping to hear dramatic details of how US forces seized Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, in a pre-dawn raid.
But arguably a more surprising moment came when Trump announced that now that Maduro was in custody, the US would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition”.
In another unexpected development, he added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been speaking to Maduro’s Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, who he said was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again”.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal government’s oil tanker ban, which led to the cancellation of a pipeline that would have transported Alberta oil to British Columbia for international markets, has put Canada in a “weakened and dependent” position.
Poilievre’s remarks came shortly after the United States announced on Jan. 3 that it had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will run Venezuela until a peaceful transition of power is completed, adding that it will be heavily involved in the nation’s oil industry.
Bonus Gilmore h/t all who sent this in
It is genuinely horrifying how much the education system in Ontario failed Rachel Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/vciYc41AVp
— Wyatt Claypool (@wyatt_claypool) January 3, 2026
