In a dramatic announcement that marks a significant escalation in long-standing tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American forces have captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro following a major military strike.
Operation Details and Immediate Aftermath
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare the operation a success. He stated that "the United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country." He credited the action to coordination with U.S. law enforcement.
The announcement followed reports of explosions and low-flying aircraft in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, with images showing smoke over buildings. According to a report from CBS News, the high-risk mission to seize Maduro was executed by the U.S. army's elite Delta Force unit. U.S. officials had not immediately confirmed the details publicly.
Trump, who was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida nearing the end of a holiday vacation, told The New York Times in a brief phone interview that the operation was "brilliant" and involved "a lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people." He scheduled a news conference for 11:00 am Eastern Time.
Political Justifications and Preceding Pressure
This bold military action did not occur in a vacuum. It was the culmination of months of intensifying U.S. military and economic pressure on the leftist government in Caracas and its oil-dependent economy. The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking organization dubbed the "Cartel of the Suns" and, in August, offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Trump has provided various rationales for the campaign, citing Venezuela as a major drug exporter to the U.S. and alleging the seizure of American oil interests. While not explicitly calling for Maduro's ouster, the U.S., along with many European nations, does not recognize his legitimacy. Trump said in December that "it would be smart for (Maduro)" to step down and that the leader's "days are numbered."
The claim of Maduro's capture comes just two days after Maduro himself attempted to engage with Trump, offering cooperation on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Regional Military Buildup and Reactions
In the weeks leading up to the strike, a formidable U.S. naval and aerial presence was established in the Caribbean, spearheaded by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. American forces had already been active in the region, seizing tankers as part of an oil blockade and conducting aerial strikes that reportedly killed over 100 people targeting boats accused of drug trafficking.
On Monday prior to the announcement, Trump stated the U.S. had destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats on Venezuelan soil, marking the first known strike of the campaign within the country's borders.
Initial reactions from U.S. political figures were swift. A U.S. senator, Mike Lee, quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying the military action was complete and Maduro would "stand trial" in the United States, with no further action anticipated. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau hailed a "new dawn for Venezuela" on social media, declaring, "The tyrant is gone. He will now — finally — face justice for his crimes." The White House reposted an old video of Trump warning Maduro not to "fuck around with the United States."
This event represents a profound and likely destabilizing development in Western Hemisphere politics, with the full consequences for Venezuela and U.S.-Latin American relations yet to unfold.
