Trump Confirms US Strikes On Venezuela, Says Nicolas Maduro And His Wife Captured

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 3:43 PM IST

Donald Trump announced a large-scale US strike on Venezuela, claiming Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out, amid explosions and low-flying aircraft in Caracas.

US President Donald Trump claimed early Saturday that the United States carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, had been captured and flown out of the country. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump early Saturday claimed that the United States had carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, had been captured and flown out of the country. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement agencies and that more details would be shared at a news conference scheduled for 11 am local time at Mar-a-Lago. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the claims.

“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. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” he wrote.

The statement came after loud explosions accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft were heard across parts of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, journalists from AFP and the Associated Press reported.

According to AFPthe explosions were heard around 2 am local time (0600 GMT). An Associated Press reporter said at least seven explosions were heard, along with aircraft flying at low altitude over several neighbourhoods of the Venezuelan capital.

American broadcasters Fox News and CBS News later cited unnamed Trump administration officials as confirming that the US military was behind the series of strikes against Caracas on Saturday.

Trump also held a brief phone interview with The New York Times, in which he described the operation as “brilliant.” “A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people,” the newspaper quoted Trump as saying.

Citing US officials, CBS News reported that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the US military’s top special mission unit.

The United States has not carried out such a direct military intervention in Latin America since its 1989 invasion of Panama, which led to the capture of former military ruler Manuel Noriega.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Venezuelan government regarding Trump’s claims.

Washington has accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging elections. Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez and took power in 2013, has rejected the allegations, saying the United States is seeking to seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the world.

Trump’s social media post came shortly after Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said in a video message early Saturday that Venezuela would resist the presence of foreign troops. Padrino alleged that a US attack earlier in the morning had struck civilian areas and said authorities were compiling information on those killed and injured.

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