In a stunning geopolitical development, United States President Donald Trump has declared the successful capture and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife following coordinated military strikes on Caracas. The operation, which targeted multiple Venezuelan military installations in pre-dawn raids on Saturday, represents one of the most significant international interventions in recent Western Hemisphere history.
President Trump confirmed the extraordinary military action through an official statement, revealing that U.S. forces apprehended the Venezuelan leader and transported him out of the country. “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,” Trump announced.
The operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies, with Trump promising additional details during an upcoming press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate. This dramatic development follows months of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, during which the U.S. government designated Maduro as a narco-terrorist and offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Contradicting Trump’s account, the Venezuelan government issued an emergency statement in Maduro’s name declaring full mobilization of civilian, police, and military resources to resist what it termed “imperialist aggression.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López appeared on state television urging calm and resistance, though no visual evidence emerged of Maduro himself speaking after the alleged capture.
The operation marks a dramatic escalation in the long-standing confrontation between the United States and Venezuela’s socialist government, potentially reshaping the political landscape of South America and setting significant precedents for international intervention against regimes accused of narcoterrorism.