White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #6 lid
The press office called a lid at 12:57.
Sen. Bernie Moreno was standing to the side of the presser with Witkoff and Patel.
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 12:58 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007518082038644861
White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #5 Presser over
President Trump stepped back up to the podium at 12:15. Ratcliffe stepped away. President Trump took questions, including:
who would run Venezuela? “We’re going to be running it with a group”
Will US troops be on the ground? “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground”
The exact mechanism by which you’ll run the country? “We’re designating various people”
will you work with VP of Venezuela?
Did you notify any members of Congress in advance? Rubio answered, said it’s not the kind of mission you could notify in advance. “It endangers the mission”
Where will Maduro be held in New York?
Relationship with China and Russia?
Will Rubio and Hegseth run Venezuela?
Are you concerned that bad elements of Maduro regime will remain?
Why is running Venezuela America First? “We want to make sure we can protect” Venezuela
the president asked Rubio to speak about whether this is a message for Cuba
Back to Pres Trump.
Continued military presence in Venezuela? “We’re going to have a continued presence as it pertains to oil”
Putin “I’m not thrilled with Putin. he’s killing too many people”
Pres Trump stopped taking questions and walked out of the room at 12:36.
Earlier:
Sec. Hegseth stopped speaking at 12:02 and Gen. Caine began speaking. Gen. Caine is holding a blue folder which he took to the podium when he spoke. The president periodically looked around the room as Caine spoke. (He stood behind Caine to his left).
The operation was “meticulously planned” over months between agencies, Caine said. He said the helicopters arrived at Maduro’s compound at 2:01am Caracas time.
“Our forces remain in the region at a high state of readiness,” said Caine.
Sec. Rubio stepped up to the podium at 12:13. He spoke without notes. “I guess we saved $50 million,” he quipped, referencing the bounty on President Maduro.
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 12:38 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007510019323908443
White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #4 – press conference continues
The president stopped speaking at 11:59. He was reading from papers on the podium. Sec Hegseth began speaking at 11:59, also reading from papers. The president is standing behind him.
Around 11:48 the president shifted from talking about Venezuela to thank the National Guard and talk about crime in DC. He mentioned Memphis and other US cities.
Patel and Witkoff stood at the side of the room. At 11:55 Stephen Miller walked out coughing slightly. He returned at 12.
Some photos on X. Reminder that the presser is being streamed.
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 11:01 AM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007502781616169104
White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #3 – press conference begins
President Trump walked out at 11:38 and began speaking. Hegseth, Caine, Rubio, Miller, and Ratcliffe.
The president is wearing a dark blue suit with a light blue tie.
He is still speaking.
At 11:23 am the President posted what he said was a photo of President Maduro onboard the Iwo Jima: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115832088990838303
At 11:13am the President posted on Truth Social what appeared to be a video of the strikes: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115832049332877712
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 10:40 AM
11:44 AM · Jan 3, 2026
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007493280078983266
White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #2 – holding
Pool is holding in the Tea Room at Mar-a-Lago where the presser will take place. The ceiling is draped with light gold cloth and a large chandelier hangs from the middle. The floor is covered in a floral carpet. The walls are draped with dark blue cloth, and a podium stands in the middle of the room with the president’s seal on it and behind it is an American flag and a flag with the seal on it.
It will be streamed live: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SsdkClL2_bg
There’s no updated timing guidance.
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 10:03 AM
11:16 AM · Jan 3, 2026
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007486172432314749
White House Press Pool Reports
@WHPressPool
Out of town pool report #1 – 11am presser
Good morning from Palm Beach.
In a post on Truth Social early this morning announcing the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump said he'll hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11am.
Link to the post: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115830428767897167
Sophie Hills
The Christian Science Monitor
Sat. Jan. 3, 7:49 AM
7:54 AM · Jan 3, 2026
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2007435346829545869
Inconvenient Truths — Jennifer Zeng Reports
@jenniferzeng97
https://x.com/AnaMariaDiez/status/2007410671747788892
According to former Chinese journalist Zhao Lanjian @uyunistar, during U.S. military operations against Venezuela, Chinese military personnel were trapped.
Zhao Lanjian’s sources inside the Chinese intelligence agency has confirmed that because the situation changed too rapidly, personnel connected to the CCP’s local military system were unable to withdraw in sync. The following conditions have emerged: restricted freedom of movement, controlled external communications, and a highly uncertain security situation. Chinese-language news systems—both inside and outside the Great Firewall—that have been infiltrated are broadly slow to respond, once again demonstrating that China’s military power is unable to compete with that of the U.S. military.
9:43 AM · Jan 3, 2026
https://x.com/jenniferzeng97/status/2007462941533073529