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Pope Leo calls for Christians to treat foreigners with kindness as he closes Catholic Holy Year
Pope Leo XIV closed the Catholic Church's Holy Year on Tuesday by urging Christians around the world to help people in need and treat foreigners with kindness.
Leo, who has repeatedly stressed the importance of caring for immigrants during his papacy thus far, said at a Vatican ceremony that the record 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome during the Holy Year should have learned not to treat people as mere "products."
"Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything," Leo said. "After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner?"
Holy years, or jubilees, typically happen every 25 years, considered to be a time of peace, forgiveness and pardon. Pilgrims to Rome can enter special "Holy Doors" at four Rome basilicas and attend papal audiences throughout the year.
Leo shut the special bronze door at St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday morning, which officially marked the end of the Holy Year.
The next Holy Year is not expected before 2033, when the Catholic Church may hold a special one to mark 2,000 years since the death of Jesus.
POPE LEO XIV OPENS 2026 URGING WORLD TO REJECT VIOLENCE IN POWERFUL NEW YEAR'S DAY MESSAGE
On Monday, the Vatican and Italian officials said pilgrims to Rome for the 2025 jubilee came from 185 countries, with the majority from Italy, the U.S., Spain, Brazil and Poland.
The 2025 jubilee was opened by the late Pope Francis, who died in April, and closed by Leo, who was elected in May, making him the first American pope.
It was a historical rarity not seen in 300 years for it to be opened by one pope and closed by another. The last jubilee held under two different popes was in the year 1700, when Innocent XII opened the Holy Year that was then closed by Clement XI.
Leo, who has promised to keep Francis' signature policies such as welcoming gay Catholics and discussing women's ordination, echoed his predecessor's frequent criticisms of the global economic system during his remarks on Tuesday.
The markets "turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling and beginning again into a mere business," Leo said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
UK, France strike new Ukraine security pact as US takes lead in ceasefire enforcement
The U.K. and France signed a declaration Tuesday pledging troops for Ukraine under a future peace deal and with security guarantees supported by the U.S. and allied partners.
The declaration was adopted in Paris by the Coalition of the Willing and sets out what leaders said was a framework for lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, set in international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, triggered Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
ZELENSKYY SAYS FRESH RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE SHOWS PUTIN'S 'TRUE ATTITUDE' AHEAD OF TRUMP MEETING
The new agreement says that Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself are non-negotiable elements of any peace deal and warned that its self-defense is essential to its own security and wider Euro-Atlantic stability.
Under the plan, a multinational force for Ukraine would be deployed once a ceasefire is in place, aimed at deterring any Russian aggression and supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine’s military.
The force would be European-led with proposed support from the U.S.
The declaration also commits the Coalition to security guarantees that would be activated once a ceasefire begins.
These include commitments to support Ukraine militarily, diplomatically and economically in the event of a future armed attack by Russia.
A key U.S. role is outlined in plans for a continuous, U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, with contributions from partners.
The U.S. would participate in a special commission to manage ceasefire breaches, attribute responsibility and determine solutions.
UKRAINE–RUSSIA AT A CROSSROADS: HOW THE WAR EVOLVED IN 2025 AND WHAT COMES NEXT
Coalition members also agreed to carry on with long-term military support for Ukraine and pledged defense cooperation, including training, defense production and intelligence sharing.
Leaders also announced the creation of a permanent U.S.-Ukraine-Coalition coordination cell based at the Coalition’s headquarters in Paris.
The declaration was unveiled at a joint news conference by French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This followed talks in Paris which were attended by Jared Kushner and the U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Iran on the brink as protesters move to take two cities, appeal to Trump
Iranian protesters issued a direct appeal for help from President Donald Trump on Tuesday as unrest continued to spiral across the nation for the tenth day.
The appeal, shared on X, showed a woman holding up a sign with the words "Trump, a symbol of peace. Don't let them kill us," on it.
The woman's cry for help came amid reports of at least 29 deaths and more than 1,200 arrests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
HRANA also reported an escalation in force by security units, including the use of pellet guns, tear gas and direct assaults on demonstrators.
IRAN PROTESTS TURN DEADLY AS ANTI-REGIME DEMONSTRATIONS ENTER FIFTH DAY
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) also claimed the cities of Abdanan (Ilam province) and Malekshahi were effectively "taken over" by protesters.
"Today there was a major development in two cities in Western Iran that have been effectively taken over and people are actually celebrating in the streets," Ali Safavi, told Fox News Digital. "They were chanting, ‘Death to Khamenei!’"
"Despite everything the regime has done, the fear factor seems to have shifted because people have made the suppressive forces flee," Safavi added.
Maryam Rajavi, NCRI president-elect also shared a post on X saluting the protesters in Malakshahi and Abdanan who she said, "drove the regime's enforcers into retreat."
Demonstrations, strikes and street gatherings have also been reported across dozens of cities in multiple provinces.
In Ilam province, witnesses and rights groups reported that tear gas was fired inside Imam Khomeini Hospital as authorities attempted to arrest wounded protesters transferred from nearby towns, according to reports.
Amnesty International said on Tuesday, "The Iranian security forces’ attack on a hospital in Ilam, where injured protesters are seeking medical care or shelter, violates international law."
Similar accounts emerged from Tehran, where security forces were reportedly seen entering Sina Hospital, prompting fear among patients and families.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, the unrest has been driven by a mix of economic desperation and political anger.
What started as labor strikes and merchant protests over currency collapse and inflation has expanded into widespread street demonstrations and student protests.
Parts of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and major commercial centers in Mashhad were also partially or fully closed, according to recent reports.
TRUMP SIGNS 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN' HAT ALONGSIDE LINDSEY GRAHAM
"What makes the 2025 protests different to before is that the knife has reached the bone for Iranian citizens," Safavi continued.
"People feel they have nothing anymore and have reached a breaking point," he added.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi also urged Iranians to chant protest slogans nationwide on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned Iran’s leadership that continued violence against protesters could carry serious consequences, writing on X that regime leaders should understand they act "at their own peril."
His remarks came after a recent warning from Trump, who said on Truth Social that the U.S. was "locked and loaded and ready to go," in the wake of the rising protests.
Cuba identifies 32 military personnel killed in US operation against Maduro regime in Venezuela
Cuba's official mouthpiece for its ruling communist party confirmed Tuesday that 32 members of its armed forces were killed during the U.S. military operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The 32 military and police officers were part of a mission carried out at the request of Venezuela’s government, according to a government statement. On Tuesday, Cuba released their names, ranks and ages.
"Victims of a new criminal act of aggression and state terrorism perpetrated against the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the United States, 32 Cubans lost their lives in combat actions and after fierce resistance," a statement published by Granma, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.
"They were carrying out missions representing the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, at the request of counterpart bodies in the South American country."
REPUBLICANS RALLY BEHIND TRUMP'S MILITARY STRIKE TO ARREST MADURO AS DEMOCRATS SOUND ALARM: POLL
Cuba announced two days of mourning.
Among the deceased were colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains and some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60, The Associated Press reported.
They belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, Cuba's two main security agencies. The publication did not specify their missions or disclose how they died.
In a post on X. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Cubans were "prepared to give their lives" against any U.S. intervention.
"The U.S. president, showing absolute ignorance about Cuba and repeating the agenda of lies of Cuban-American politicians and other groups of interest, is blaspheming and threatening our people," Rodríguez wrote. "Our valiant people, true to their history of struggle, will defend their nation against any imperialist aggression.
RUBIO TO CUBA: ‘I’D BE CONCERNED' AFTER US MILITARY ARRESTS VENEZUELAN LEADER MADURO
"In his words, with all intention, he omits any reference to his criminal policy of economic suffocation and warfare, which has been further tightened, against Cuba, which causes harm and desperation to Cuban families," he added, seeming to refer to President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration has said Cuban officials were part of Maduro's security detail. Cuba and Venezuela have grown close in recent years, with Cuban agents becoming a big presence in the South American nation.
"You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday," President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday night. "There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a fierce critic of Cuba's communist government, said Venezuela’s spy agency was "basically full of Cubans."
"One of the biggest problems Venezuelans have is they have to declare independence from Cuba," he said during a news conference in which officials revealed details of the military operation to capture Maduro and his wife. "They tried to basically colonize it from a security standpoint."
Venezuelan ‘dark fleet’ tanker evades US Coast Guard as Russia sends submarine to escort vessel: reports
A Venezuela-linked oil tanker operating in the so-called "dark fleet" painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia in an apparent bid to evade the U.S. Coast Guard, according to reports.
The vessel has since been spotted off Ireland, with the U.S., U.K., France and Ireland reportedly conducting aerial surveillance after it escaped U.S. interception in December, The Times reported.
Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly since deployed a submarine and naval assets to escort the tanker to its own waters, according to the Wall Street Journal late Tuesday.
Russia’s state-controlled foreign media outlet RT shared a video filmed from the tanker’s deck, allegedly showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter following the vessel.
The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered under the Russian flag after fleeing the region, according to an intelligence report from AI maritime analytics firm Windward.
TREASURY TARGETS OIL TRADERS, TANKERS ACCUSED OF HELPING MADURO EVADE U.S. SANCTIONS
"Runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia mid-voyage last week to avoid capture by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean," Windward said.
Multiple reports said Tuesday the vessel is now under U.S. military surveillance roughly 230 miles off the Irish coast.
According to reports, U.S. P-8 surveillance aircraft have tracked the tanker off Ireland only in recent days.
CBS News reported that U.S. forces have pursued the vessel since December, as Washington intensified enforcement against Venezuelan oil shipments.
Intelligence sources said Venezuela had considered placing military personnel aboard oil tankers disguised as civilians to help vessels evade U.S. blockades and that U.S. forces are likely preparing to intercept the tanker.
The pursuit of the vessel follows strikes in Venezuela under the Trump administration and the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP'S PUSH TO PUT US OIL FIRMS BACK IN VENEZUELA
Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges and said he was a "prisoner of war."
On Jan. 1, Russia had formally asked the U.S. to stop its pursuit of the vessel, according to Reuters.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that Moscow made the diplomatic request as U.S. forces continued tracking the vessel for nearly two weeks in the Atlantic.
The request came as Trump simultaneously sought to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Reuters added.
TRUMP’S VENEZUELA STRIKE SPARKS CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH AS MADURO IS HAULED INTO US
TankerTrackers.com alleges the vessel previously transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025.
"Bella 1, now known as Marinera, is not alone," Windward said.
The tanker has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024, accused of transporting illicit oil cargoes linked to a Hezbollah-connected company.
"The very large crude carrier is joining a growing fleet of Western-sanctioned tankers seeking protection under Russia’s national flag," the firm added.
"Over the past six months, a dozen or more of the darkest tankers operating globally have switched from open registries to Russia. This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures."
VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO'S ARREST BY US FORCES
Windward also identified two additional Western-sanctioned tankers currently in Venezuelan waters that have reflagged to Russia in recent days to prevent U.S. naval interception.
The tanker Hyperion departed Venezuela on Jan. 1 flying the Russian flag, while Premier signaled via AIS that it changed its flag from Gambia to Russia on Dec. 22.
"Premier remains at the José Terminal in Venezuela," Windward said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and the White House for comment.
Mobs of motorcycle-riding armed militia hunt Venezuelan streets for Trump supporters as crackdown intensifies
In the aftermath of Nicolás Maduro’s capture by United States forces, paramilitary groups tied to the Venezuelan leader’s regime have initiated an aggressive campaign to maintain control over the country.
Mobs of motorcycle-riding civilians often armed with assault rifles, known as colectivos, have been conducting intrusive searches and establishing checkpoints to identify and punish anyone showing support for Maduro’s removal from power, Reuters reported.
The National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela reported that armed forces briefly detained fourteen journalists during Monday's induction of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s interim leader. Residents have also reported that some Venezuelans have been afraid to leave their homes, fearing that armed forces would seize and scour their phones for signs of dissent, The Telegraph said.
"The future is uncertain, the Colectivos have weapons, the Colombian guerrilla is already here in Venezuela, so we don’t know what’s going to happen, time will tell," Oswaldo, a 69-year-old Venezuelan shop owner, told The Telegraph.
The colectivos are largely controlled by Nicolás Maduro’s close ally, Diosdado Cabello, who has a $25 million bounty from the U.S. State Department largely for his role in corruption and drug trafficking.
VENEZUELA'S NEW INTERIM LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ 'HATES THE WEST,' EX OFFICIAL WARNS
Cabello, who serves as the state's Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, is widely known for suppressing political dissent in Venezuela. The presence of colectivos, who often serve as an unofficial arm of state repression, suggests that Maduro loyalists are desperately trying to maintain their grip on the country.
The reported crackdown began with a government directive to root out dissent against the Venezuelan regime. According to Reuters, a state of emergency decree published on Monday ordered police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support of the armed attack by the United States."
FROM PALACE TO PRISON: VENEZUELAN STRONGMAN MADURO LOCKED IN TROUBLED BROOKLYN JAIL
As someone who conducts state-run domestic espionage through widespread coordination of surveillance and counterintelligence agencies, Cabello remains a major unpredictable and dangerous figure in the wake of Maduro’s capture, Reuters reported.
"The focus is now on Diosdado Cabello," Venezuelan military strategist Jose Garcia told the outlet. "Because he is the most ideological, violent and unpredictable element of the Venezuelan regime."
Reuters reported that the former military officer was also recently spotted patrolling Venezuelan streets with security forces.
In a social media post by the Venezuelan government, footage reportedly showed Cabello posing with a crowd of armed militia as they shouted, "Always loyal, never traitors."
Reuters added that in recent weeks, Cabello was also seen on television ordering Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency to "go and get the terrorists" and warning "whoever strays, we will know."
He reportedly repeated the same rhetoric in a state television appearance Saturday, wearing a flak jacket and helmet and surrounded by heavily armed guards.
Despite the removal of Maduro, the loyalist crackdown on dissent and the media suggests that the ruling party has no intention of relinquishing its grip on power.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Top Canadian officials to visit Greenland amid international fears as Trump eyes NATO-linked territory
Countries across the globe are voicing their concerns as President Donald Trump appears to eye Greenland for what he says are reasons relating to U.S. national security. Amid the developing controversy, two top Canadian officials are reportedly planning to visit Greenland — and possibly open an embassy there.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuk descent, are expected to visit Greenland in early February, according to The Associated Press. Simon became Canada’s first indigenous governor general — the representative of Britain’s King Charles as head of state — in 2021 and previously served as Canada’s ambassador to Denmark.
The visit comes as Canada plans to open a consulate in Greenland.
CANADA TO OPEN GREENLAND CONSULATE AFTER TRUMP’S PUSH TO ACQUIRE ISLAND
"The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark," Prime Minister Mark Carney said when meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at Canada’s embassy in Paris, the AP reported. The two leaders were in France for a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing focusing on Ukraine.
Frederiksen praised Carney and expressed confidence in NATO's ability to maintain security in the Arctic region.
"You have been very clear in your statement when it comes to the respect for national sovereignty," Frederiksen said to Carney. "We are both into securing the Arctic region and together with all our NATO allies we can secure the region, so hopefully everybody is willing to work together."
Trump recently made waves when he renewed his call for the U.S. to annex Greenland, which he asserts would be a key element of U.S. security.
"We need Greenland, from a national security situation," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it."
TRUMP WARNS ‘SICK’ SOUTH AMERICAN LEADER, REITERATES ‘WE NEED GREENLAND’ FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller insisted on Monday that no one would oppose U.S. military action in Greenland. He told CNN's Jake Tapper, "Nobody is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland," Axios reported.
The remarks drew the ire of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. who joined Frederiksen in defending the sovereignty of Greenland, which is an Inuit self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark. Canada's decision to get involved in the tussle also comes after Trump made remarks about turning it into the 51st state.
A statement from Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserted, "Greenland belongs to its people."
"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement read.
Anand and Simon's offices did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Israel and Syria resume diplomatic dialogue after months of silence under US mediation
The United States, Israel and Syria announced Tuesday that senior Israeli and Syrian officials met in Paris under U.S. auspices, marking a renewed diplomatic push that includes plans for closer security coordination and potential economic engagement.
A joint statement released by the three governments described the talks as being part of President Donald Trump’s broader vision for advancing peace in the Middle East. The discussions focused on respect for Syria’s sovereignty and stability, Israel’s security and prosperity for both countries.
According to the statement, Israel and Syria reaffirmed their commitment to pursue lasting security and stability arrangements and agreed to establish a joint fusion mechanism, described as a dedicated communication cell. The mechanism is intended to facilitate ongoing coordination on intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities, under U.S. supervision.
"The United States commends these positive steps and remains committed to supporting the implementation of these understandings, as part of broader efforts to achieve enduring peace in the Middle East. When sovereign nations cooperate in a respectful and productive way, prosperity will be unleashed. This joint statement reflects the spirit of today’s great meeting and the Sides’ determination to turn a new page in their relations for the benefit of future generations," the statement concluded.
WHY SYRIA PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
In a separate statement, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office emphasized the need to ensure the security of its citizens, prevent threats along its borders, promote regional stability and advance economic cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The sides also agreed to continue the dialogue while safeguarding the security of the Druze minority in Syria.
The announcements follow U.S.-mediated talks held in Paris, which focused primarily on security arrangements along the Israeli-Syrian border. The talks were aimed at easing tensions and reviving elements of the 1974 disengagement agreement, which established a U.N.-monitored buffer zone between the two countries. A Syrian official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Damascus is seeking the reactivation of the 1974 agreement and a withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before December 2024. The official described Syria’s position as centered on restoring sovereignty and preventing further escalation. A French diplomat also confirmed to the AP that the Paris talks took place under U.S. mediation, with French diplomatic involvement.
While the Paris discussions were framed publicly as security-focused, Israeli Channel 12 News reported that the Trump administration has also put forward an American proposal for expanded Israel-Syria economic cooperation, potentially signaling a broader diplomatic agenda.
According to the reporting, the proposal envisions a joint economic zone along the existing demilitarized strip, which would remain demilitarized. The zone would include energy infrastructure such as wind power facilities, a crude oil pipeline, data centers and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. The plan also includes the development of a ski resort.
TRUMP WELCOMES SYRIAN PRESIDENT TO WASHINGTON IN HIGH-PROFILE VISIT AS SHUTDOWN DEAL TAKES SHAPE
The proposal could generate an estimated $4 billion in GDP growth for Syria, roughly 20% of its current output, along with an 800-megawatt increase in power capacity, 15,000 new jobs and a 40% reduction in pharmaceutical dependency. Israel, under the plan, would gain the opportunity to transform a buffer zone into a "dynamic economic corridor," potentially reducing long-term military spending along its northern border.
Israeli and U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the details of the proposed economic zone, and the Prime Minister’s Office statement did not reference specific economic projects.
The renewed talks followed an understanding reached last week during a meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu in Florida. According to a Channel 12 report, the United States proposed establishing a joint American-Israeli-Syrian operations room in Amman, Jordan, aimed at managing security in southern Syria and serving as a framework for negotiations on demilitarization and a potential Israeli troop withdrawal from areas seized after the collapse of the Assad regime.
Iran protesters emboldened by Trump admin’s Persian messaging after Obama-Biden inaction, activists say
The State Department has intensified its criticism of Iran’s regime on its Persian-language account since the outbreak of nationwide protests against the Ayatollahs in Tehran, mirroring President Trump’s forceful warning to Tehran.
Trump recently posted, "If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP."
"President Trump’s latest truth social post regarding Iran speaks for itself, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
IRAN PROTESTS PROMPT NEW TRUMP WARNING OVER DEADLY GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWNS
The State Department’s reinforcement of Trump’s pledge to aid Iranian demonstrators comes amid reports that protesters had taken control of many streets in Abdanan, in Ilam province in western Iran, on Tuesday. They chanted chanted"Death to Khamenei" and "This year is a year of blood, Seyed Ali (Khamenei) will be overthrown," according to videos sent to Iran International news organization.
The U.S. State Department’s Persian-language account, @USABehFarsi, appeared to issue a stark warning to Iran’s totalitarian rulers. "President Trump is a man of action. If you didn’t know before, now you do. Don’t mess with President Trump." The black and white picture showed Trump with his leadership team watching elite U.S. army forces seize the former Iran-backed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
IRAN’S KHAMENEI LASHES OUT AT PROTESTERS AS NATIONWIDE ANTI-REGIME UNREST GROWS
Trump's social media posts and the statements coming from the State Department's account have emboldened Iranians both inside and outside of the country.
Potkin Azarmehr, a British-Iranian journalist, noted the contrast with previous administrations. "Well, what a contrast to Obama’s time when protesters in Iran in 2009 were angrily chanting, ‘Obama, are you with us or with them?' Any international support, whether at grassroots level or government level is encouraging. Knowing that the world knows about you," he added that "The question is where are the Western activist elite protesters? Why are they not protesting? Are they on the side of the Ayatollahs? An archaic religious apartheid?"
Iran analyst, Alirzeza Nader, said, "I think State is right to say that the alternative to the current regime will come from inside Iran. And that Iranians will choose their own leaders. Yes, it’s definitely better now. Unfortunately, the Obama and Biden administrations pushed the reformist line (the Reformist line espoused by Rouhani and Khatami). My advice to the Trump administration: stay neutral when it comes to the opposition’s leadership. Let Iranians figure it out."
TRUMP SIGNS 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN' HAT ALONGSIDE LINDSEY GRAHAM
The former Iranian presidents Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami, promised mild reforms but remain wedded to the Islamic Republic of Iran — a regime that has been repeatedly classified by the State Department as a leading state-sponsor of terrorism.
Nadav Mohebb, who worked as a Persian media analyst for the State Department's Public Affairs Bureau, said about the State Department’s Persian-language X account that "During the Biden administration, this account was effectively turned into a ghost town and largely lost its relevance and impact."
He said that, "Following President Trump’s recent tweet, we have seen a renewed level of activity reminiscent of his first term — an approach that has again drawn the attention of Iranians. Trump’s message effectively removed the account’s excessive caution, and over the past four days its anti-regime tone has noticeably intensified."
Mohebb said that" The account should avoid involvement in opposition infighting, remain sensitive to Iranian public sentiment, and operate in alignment with the prevailing mood of Persian Twitter. I hope Trump’s warning message to the regime will serve as a catalyst for upgrading the messaging strategy of this account and restoring its former effectiveness."
Reza Parchizadeh, an Iranian-American expert on the regime, said, "The State Department’s Persian-language account is performing effectively. Its messaging is deliberately structured to project a sense of American support and hope toward Iranian protesters, while also attempting to reflect the breadth and diversity of protest activity rather than treating it episodically or selectively. In itself, this represents a notable shift in approach."
He noted that, "The Obama era was fundamentally different in orientation and intent. That administration prioritized reaching a diplomatic accommodation with the Islamic Republic and reintegrating the regime into the international system. Within that framework, popular protests and organized opposition inside Iran were largely downplayed by the State Department in order to avoid complicating negotiations or signaling regime vulnerability."
After Maduro, Venezuela power vacuum exposes brutal insiders and enforcers
As Venezuela enters the post-Nicolas Maduro era, former officials and regional experts warn the country may be facing not a democratic transition, but a period of deeper instability and internal conflict between possible successors that some warn could be even worse than Maduro.
Marshall Billingslea, the former assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes in the U.S. Treasury Department, said Maduro’s removal has exposed a fractured system that was never held together by a single strongman, but by competing criminal power centers now moving independently.
"The cartel has always been a loose association, with each of the mafia bosses having their own centers of gravity," Billingslea said. "Maduro was the frontman, but he didn’t exercise total control. Now we’re seeing each of those centers spinning off on their own."
MADURO'S SON GIVES 'UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT' TO NEWLY SWORN IN INTERIM VENEZUELA PRESIDENT
Billingslea said the capture of Cilia Flores, Maduro’s wife, was as consequential as Maduro’s removal itself.
"The capture of Cilia Flores is a particularly big deal because she was the brains behind the operation and the one who cleared out potential rivals," he said. "Her removal is equally significant."
TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA'S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE
Billingslea outlined what he described as five competing power centers, four within the regime and one outside it. "The removal of Maduro, and particularly the removal of Cilia Flores, leaves a huge power vacuum in the cartel," he said. "We haven’t yet reached a new equilibrium here."
In the interim, he foresees a high risk of internal power struggles, violence and further repression as rival factions maneuver to secure control in a post-Maduro Venezuela. But he notes that the Trump administration anticipates this and is executing a clear-eyed strategy to first secure U.S. core interests, followed by the gradual restoration of democracy, all without needing American "boots on the ground."
TRUMP VOWS US 'IN CHARGE' OF VENEZUELA AS HE REVEALS IF HE'S SPOKEN TO DELCY RODRÍGUEZ
Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s longtime vice president, was quickly installed as interim leader. But her rise has done little to reassure Venezuelans or international observers that meaningful change is coming.
Rodríguez is deeply embedded in the Maduro system and has long played a central role in overseeing Venezuela’s internal intelligence and security apparatus. According to regional reporting, her focus since taking office has been consolidating control within those institutions rather than signaling political reform.
Former U.S. and regional officials say Delcy Rodríguez’s rise has revived long-standing questions about who truly influences her decisions as she moves to consolidate power.
Those officials point to Rodríguez’s deep ties with Cuban intelligence, which helped build and operate Venezuela’s internal security and surveillance apparatus over the past two decades. Cuban operatives played a central role in shaping how the regime monitored dissent and protected senior leadership, embedding themselves inside Venezuela’s intelligence services.
At the same time, former officials say Rodríguez appears to be testing cooperation with Washington, creating uncertainty over how much leverage the United States actually holds. Some view her limited engagement with U.S. demands as tactical, aimed at buying time while she works to secure loyalty inside the regime and neutralize rival factions.
A former Venezuelan official previously told Fox News Digital that Rodríguez "hates the West" and represents continuity with the Maduro regime, not a break from it.
Diosdado Cabello, one of the most feared figures in the country, has emerged as a central player in the post-Maduro scramble for control.
Cabello, who wields influence over the ruling party and interior security, has been rallying armed colectivos and loyalist groups. Those groups have been active in the streets, detaining opponents and reinforcing regime authority through intimidation.
Sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for corruption and alleged ties to drug-trafficking networks, Cabello is widely viewed as a figure capable of consolidating power through force rather than institutions.
Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly and brother of Delcy Rodríguez, remains one of the regime’s most important political operators.
Rodríguez has served as a key strategist for Maduro, overseeing communications, elections and internal coordination. Recent reporting indicates he continues to work closely with his sister to maintain control over intelligence and security structures, reinforcing the regime’s grip despite Maduro’s removal.
Experts say Rodríguez could play a central role in shaping any managed transition that preserves the system Maduro built.
TRUMP’S VENEZUELA STRIKE SPARKS CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH AS MADURO IS HAULED INTO US
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, long considered the backbone of Maduro’s survival, remains a critical figure as well.
While Padrino López has not publicly positioned himself as a successor, analysts note that the armed forces are no longer unified behind a single leader. Senior generals are split across competing factions, raising the risk of internal clashes or a shift toward overt military rule if civilian authority weakens further.
Beyond the power struggle among regime elites, Venezuela faces a broader danger.
Large parts of the country are already influenced by criminal syndicates and armed groups. As centralized authority weakens, those actors could exploit the vacuum, expanding control over territory and smuggling routes.
Experts warned that an uncontrolled collapse could unleash forces more violent and less predictable than Maduro’s centralized repression, and the events unfolding now suggest that risk is growing.
Outside the regime, opposition leader María Corina Machado remains the most popular political figure among Venezuelan voters. But popularity alone may not be enough to translate into power.
Machado lacks control over security forces, intelligence agencies or armed groups. As repression intensifies and rival factions maneuver, her ability to convert public support into political authority remains uncertain.
Maduro’s fall, analysts say, did not dismantle Venezuela’s power structure. It fractured it.
With armed loyalists in the streets, rival factions competing behind the scenes, and an interim leader struggling to assert authority, Venezuela now faces a dangerous period in which the aftermath of Maduro’s rule could prove more chaotic — and potentially more brutal — than what came before, experts say. For Venezuelans, the question is no longer whether Maduro is gone, but whether anything that replaces him will be better.
Maduro's son gives 'unconditional support' to newly sworn in interim Venezuela president
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the son of captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, has pledged his "unconditional support" to the newly sworn-in interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who served as his father's vice president.
"My unconditional support for the very hard task you've been given," Maduro Guerra, often called "Nicolasito," said, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). "Count on me, count on my family, count on our firmness in taking the right steps at the forefront of this responsibility that is now yours."
Maduro Guerra made the remarks during his first public appearance since his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces and extradited to New York. The ousted Venezuelan president’s son, who is himself a legislator, joined other ruling-party lawmakers for a planned swearing-in ceremony of the National Assembly for a term that will last until 2031, The Associated Press reported.
TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA'S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE
Maduro Guerra condemned the U.S. action, calling it a "kidnapping" and saying that "no country is safe."
"If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today, it's Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that refuses to submit," Maduro Guerra said, according to the CBC. "This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability."
Rodríguez, who was sworn-in on Monday, has served as vice president since 2018. Despite her objection to the U.S. military action that led to her former boss' arrest, Rodríguez has vowed to work with the Trump administration.
"I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland," Rodríguez said, according to the AP.
VENEZUELAN DISSIDENT OUTLINES RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS VENEZUELA ENTERS POST-MADURO ERA
Maduro and Flores were captured by U.S. forces early Saturday morning at their home in Caracas, Venezuela. The Trump administration announced the operation on Saturday after successful "large-scale" military strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. The dictator and his wife are now being held in New York while they wait to face narco-terrorism charges against them. The historic move attracted praise and backlash across the globe, with some questioning the legality of the operation.
China and Russia were among powers that condemned the U.S. operation in Venezuela, while some regional allies, including Argentina, applauded the move.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her fight for freedom in Venezuela — praised the operation, saying Jan. 3 will go down as a "day that justice defeated tyranny."
"It's a milestone, and it's not only huge for the Venezuelan people and our future, I think it's a huge step for humanity, for freedom, and human dignity," Machado said during an appearance on "Hannity."
"A free Venezuela means, first, a security ally, dismantling the criminal hub of the Americas and turning it into a security shield, the strongest ally to dismantle all these criminal structures that have made so much damage and harm to our people and to the American people as well," she said. "Secondly, we will turn Venezuela into the energy hub of the Americas. We will bring rule of law. We will open markets. We will give security to foreign investment. Third, we'll bring millions of Venezuelans that have been forced to flee their country back home, to build a strong nation, prosperous nation, open society," Machado added.
Machado, who has spent more than a year in hiding, has vowed to return to Venezuela.
Fox News Digital's Maria Lencki and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump Greenland takeover would end NATO, Denmark asserts
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday warned about the implications of President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, saying it could be the end of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 in an interview that Trump’s threats about Greenland should be taken seriously.
"But I also want to make it clear that if the U.S. chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. Including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War," she said, according to the outlet.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One over the weekend that the U.S. needs Greenland, a Danish territory, for "national security."
FROM GAZA TO GREENLAND, MACRON BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON GLOBAL FLASHPOINTS
European and Nordic leaders pushed back against the comments, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Denmark’s Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen underscoring their support for Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland and stressing that its future must be determined by Greenland and Denmark alone.
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller doubled down on Trump’s remarks, telling CNN in an interview on Monday that Greenland "should be part of the United States."
CNN anchor Jake Tapper pressed Miller about whether the Trump administration could rule out military action against the Arctic island.
TRUMP MOVES GREENLAND MILITARY INSTALLATION UNDER US NORTHERN COMMAND IN ARCTIC POWER SHIFT
"Greenland has a population of 30,000 people," Miller said. "The real question is by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland. What is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?"
"The United States is the power of NATO. For the United States to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend NATO and NATO interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the United States," he added.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Monday statement posted on Facebook that his country is "not an object of superpower rhetoric."
"We are a people. A land. And democracy. This has to be respected. Especially by close and loyal friends," Nielsen wrote in part.
"Threats, pressure and talk of annexation do not belong anywhere between friends," he added. "That’s not how you talk to a people who have repeatedly shown responsibility, stability and loyalty. This is enough."
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Machado pledges to return to Venezuela, sees 'alarming' internal crackdown
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela "as soon as possible" following America's capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, warning that the current regime is escalating an internal crackdown on dissent and journalists.
Speaking to "Hannity" on Monday, Machado said the moment is now right for her return after spending more than a year in hiding. She secretly escaped Venezuela last month and traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to President Donald Trump.
"Well, first of all, I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible," Machado said.
TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA'S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE
"As I’ve always said, Sean, every day I make a decision where I am more useful for our cause. That’s why I stayed in hiding for over 16 months, and that’s why I decided to go out, because I believed that at this moment I’m more useful to our cause, being able to speak out from where I’m at right now. But I’m going to go as soon possible back home."
Machado said developments in the past 24 hours have been deeply concerning, pointing to what she described as a sweeping executive order signed by Maduro on the same day he was captured and flown out of the country by U.S. forces.
"What we’re seeing right now in the last 24 hours is really alarming," she said.
Machado said the order mandates the persecution of Venezuelans who support Trump’s actions and claimed at least 14 journalists have been detained. A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," the text of the decree reads, according to Reuters.
She said the situation must be closely monitored by the United States and the Venezuelan people, arguing that the transition away from Maduro must continue.
BONDI SAYS TRUMP 'SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES' IN VENEZUELAN DICTATOR MADURO CAPTURE OPERATION
"So this is very alarming. This is something that has to be followed carefully, I’m sure, by the United States government and by the Venezuelan people," she said. "And certainly we believe that this transition should move forward."
Machado also sharply criticized Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, calling her unfit to lead any transitional authority. Rodríguez, who has been vice president under Maduro since 2018, was sworn in as interim president on Monday.
"Delcy Rodriguez, as you know, is one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narco trafficking," Machado said. "She’s the main ally and liaison with Russia, China, Iran, certainly not an individual that could be trusted by international investors. And she’s really rejected, repudiated by the Venezuelan people."
Machado’s comments came just two days after the Trump administration announced that U.S. forces had captured the dictator and his wife, Cilia Flores, after successful "large-scale" military strikes targeting the Venezuelan government. The dictator and his wife are now being held in New York while they await trial on narco-terrorism charges.
Fox News’ Maria Lencki and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Latin America fractures over Trump’s Maduro capture as regional allies shift right
UNITED NATIONS: A deepening political realignment across Latin America came into focus over the weekend at a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and sharpened further Monday at the United Nations Security Council, where governments publicly split over the U.S. role in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
At CELAC, several leftist governments attempted to push through a joint statement condemning Maduro’s detention. The effort failed after a bloc of countries consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago blocked consensus, preventing the regional body from issuing a unified defense of the Venezuelan leader, Merco Press agency reported.
The breakdown exposed growing fractures within what has long been a left-leaning regional forum and underscored the erosion of automatic solidarity with Caracas.
CUBA'S SHADOW IN VENEZUELA: HAVANA’S INTELLIGENCE AND MILITARY TIES EXPOSED AFTER MADURO RAID
Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, said the fractures reflect a broader regional reckoning with the consequences of socialist and narco-authoritarian rule.
"We are witnessing a regional awakening across Latin America," Maldonado told Fox News Digital. "The failure of socialism, communism and narco-authoritarian rule has become impossible to ignore."
The shift is increasingly visible at the ballot box, where voters in several countries — last month alone in Chile and Honduras — have moved away from entrenched left-wing governments and toward right-of-center leaders campaigning on themes of security, sovereignty, border control and law and order — messages that echo aspects of President Donald Trump’s political approach in the United States.
"The developments at CELAC this weekend reflect that reality," Maldonado said. "The fact that several governments blocked a collective defense of Nicolás Maduro shows how divided the authoritarian left has become. Venezuela has become a cautionary tale."
That division carried over into the Security Council on Monday, when Latin American and Caribbean states took sharply different positions, with some openly backing Washington and others denouncing the U.S. action as a violation of international law.
Argentina emerged as the most forceful regional supporter of the United States, praising President Donald Trump and framing Maduro’s capture as a decisive blow against organized crime.
"The Government of the Argentine Republic values the decision and determination demonstrated by the President of the United States of America and his government, and the recent actions taken in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, leader of the Cartel of the Suns," Argentina’s representative Francisco Fabián Tropepi told the council, adding the Maduro regime "has not only constituted a direct threat to the citizens systematic violation of human rights in the state appropriation of the country's resources and destruction of democratic institutions, but also to the entire region by leading and exploiting its networks of drug trafficking and organized crime."
VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO'S ARREST BY US FORCES
Paraguay echoed that framing, claiming Maduro’s continued presence "was a threat to the region," adding that "the removal of the leader of a terrorist organization should immediately lead to the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, making it possible for the will of the people, expressed at the ballot box, to become the foundation for the country’s reconstruction," its representative Marcelo Eliseo Scappini Ricciardi said.
DEFIANT MADURO DECLARES HE IS A 'PRISONER OF WAR' IN FIRST US COURT APPEARANCE
Other CELAC members took the opposite view, condemning the U.S. action and warning that it set a dangerous precedent.
Brazil "categorically and firmly" rejected what it called armed intervention on Venezuelan territory, describing the capture of Maduro as "a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community."
FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP'S VENEZUELA MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST CRITICISM FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS
Mexico denounced the operation as a violation of the U.N. Charter, arguing that external efforts to impose political change historically worsen conflicts and destabilize societies. Chile also condemned what it called unilateral military action and warned against foreign interference, while Cuba and Nicaragua delivered blistering denunciations of Washington, accusing the United States of imperial aggression and calling for Maduro’s immediate release.
The split at the U.N. mirrored the breakdown at CELAC, where governments increasingly appear unwilling to speak with one voice on Venezuela, even as they stop short of endorsing U.S. military force.
According to Maldonado, "Governments are increasingly forced to choose between defending failed autocracies, corruption and repression or responding to their own citizens," she said. "More governments are unwilling to carry that burden."
DEMOCRATS LABEL TRUMP'S VENEZUELA OPERATION AN 'IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE'
Maldonado described Maduro’s capture as a break with decades of U.S. restraint in the region, "It shows that the United States is deadly serious about defending itself and the hemisphere, about stopping the flow of drugs, dismantling cartel-state alliances and about fighting back against the influence of China, Russia and Iran in our neighborhood."
She argued that the regional reaction, split though it is, reflects a broader ideological shift.
"There is a clear rightward shift underway in the region, and it is a healthy one," Maldonado said. "It reflects a growing alignment around the core principles of freedom, liberty, personal responsibility, national sovereignty and prosperity."
While critics at the U.N. warned that U.S. action risks undermining international law, supporters argue the status quo had already collapsed under the weight of Venezuela’s humanitarian and security crisis.
"Venezuela’s collapse has taught the region what happens when the state becomes your everything," Maldonado said. "When the state controls your job, your housing, your healthcare, your education, your courts and your information, freedom becomes conditional."
Iran offers citizens $7 monthly payments as protests spiral over economic crisis: report
Iran’s government has said its citizens will be given a monthly payment equivalent to about $7 to ease economic pressures as protests spread across the country, according to reports.
The announcement was reported to have been made on Monday by the government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, on Iranian State TV.
She said the measure was aimed at "preserving households" purchasing power, controlling inflation and ensuring food security," per The New York Times.
The outlet also said the plan represents a shift away from long-standing import subsidies toward direct assistance for citizens.
IRAN CRACKDOWN RATTLES MIDDLE EAST AS ANALYSTS WEIGH US OPTIONS SHORT OF MILITARY INTERVENTION
Under the proposal, roughly $10 billion that had been spent each year to subsidize certain imports, will now be given directly to the public.
Eligible Iranians will get one million Iranian tomans, which is around $7, and in the form of credit that can be used to buy goods.
The labor minister said the payments would be handed out to about 80 million people, which is the majority of Iran’s population.
Iran’s economy has been hit by sanctions and declining oil revenues which have led to protests.
The currency has lost more than half its value against the U.S. dollar.
The Statistical Center of Iran, a state-run body under Iran’s regime, reported in December that the average annual inflation rate also reached 42.2%, according to reports.
The payments were announced amid widespread protests that included merchants, traders and university students, according to the Times. Marketplaces have been shut down and rallies have been held on campuses.
IRAN’S KHAMENEI LASHES OUT AT PROTESTERS AS NATIONWIDE ANTI-REGIME UNREST GROWS
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), the intensity of the protests has reached at least 78 cities and 222 locations.
Protesters have been demanding the end of the regime controlled by the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The group said the regime has killed at least 20 people, including three children, and arrested 990 people. Khamenei’s security forces have detained more than 40 children, HRAI noted.
Fox News Digital's Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
Venezuela's new interim leader Delcy Rodríguez 'hates the West,' ex official warns
Nicolás Maduro’s interim replacement now leading Venezuela in the wake of his arrest represents a continuation of the same regime, and with a woman who "hates the West" at the helm, a former Venezuelan official has warned.
Delcy Rodríguez’s elevation, the source said, underscores how Venezuela’s leadership continues to rely on a tight circle of Maduro loyalists rather than new figures, leaving what the source described as "the axis of evil in a geopolitical struggle remains three hours from Miami."
Rodríguez, Venezuela’s former vice president and oil minister, was formally sworn in on Monday following Maduro’s removal from office and his appearance in a New York courtroom Monday on drug trafficking charges.
"The regime is still the same, and she hates the West," the official told Fox News Digital, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
KAMALA HARRIS BLASTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S CAPTURE OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO AS ‘UNLAWFUL AND UNWISE’
"Really, Delcy has evolved from a mediocre lawyer, and now she’s the president of one of the richest nations in Latin America," the source said.
"She has probably been in every post, because they rotate the same persons as they don’t have anybody else that they trust.
‘Delcy is a very close and trustworthy person for Maduro and was also the same for Chávez.’"
President Donald Trump said Saturday that Rodríguez, 56, stood "willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again."
Rodríguez, who has served as foreign minister, president of the Constituent Assembly, vice president, and oil minister, was sworn in by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, the head of the National Assembly.
Born in Caracas, Rodríguez is the daughter of Marxist guerrilla leader Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, a co-founder of the Socialist League.
He was arrested in connection with the 1976 kidnapping of American businessman William F. Niehous and later died in police custody, according to the New York Times.
"That ordeal is the foundation and the origin of Delcy’s hatred of the West and of democracy," the source said, before claiming, "her whole background was Marxist."
IRAN AND MADURO TIES SUFFER MAJOR BLOW FOLLOWING US OPERATION AND CAPTURE OF VENEZUELAN DICTATOR
"The guerrilla Marxist element kidnapped an American executive in 1976, and he was held for three years until authorities located the group hiding in the Amazon jungle," the source claimed.
Rodríguez’s tenure as foreign minister was also marked by controversy, the source claimed, including allegations that Venezuelan passports, birth certificates, and nationalities were illegally sold abroad, according to reports.
At the 2016 United Nations General Assembly, Rodríguez said the allegations were untrue.
"There were some passports being sold in Iraq, and they were giving birth certificates to terrorists," the source claimed.
In 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Rodríguez, citing her role as a senior official in the Maduro government. Those sanctions remain in place.
She was also said to have been implicated in the so-called "Delcygate" scandal in 2020 after allegedly making a secret stop in Spain despite sanctions on her, reported by Spanish media.
MADURO'S CAPTURE IS 'BEGINNING OF THE END' FOR CUBA'S REGIME, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE CHAIR SAYS
Reports alleged she was transporting gold into Europe, a claim Rodríguez has denied.
"She had 40 bags full of gold in a private jet as vice president," the source alleged. "They put the bags through the X-ray, and they found the gold," the source claimed.
"Venezuela has become an occupied territory by Iran, China, Russia, and Cuba," the source added, citing armed groups including FARC and ELN controlling large parts of the country.
"Delcy is the interim, but all of these groups are part of the cohort from Chávez that came from communist mindsets against the West that she came from."
"We now see the axis of evil in a geopolitical struggle three hours from Miami," the source added.
"There are atrocity crimes committed by all of this group, plus there’s kleptocracy and grand corruption, which is all still in place," the source said.
Colombian President Petro threatens military response after Trump warns Colombia may be next target
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday he would "take up arms" against the U.S. if it attacks his country, following U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
Petro, a former member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla movement that demobilized in the early 1990s, made the remarks in a post on X after President Trump suggested Colombia could be the next target in his administration’s war on drugs.
"Although I have not been a military man, I know about war and clandestinity," Petro wrote in a post translated to English from Spanish. "I swore not to touch a weapon again since the 1989 Peace Pact, but for the Homeland I will take up arms again that I do not want."
Petro also rejected Trump’s accusations that he is linked to drug trafficking.
TRUMP CASTS MADURO’S OUSTER AS ‘SMART’ MOVE AS RUSSIA, CHINA ENTER THE FRAY
"I am not illegitimate, nor am I a narco," he wrote. "I only have as assets my family home that I still pay for with my salary. My bank statements have been published. No one could say that I have spent more than my salary. I am not greedy."
Petro's comments came after Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
He warned that Colombia is "very sick too" and is "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."
UN AMBASSADOR WALTZ DEFENDS US CAPTURE OF MADURO AHEAD OF SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING
Trump also claimed Petro has "cocaine mills and cocaine factories."
When asked directly whether the U.S. would carry out an operation in Colombia, Trump replied, "It sounds good to me," before pivoting to once again express interest in annexing Greenland.
Trump’s threats echoed remarks he made in December, as previously reported by Fox News Digital, when he warned Petro that he had "better wise up" or risk being targeted next.
US DESIGNATES COLOMBIA'S CLAN DEL GOLFO AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, CITING NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
Trump has labeled Petro an "illegal drug dealer" in the past and later doubled down, calling the Colombian president a "lunatic."
Petro has been one of Trump’s fiercest critics in the region, condemning U.S. strikes on what he described as suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. Petro previously claimed many of those killed in the strikes were "poor fishermen" forced into the drug trade out of necessity.
In November, he called Trump a "barbarian" and briefly halted intelligence sharing with Washington.
ERIC ADAMS TORCHES HARRIS, DEMS FOR BLASTING MADURO ARREST AS MAMDANI FUMES ‘ACT OF WAR’
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups, including the Gulf Clan, the ELN and dissident FARC factions.
Petro warned that U.S. bombing would radicalize rural communities, saying campesinos would become "thousands of guerrillas in the mountains."
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, the Trump administration revoked the Colombian president’s visa over alleged "reckless and incendiary actions."
"Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence," read a post on the U.S. State Department's X account at the time. "We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Venezuela orders nationwide manhunt for supporters after Maduro's arrest by US forces
Venezuelan authorities have been ordered to find and arrest anyone involved in supporting the military operation that led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.
A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," according to the text of the decree, Reuters reported.
It was not clear what charges could be levied against those taken into custody.
Maduro made his first court appearance Monday in New York, days after he and his wife were arrested by U.S. forces over the weekend.
FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP'S VENEZUELA MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST CRITICISM FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS
Both have been charged by the Justice Department with narco-terrorism and other offenses.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is written here," Maduro said in court as the charges against him were read.
DEMOCRATS LABEL TRUMP'S VENEZUELA OPERATION AN 'IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE'
In Maduro's absence, Delcy Rodríguez, his former number two, has been sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela. Rodriguez, 56, has long been a confidant and backer of Maduro.
She was the country's vice president from 2018 through Sunday.
Despite denouncing the U.S. military operation, Rodriguez said in a Sunday social media post that the country aspires towards balanced and respectful international relations between Caracas and Washington.
"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence," she wrote.
Iran protests prompt new Trump warning over deadly government crackdowns
President Donald Trump vowed Sunday evening that the Islamic Republic of Iran will "get hit very hard," if Tehran repeats the killing of protesters, as it has during previous citizen-led revolts against the regime.
When asked about his initial comments on protecting Iranian demonstrators during a press gaggle on board Air Force One, Trump said that "We're watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the United States."
Anti-regime protests have engulfed Iran for the last nine days amid Trump’s second threat to intervene on the side of the demonstrators in Iran.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), the intensity of the protests has reached at least 78 cities and 222 locations, with protesters demanding the end of the regime controlled by the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The group said the regime has killed at least 20 people, including three children, and arrested 990 people. Khamenei’s security forces have detained more than 40 children, HRAI noted.
Iran expert Shukriya Bradost, who is CEO of Four Sides Security Solutions, told Fox News Digital that "Trump’s warning to the Iranian regime emboldened protesters because it came from a president who had already demonstrated a willingness to confront Tehran directly, most notably by ordering the killing of Qassem Soleimani. For Iranians who felt abandoned during the 2009 Green Movement under the Obama administration, and later disappointed by the Biden administration’s softer approach toward the regime, Trump’s words were seen as credible and empowering."
A U.S. military drone strike killed the former Iranian general, Soleimani, in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2020.
IRAN KILLING SPREE CONTINUES AS REGIME SETS NEW RECORD FOR 2025 EXECUTIONS, DISSIDENT GROUP SAYS
Bradost added, "Today, many Iranians want Trump to maintain that same clarity: to side openly with the Iranian people, not the regime, and to make clear that repression will not be ignored or normalized.
"The Islamic Republic is no longer a functional system. The central question now is whether U.S. policy reinforces the Iranian people’s demand for genuine change, or unintentionally helps parts of a collapsing regime survive."
Iranian protesters asked during the 2009 protests, "Obama: Are you with us or against us?" Then-President Barack Obama sided with the Islamic Republic at the time. He said in 2022 that he regretted his alliance with Khamenei’s regime during the Green Movement.
Trump’s pro-protest language has breathed additional fire and life into demonstrations, according to close followers of the upheaval blanketing Iran.
Mardo Soghom, a veteran Iran expert who has written extensively about the nation, told Fox News Digital that "There is little doubt that President Trump's warning to Iran's Islamic rulers will embolden Iranians, but the fact is that they began their recent protests before Trump made those comments. Most of the Iranians opposed to the regime, especially those inside the country protesting in the streets, are asking for Israeli or U.S. assistance in sort of disarming the regime and neutralizing its forces of repression."
He added, "The current round of protests in Iran is different from previous rounds. People are not asking for reforms, but unanimously and categorically they are aiming for regime change. The protests are also more forceful. This time around, the people are less afraid of the notorious security forces and appear more determined."
MIKE POMPEO: THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC IS ON THE ROPES. TIME FOR TRUMP, IRANIANS TO FINISH THE JOB
Tehran's options have been limited by Trump's threats and a long-running economic crisis that deepened after Israel, joined by the U.S., launched strikes on the Islamic Republic in June in a 12-day war that pummelled several of Iran's nuclear sites.
"These twin pressures have narrowed Tehran's room for maneuver, leaving leaders caught between public anger on the streets and hardening demands and threats from Washington, with few viable options and high risks on every path," one Iranian official told Reuters.
The Iranian American campaigner to topple the Islamic Republic, Masih Alinejad, told Fox News that Trump’s "strong message gave hope to the people of Iran." She said after Trump’s first message of protection to the protesters, large numbers of Iranians poured into the streets. She stressed this is the first time in history that a U.S. President "is standing strongly with the people of Iran and not sending appeasement message to the killers."
Alinejad urged Trump to evict Iran’s representative at the U.N. and wants the White House to convince Elon Musk to provide Starlink service for internet communications. She called on President Trump to launch U.S. targeted military actions against those who ordered massacres in Iran and killed innocent people.
Mexican president rejects US sending troops to her country: 'I don't believe in an invasion'
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday condemned what she described as U.S. intervention in Venezuela and rejected the idea of American troops entering Mexico, reaffirming her government’s commitment to national sovereignty.
"We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries," Sheinbaum said at a press conference in Mexico City, according to an official transcript of the speech released by her office.
"The history of Latin America is clear and forceful, the intervention has never brought democracy, it has never generated well-being or lasting stability. Only people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources and freely define their form of government," she said.
The U.S. military on Saturday carried out an operation in Caracas, extracting former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound.
Maduro and Flores were boarded onto USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York to face federal charges, with their arraignment taking place on Monday in Manhattan.
Maduro is charged with four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices.
His wife is charged with three counts: cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices.
Sheinbaum said that following the capture of Venezuela’s leader and his wife, and amid warnings from President Donald Trump that Mexico must "get their act together," Mexican sovereignty and self-determination remain non-negotiable.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he thinks Sheinbaum is a "terrific person," but the cartels are "running Mexico."
"We’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it, they’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico," Trump said.
GREENE HITS TRUMP OVER VENEZUELA STRIKES, ARGUES ACTION 'DOESN'T SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'
Sheinbaum said her country is cooperating with the United States to help fight against drug trafficking, organized crime and the flow of fentanyl.
"I don’t believe in an invasion. I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously," Sheinbaum told reporters in Spanish when asked about a potential U.S. intervention, according to Reuters’ translation of her remarks.
She said Trump has repeatedly insisted during their phone conversations that the U.S. Army be allowed to enter Mexico.
"We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary," Sheinbaum told reporters.
