News|Top Story

Trump Claims U.S. Launched Major Strike in Venezuela and Captured President Maduro

President Donald Trump said early Saturday that the United States had carried out what he described as a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela and claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country.

Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform shortly before 4:30 a.m., hours after residents in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, reported hearing multiple explosions. Images and videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke and a large fireball lighting up the night sky.

Trump said the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies and announced plans to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, Trump praised the operation, calling it a success.

“A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people,” Trump said. “It was a brilliant operation, actually.”

When asked whether he sought congressional authorization for the operation or what steps would follow in Venezuela, Trump said those issues would be addressed during the scheduled news conference.

The developments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, including an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and recent U.S. actions targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking.

In response to the reported military activity, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert prohibiting U.S. civilian aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace, citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”

The Venezuelan government released a statement condemning what it called “grave military aggression” by the United States in Caracas and in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The statement said Maduro ordered the activation of national defense plans and declared a “state of external disturbance” across the country.

The United States has long accused Maduro of leading a corrupt and authoritarian regime. In 2024, he claimed victory in a presidential election that was widely disputed by opposition groups and international observers, securing what he said would be a third term in office.

Independent confirmation of Trump’s claims regarding Maduro’s capture was not immediately available, and further details were expected to emerge during the president’s planned news conference later Saturday.

Kindly share this story:
Kindly share this story:
Share on whatsapp
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on telegram
Share on facebook
Top News

Related Articles