Trump Claims US Forces Captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Dramatic Overnight Operation
Washington / Caracas — January 3, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale overnight military operation in Venezuela. The assertion, made through social media posts and interviews with U.S. media, has sparked international concern and heightened tensions across Latin America.
According to Trump, the operation took place before dawn on Saturday and involved U.S. law enforcement and elite military units. He described the mission as highly coordinated, praising what he called the precision and effectiveness of American troops involved in the alleged assault on Caracas and surrounding regions.
In a post shared online, Trump stated that U.S. forces launched a “major strike against Venezuela” and announced that further details would be revealed during a press conference scheduled at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. CBS News, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that the operation allegedly involved Delta Force, the elite U.S. Army unit previously linked to the 2019 raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Explosions Rock Caracas as Authorities React
Venezuela’s government confirmed that a series of explosions were heard in Caracas during the early hours of Saturday. Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s vice president and a close ally of Maduro, appeared on state television acknowledging the loss of contact with the president and first lady.
Rodríguez said she could not confirm their whereabouts and demanded immediate proof that they were alive. She accused the United States of causing civilian casualties and condemned what she described as an unlawful act of military aggression.
Residents in multiple neighborhoods of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions around 2 a.m. local time. Witnesses described panic as low-flying aircraft passed overhead and smoke rose from key military sites, including the La Carlota air base and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, long believed to be one of Maduro’s primary residences.
Government Calls for National Mobilization
In an official statement, Venezuela’s government urged citizens to mobilize against what it labeled an “imperialist invasion.” Authorities warned that the attack could plunge the region into chaos and confirmed strikes in Caracas as well as in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López released a defiant video message accusing Washington of launching a criminal regime-change operation. He claimed helicopter attacks struck urban areas and said officials were still assessing civilian casualties.
“This represents the greatest outrage Venezuela has ever suffered,” Padrino López said, calling on civilians and soldiers to unite in resistance.
Regional and International Reactions
Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed that Venezuela was under attack and called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. On social media, Petro warned that missile strikes were reportedly hitting Caracas and urged immediate international action.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel also condemned the reported U.S. action, calling it a criminal attack and accusing Washington of engaging in state terrorism against Venezuela.
The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and no independent confirmation has been provided verifying the capture of Maduro or Flores.
Months of Escalating Pressure
The alleged operation follows months of intensified U.S. pressure on Venezuela. Since late summer, Trump has repeatedly threatened decisive action against Maduro, ordering an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and authorizing airstrikes against vessels accused of narcotics trafficking.
Washington has also tightened economic measures, including the seizure and blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, moves widely seen as efforts to further weaken the country’s oil-dependent economy.
As conflicting claims continue to emerge, the situation remains highly volatile. International observers have yet to verify key details, including the fate of Venezuela’s leadership, as the world watches developments that could mark one of the most serious escalations in U.S.–Latin American relations in decades.