Venezuelan government seeks to show it is operating free from US control

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Venezuelan government on Monday sought to show its people and the world that the country is being run independently and not controlled by the United States following its stunning weekend arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian leader who had ruled for almost 13 years.

Lawmakers aligned with the ruling party, including Maduro's son, gathered in the capital, Caracas, to follow through with a scheduled swearing-in ceremony of the National Assembly for a term that will last until 2031.

Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president to Maduro and has vowed to work with the Trump administration, was sworn in as interim president. She was sworn in by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who was reelected as speaker.

“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said with her right hand up.

Venezuelan lawmakers gave speeches focused on condemning Maduro's capture Saturday by U.S. forces.

“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's son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, said at the legislative palace in his first public appearance since Saturday. "This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability."

Maduro Guerra, also known as “Nicolasito,” demanded that his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, be returned to the South American country and called on international support. Maduro Guerra, the deposed leader's only son, also denounced being named as a co-conspirator in the federal indictment charging his father and Flores.

While Venezuelan lawmakers met, Maduro made his first court appearance in a U.S. courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and taking him to New York. Maduro declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.

The U.S. seized Maduro and Flores in a military operation Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that it would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ” oil quarantine.”

Rubio said the U.S. was using pressure on Venezuela's oil industry as a way to push for policy changes. "We expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking,” Rubio said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

On Sunday, Rodríguez said Venezuela is seeking “respectful relations” with the U.S., a shift from a more defiant tone she struck in the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s capture.

“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,” Rodríguez said in a statement. Her conciliatory message came after Trump threatened that she could “pay a very big price” if she did not fall in line with U.S. demands.

Venezuela's Supreme Court appointed Rodriguez as interim president on Saturday. The country's constitution requires an election within 30 days whenever the president becomes “permanently unavailable” to serve. However, the Supreme Court declared Maduro’s absence a “temporary” one.

In such a scenario, the vice president, an unelected position, takes over for up to 90 days — a period that can be extended to six months with a vote of the National Assembly.

The Supreme Court made no mention of a time limit, though, leading some to speculate she could try to remain in power even longer. Rodríguez is also backed by Venezuela’s military, long the arbiter of power struggles in the South American nation.

Before taking the oath of office, Venezuelan lawmaker Grecia Colmenares said she would “take every giant step to bring back (to Venezuela) the bravest of the brave, Nicolás Maduro Moreno, and our first lady, Cilia Flores.”

“I swear by the shared destiny we deserve,” she said.

A State Department official said Monday that the Trump administration is making preliminary plans to reopen the U.S. embassy in Venezuela.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said early preparations “to allow for a reopening” of the embassy in Caracas had begun in the event Trump decides to return American diplomats to the country.

Associated Press Writers Megan Janetsky in Mexico City, and Matthew Lee in Washington, contributed to this report.

Venezuelan Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez gives a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Funeral workers prepare the body of Rosa Elena Gonzalez, 80, who died after her apartment was hit during a U.S. strike to capture President Nicolas Maduro, in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Police patrol in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

FILE - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, left, and his son Nicolas Maduro Guerra who is running to represent Caracas as a lawmaker for the National Assembly attend a closing campaign rally for the regional election on May 25, in Caracas, Venezuela, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Pro-government armed civilians attend a protest demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, the day after U.S. forces captured and flew them to the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A government supporter holds an action figure of Super Bigote during a protest demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro, who was captired by U.S. forces, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Government supporters demand President Nicolas Maduro's release from U.S. custody during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama played in Tuesday night's game between the San Antionio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies after missing two games with left knee soreness.

Wembanyama finished with a team-high 30 points in 21 minutes. He was 10 of 20 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and a blocked shot.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said before the game that the 7-foot-4 center/forward would come off the bench and be under a minutes restriction. But, Johnson said the team and medical staff were comfortable with Wembanyama returning to action.

“He's been putting in a lot of work,” Johnson said, adding that all of the key people — the coaching and medical staff and Wembanyama “have seen enough to give it a go.”

Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 draft, has played in 22 games this season, starting 15. He leads the team in scoring and rebounds.

He had missed a dozen games earlier this season with left calf tightness.

As for how long before he returns to full playing time, that will be a matter of how Wembanyama responds and reacts. “Every single day that will be the indicators of what ‘next’ looks like,” the Spurs coach said.

While the center told Johnson he was ready to go, the team wants to be mindful of the long term. The goal is to make sure Wembanyama is healthy for longer stretches and not in jeopardy of just playing a game or two, he said.

“We will be extremely mindful of the situation as we have been and will continue to be,” Johnson said. "It's just going to be one of those living, breathing kind of situations that we're going to continue to juggle and balance until we don't.

“I would guess that won't be this season.”

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is fouled as he tries to score past Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and guard Darius Garland (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Antonio, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)