The US has captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro after a large scale strike on the South American country, US President Donald Trump has said.
Trump said Venezuela’s left-wing president and his wife were flown out of the country in a military operation in conjunction with US law enforcement. They have been charged with drug and weapons offences in New York.
It comes after explosions were reported across the capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning, including at military bases.
BBC live feed – US launches strikes on Venezuela, captures President Maduro and charges him with drug offences
CBS Live Feed – U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country
Venezuelans gather in Chilean capital to celebrate news of US operation
“Come celebrate with us , We love everybody because you America has loved us so much. Thank you America.”
Venezuela is celebrating the capture of tyrant President Nicolas Maduro pic.twitter.com/u0SRmkDlg8
— 112 Fighting Sports (@112FIGHTNSPORTS) January 3, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: Venezuelans in Miami have gathered to celebrate the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro
His rein of terrorism and narco trafficking is OFFICIALLY OVER.
🔥🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 3, 2026
Trump says Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, wife ‘captured’ after large-scale strikes
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US forces during a “large-scale” nighttime military operation early Saturday, President Trump announced.
“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 wrote on Truth Social.
US captures Maduro, carries out ‘large scale strike’ in Venezuela
President Donald Trump said the U.S. “successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela” and said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the Country.”
The announcement on Trump’s social media platform came shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday a few hours after several explosions were heard in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, witnesses said, and photos and videos showed plumes of smoke and a large fireball in the night sky.
h/t PA Cat, Canuknucklehead™, patthedog
