Former US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale overnight military operation, a dramatic escalation that has plunged Venezuela into political uncertainty.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said US forces carried out a “large-scale strike” that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of Venezuela. Speaking later from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump claimed the US would take a central role in governing Venezuela indefinitely until a formal transition of power occurs, leaving open the possibility of prolonged military involvement.
“We’re going to be running it,” Trump said.
Venezuela quickly responded by requesting an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto condemned the operation as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, stating that the country would resist what he described as a “cowardly attack.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded the immediate release of Maduro and Flores, calling the US action a “savage assault” on Venezuela’s territorial integrity. Rodríguez disputed Trump’s earlier claim that she had been sworn in as interim president.
Trump later shared an image of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, where the Venezuelan leader and his wife were reportedly held before being transferred to New York. US officials say the couple arrived Saturday evening and that Maduro is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
According to a new indictment filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Maduro is accused of overseeing state-sponsored criminal networks and facilitating large-scale drug trafficking. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the charges reflect years of alleged criminal activity tied to the Venezuelan government.
Trump acknowledged that Congress was not notified until after the operation, citing concerns over potential leaks. Democratic lawmakers criticized the move for bypassing congressional authorization, while many Republicans praised the action.
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said the operation involved more than 150 aircraft and elite US forces, including Delta Force and FBI units. Despite coming under fire, US troops successfully extracted Maduro and his wife without fatalities, though several soldiers were injured.
Maduro and Flores are expected to face trial in New York on drug-trafficking charges.
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