Donald Trump recently praised what he called a ‘brilliant’ operation aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Maduro’s deputy is demanding evidence of the leader’s current status, questioning whether he is still alive.
In an interview with The New York Times at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, just nine minutes after announcing the operation on his TruthSocial platform, Trump expressed his satisfaction: “A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people.”
He described the mission as “a brilliant operation, actually.” When asked if Congress had been consulted before the strike was authorized, Trump responded vaguely, saying, “We’ll discuss that.”
Trump also mentioned that he would provide more details during a scheduled press conference at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, held at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
In the early hours of Saturday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly captured by helicopter during a strike in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
The city experienced a series of explosions, with large flames visible in the sky, signaling the intensity of the operation.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded ‘proof of life,’ suggesting he fears Maduro and Flores may have been killed during the operation.
The air strikes which exploded in Caracas around the same time were done in support of the US operation to execute an arrest warrant against Maduro, Utah Senator Mike Lee said.
Trump plans to fly Maduro to the United States to stand trial on ‘narco-terrorism’ charges.
Donald Trump hailed his government’s ‘brilliant’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the early hours of Saturday
Maduro, pictured, and wife Cilia were seized by US forces in the early hours of Saturday morning
President Trump says Maduro and his government have conspired to flood the United States with illegal drugs.
Maduro was indicted in 2020, during Trump’s first term as president, on charges of importing cocaine into the United States.
Trump offered a $15 million reward for his arrest at the time.
That rose to $25 million during the final days of former President Joe Biden’s administration and was doubled to $50 million in August 2025 after Trump began his second term as president.
Trump alleges Maduro is leader of a drug running organization called Cartel de los Soles and has designated the group a foreign terrorist organization.
On Saturday morning, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro ‘will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts’.
She said Maduro will face multiple weapons charges in addition to the drug counts he is facing.
Saturday’s capture sparked international shockwaves. Maduro’s government branded the United States ‘cowardly’ for its capture of their leader.
Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, suggested the United States may have broken international law with its capture of Maduro.
A foreign ministry spokesperson said: ‘We are extremely concerned by reports that Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed from the country during today’s aggressive actions by the United States.
‘We call for immediate clarification of this situation.’
In recent weeks, the US has been blowing up suspected drug boats sailing through the eastern Pacific Ocean with ties to Venezuela.
Maduro is said to have increased his security in recent weeks and slept in a different bed every night to try and evade attempts to capture him.
The seized leader, who leads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, was elected in 2013.
He has been branded a corrupt authoritarian who has presided over the economic collapse of his oil-rich nation, rigged subsequent elections and crushed dissenters.
Trump announced Maduro’s capture on his Truth Social media platform early Saturday, writing: ‘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. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
An explosion rocks Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning during a US military operation which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Developing story, check back for updates…
