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Donald Trump said that Maduro and his wife are aboard the USS Iwo Jima and are heading to New York.
Trump Posts First Image of Maduro Aboard US Military Ship
US President Donald Trump released the first image of Nicolás Maduro aboard a US warship, claiming the Venezuelan leader is being taken to New York. Trump said that Maduro and his wife are aboard the USS Iwo Jima and are heading to New York.
The picture released by Donald Trump showed the now-deposed Venezuelan president handcuffed and blindfolded. “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS You have to People,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized at the presidential palace and flown by helicopter to a US warship. He said Maduro had been heavily guarded inside a fortress-like palace with a steel-reinforced secure room.
Amid political uncertainty in Venezuela, Trump said the United States would take control of the country following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. He said Washington would run the country until a safe and proper transition takes place. Trump said the US wanted to prevent a repeat of past leadership and gave no timeline for the transition.
What happens to Maduro next?
Nicolas Maduro and his wife are being taken to New York, where they will face legal action. Speaking about the operation, Trump said, “They’ll be heading into New York,” adding that it was “a nice flight”. He accused Maduro and his wife of killing many people and said he had personally spoken to Maduro before the operation took place.
Trump said he had offered Maduro a way out but made it clear that surrender was the only option. “You have to give up. You have to surrender,” he said, describing the move as an important symbol. According to Trump, the operation was meant to send a strong message about accountability and justice.
What are the charges against Maduro?
US Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face criminal charges after being indicted in New York. In a post on X, Bondi said the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts”.
She said Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. The charges also include possession of machineguns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States.
United States of America (USA)
January 03, 2026, 10:14 PM IST
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