The U.S. capture and ouster of Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolás Maduro marked a stunning culmination of the Trump administration’s efforts to assert dominance in Latin America.
‘One hell of a job’: Fans credit Jags coach for team’s tremendous turnaround seasonFile photo of JSO logoPresident Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
FILE - Venezuela's long time Foreign Minster Nicolas Maduro attends a ceremony declaring President Hugo Chavez official winner of the presidential elections at the Electoral Council in Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 10, 2012, where Chavez announced he was naming Maduro as his new vice president. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. set out an extraordinarily forthright view of the use of U.S. power in Latin America that exposed political divisions from Mexico to Argentina asThe scene marked a stunning culmination of months of escalation in Washington's confrontation with Caracas that has reawakened memories of a Since assuming office less than a year ago — and promptly renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America — Trump has launched boat“The Trump administration in multiple different ways has been trying to reshape Latin American politics,” said Gimena Sanchez, Andes director for the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank. “They’re showing their teeth in the whole region."Trump's ideological soulmate “On the other side," he added, “are those accomplices of a narco-terrorist and bloody dictatorship that has been a cancer for our region.”brought down the leftist government, far-right President-elect José Antonio Kast hailed the U.S. raid as “great news for the region." Lula said the raid set “an extremely dangerous precedent.” Sheinbaum warned it “jeopardizes regional stability.” Boric said it “violated an essential pillar of international law.” Petro called it “aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.”the leftist leaders who dominated Latin American politics from the turn of the 21st century — Trump's military action in Venezuela “recalls the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America.”President Nayib Bukele was oddly quiet in El Salvador, a nation still scarred by a brutal civil war between a repressive U.S.-allied government and leftist guerillas. He posted a meme mocking Maduro after his capture Saturday, but expressed none of the jubilation seen from regional counterparts.praised Maduro’s removal insomuch as it fulfilled “the true popular will” of Venezuelans who tried to vote the autocrat out of office in a 2024Maduro's loyalist “The Trump administration, it appears at this point, is making decisions about the democratic future of Venezuela without referring back to the democratic result," said Kevin Whitaker, former deputy chief of mission for the State Department in Caracas. When asked Sunday about when Venezuela will hold democratic elections, Trump responded: “I think we’re looking more at getting it fixed.”The Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela extends its broader crusade to assemble a column of allied — or at least acquiescent — governments in Latin America, sailing with the political winds blowing in much of the region.tough, Trump-like leaders who oppose immigration, prioritize security and promise a return to better, bygone eras free of globalization and “wokeness.” “The president is going to be looking for allied and partner nations in the hemisphere who share his kind of broader ideological affinity,” said Alexander Gray, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington research institute. Those who don't share that ideology were put on notice this weekend. Trump said Cuba’s Communist government “looks like it’s ready to fall.” He slammed Sheinbaum’s, saying that “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico.” He repeated allegations that Petro “likes making cocaine” and warned that “he's not going to be doing it very long." “We’re in the business of having countries around us that are viable and successful, where the oil is allowed to really come out," he told reporters Sunday on Air Force One. “It's our hemisphere.”DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Associated Press writers Maria Verza in Mexico City and Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One contributed to this report. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Navy sailors accused of getting paid thousands to marry Chinese nationals who wanted legal statusJacksonville residents share their 2026 New Year's resolutions6-week-old baby dips her toes in water for Polar Plunge at Jacksonville Beach3 separate shootings in Jacksonville during New Year's celebrations in JacksonvilleStudy raises concerns over property values if Florida nixes HOAsFernandina Beach store owner’s funny response to burglary goes viral‘They’re not indestructible’: Child e-bike injuries jump by almost 4,000% in three yearsConcerns raised after Jacksonville sees 3 pedestrians killed by vehicles in past weekVirginia fans get hyped for TaxSlayer Gator Bowl with pep rally in Jacksonville BeachCommunity steps up to help after food truck owner's trailer stolen on Christmas morning
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