STORY: Left-wing protesters demonstrated noisily against the United States after it attacked Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro in an overnight operation on Saturday (January 3).

While Venezuelan migrants around the world erupted in celebration following the U.S.-led deposition of Maduro, the protesters said they objected to U.S. interference in other countries' affairs and the "kidnapping" of a head of state.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the left-wing 'France Unbowed' told protesters "if you prepare for war, you will have war. And war doesn't lead to anything other than more war".

Researcher Jean-Marie, 48, said countries' right to self-determination should be respected and it was wrong to capture a leader the U.S. disagreed with politically.

He said Trump was "a kind of tyrant, he's Nero of the Roman Empire".

Trump said has promised to put Venezuela under American control for now, including by deploying U.S. forces if necessary.

It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela. Despite a dramatic overnight operation that knocked out electricity in part of Caracas and captured Maduro in or near one of his safe houses, U.S. forces have no control over the country itself, and Maduro's government appears to still be in charge.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 3, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. PROTESTERS ON STATUE IN CENTRE OF PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE LIGHTING U.S. FLAG ON FIRE

2. PROTESTERS HOLDING UP FLARES

3. HAND HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "BOYCOTT USA"

4. PROTESTERS HOLDING FRENCH FLAGS AND CHANTING (French): "Solidarity with the people of Venezuela"

5. VENEZUELAN FLAG BEING WAVED

6. PROTESTERS CHANTING

7. PROTESTER WEARING RED HAT READING (English): "NO WAR, YES PEACE" CHANTING (French): "Free Maduro"

8. PROTESTERS CHANTING (French): "Free Maduro"

9. PROTESTER IN HAT LOOKING ON

10. PROTESTERS STANDING AT BARRICADES

11. PROTESTER CHANTING

12. PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS

13. SIGN READING (French): "FRANCE, EU, USA, GET OUT OF VENEZUELA"

14. LEADER OF LEFT-WING FRANCE UNBOWED (LFI), JEAN-LUC MELENCHON, ARRIVING ON STAGE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (French) LEADER OF LEFT-WING FRANCE UNBOWED (LFI), JEAN-LUC MELENCHON, SAYING:

"World peace means that we no longer accept being led by people who give in and think themselves very intelligent by repeating the same formulas whose sense they do not even understand. And who say 'if you want peace, prepare for war'. No, if you prepare for war, you will have war. And war doesn't lead to anything other than more war."

16. MELENCHON ADDRESSING PROTESTERS

17. (SOUNDBITE) (French) LEADER OF LEFT-WING FRANCE UNBOWED (LFI), JEAN-LUC MELENCHON, SAYING:

"Long live liberty, long live peace, long live the people and their national sovereignty." (PEOPLE CLAPPING AND APPLAUDING)

18. PROTESTERS GATHERED AROUND STATUE

19. FRENCH AND VENEZUELAN FLAGS FLYING

20. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RESEARCHER FROM PARIS, JEAN-MARIE (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), 48, SAYING:

"Well, actually, France needs to consider what underlies its actions, for example, that the United Nations must be respected. That is to say, a people, a nation, has the right to self-determination, and to speak of capturing a head of state, even if one disagrees with their governance, one doesn't capture a head of state, one captures an animal. So I think that's clear enough from a human rights perspective. (U.S. President Donald) Trump has nothing to do with being a democrat; he's a kind of tyrant, he's Nero of the Roman Empire. There you have it, he's a Caligula in the making."

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINIAN LIVING IN FRANCE FOR 40 YEARS, LAURA FRANCHIT, 72, SAYING:

"We're talking about infiltration? No, we're talking about kidnapping. They are kidnapping the president of a sovereign nation who was elected by the people. For a long time, they have sought the excuse of saying that there is no democracy in Venezuela and that elections are not respected. But the real truth is that Venezuela is an immensely rich country, and the United States needs its oil."

22. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DESIGNER, AVRIL (SURNAME NOT GIVEN) 33, SAYING:

"Well, I'm here to defend Latin America from invasions and future invasions by the United States. And that's all there is to it."

23. BANNER READING (French): "DOWN WITH TRUMP'S AGGRESSION AGAINST VENEZUELA - UNITED STATES OUT OF THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA"

24. PEOPLE STANDING WITH SIGNS OVER VENEZUELAN FLAG

25. SIGN READING (Spanish): "FORWARD WITH THE SWORD OF BOLIVAR AGAINST THE INVADOR - TRUMP OUT"

26. SIGN READING (English): "CARACAS IS NOT BAGHDAD"

27. PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "CARACAS IS NOT BAGHDAD"

28. VEIL OVER PROTESTER'S FACE

29. PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN