US President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores after launching a “large-scale strike” on the South American country.
“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 said on Truth Social.
Trump said he would give a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The United States military was behind a series of strikes against the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, US media earlier reported.
US media outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, reported that unnamed Trump administration officials confirmed US forces were involved. CBS said an attack was ordered by President Donald Trump.
Live Updates:
Russia urges US to release Venezuela’s Maduro ( 09:30 PST)
Russia on Saturday condemned the US attack on Venezuela urged it to release its leader Nicolas Maduro, who was grabbed during a military operation in and around Caracas.
“We strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
In a series of statements, the ministry called for dialogue between Washington and Venezuela’s leftist government and expressed “solidarity” with Venezuela’s people. It stopped short, however, of offering immediate military or financial assistance to its ally.
“This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable,” the ministry said in a statement.
Maduro now in New York jail as Trump says US to ‘run’ Venezuela ( 10: 05 PST)
United States: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail Saturday, hours after American special forces seized and flew him out of his country — which Donald Trump said would come under effective US control.
The US president’s announcement followed a lightning pre-dawn attack in which commandos grabbed Maduro and his wife while air strikes pounded sites in and around Caracas.
A US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, and he was transported by helicopter to New York City, where the couple were to be arraigned on drug trafficking and weapons charges.
The White House posted video on X of Maduro, handcuffed and in sandals, escorted by federal agents through a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York.
“Good night, happy new year,” the 63-year-old leftist is heard saying in English.
Spain will not recognize US intervention in Venezuela, PM says (23:55 PST)
Spain will not recognize a U.S. intervention in Venezuela that violates international law, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on X.
“Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence”, said Sánchez.
Sanchez also called on all parties to “think of the civilian population, to respect the United Nations Charter, and to articulate a fair and dialogued transition.”
Meanwhile, Trump posted a picture of Maduro (23:14 PST)
“Maduro Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” Trump said in a picture posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, shortly before he held his press conference.
The Reuters Visual Verification Team said the image appeared to be taken from a printed photograph, as white edging can be seen around the image.
What appears to be the letters “DEA” can be seen on a black uniformed person next to Venezuelan president Maduro, and Trump said Drug Enforcement Administration officials were involved in the operation.
Verifying the location was not immediately possible as the photograph is tightly cropped, but the grey hairs in Maduro’s mustache matched recent imagery of him.
Trump says it won’t cost the US anything to run Venezuela (23:03 PST)
Asked if the U.S. could administer Venezuela for a long time, Trump said, “Well, you know, it won’t cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial.”
“We want safety there. We want to be surrounded by countries that aren’t housing all of our enemies all over the world. That’s what was happening. And you don’t want to have that, but we’re going to be rebuilding and we’re not spending money. The oil companies are going to go in, they’re going to spend money there. Then we’re going to take back the oil that, frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago.
A lot of money is coming out of the ground. We’re going to get reimbursed for all of that.” It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela. Despite the U.S. operation, U.S. forces have no control over the country itself, and Maduro’s government appears to still be in charge. Trump did not provide specific answers to repeated questions from reporters about how the U.S. would run Venezuela.
Cuban government should be concerned, Rubio says (22:43 PST)
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on whether tensions might follow with Cuba.
Trump called Cuba an interesting case. “I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about because Cuba is a failing nation right now, very badly failing nation. And we want to help the people. It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba.”
Rubio was more direct.
“Look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, at least a little bit,” Rubio said.
‘We’re in the oil business’ (22:33 PST)
Trump was asked how this operation would affect relationships with China, Russia and Iran in terms of oil.
He answered: “Russia, when we get things straightened out… But in terms of other countries that want oil, we’re in the oil business, we’re going to sell it to ’em.”
Trump accuses Maduro, without evidence, of hosting foreign adversaries (22:02 PST)
Russia urges US to release Venezuela’s Maduro (20:19 PST)
Russia urged the United States to release Maduro and his wife, in a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry on Saturday. “In light of confirmed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in the United States, we strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the ministry said in the statement.
UN: ‘These developments constitute a dangerous precedent’ (20:00 PST)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed by U.S. action in Venezuela that sets “a dangerous precedent,” his spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. “The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Trump says Maduro and wife will be taken to New York (19:50 PST)
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to a ship after their capture by U.S. forces and will be transported to New York, Trump also told Fox News on Saturday. Trump said both Maduro and his wife had been indicted in New York.
Maduro was indicted in a U.S. federal court in 2020 on narco-terrorism and other charges for running what prosecutors called a scheme to send tons of cocaine to the U.S. through an alleged “Cartel de Los Soles”. He has always denied that.
British parliamentarian cautions Kier Starmer (17:00 PST)
Ed Davey, a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, stated that the British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, should condemn Trump. He warned that a failure to do so would “open the gates” for Russia and China to attack other countries with impunity.
Venezuela’s oil production suffered no damage, sources say (16:42 PST)
The port of La Guaira near Caracas, one of the country’s largest but one which is not used for oil operations, was reported to have suffered severe damage, one of the sources said.
Venezuelan Minister of Interior responds to the US capture of Maduro (16:40 PST)
“Venezuela is aware that it has been under attack. We recognize what actions need to be taken, and our people understand their responsibilities. Our President has stated that it has been 28 weeks since the initial threats were made—28 long weeks. During this time, a treacherous and vile attack was carried out against a people who were simply sleeping,” said Diosdado Cabello, the Venezuelan Minister of Interior.
Italy says it is monitoring developments (16:24 PST)
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome and its diplomatic representation in Caracas were monitoring any developments with particular attention to the Italian community in the country.
Tajani said in a post on X that Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was being kept constantly informed and that the foreign ministry’s crisis unit was operational.
Italy’s ambassador in Venezuela said on Saturday on Italy’s State TV Rai that around 160,000 Italians currently live in the country, most of them with dual passports, as well as some who are there for reasons of work and tourism.
EU Representative contacted Marco Rubio (16:14 PST)
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reported that she had discussed the situation in Venezuela with Rubio. She wrote that the EU is closely monitoring what is happening.
Venezuela’s right to defend – UN Article 51 (15:57 PST)
Venezuela’s Representative to the UN stated, “We reserve the inherent right to legitimate defense, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
Moreover, Yvan Gil, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, said, “In response to the criminal aggression of the United States against our nation, we have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.”
US senator says Rubio told him Maduro arrested to stand trial in US (15:41 PST)
Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee said that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.
“He (Rubio) anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” Lee wrote on X following a call with Washington’s top diplomat.
Spain calls for de-escalation, respect for international law in Venezuela (15:33 PST)
Spain called for de-escalation, moderation, and respect for international law in Venezuela, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
It also offered itself as a negotiator to help find a peaceful solution in Venezuela.
Russia condemns US ‘armed aggression’ against Venezuela (15:28 PST)
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned what it described as a US act of “armed aggression” against Venezuela, calling for restraint and warning against further escalation.
“The pretexts cited to justify these actions are untenable. Ideologically driven hostility has prevailed over practical pragmatism and a willingness to build relations based on trust and predictability,” the statement said.
US official says Maduro will ‘finally face justice’ (15:26 PST)
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Maduro will “finally face justice for his crimes” after Trump said earlier that Maduro had been taken out of the country following U.S. strikes.
Maduro’s exit was claimed to be negotiated
The Venezuelan opposition claimed that President Nicolas Maduro negotiated his exit from Venezuela, according to British broadcaster Sky News.
The United States Armed Forces suffered no casualties in the military operation, according to The New York Times. The status of Venezuelan casualties, however, remains unknown.
Venezuelan Vice President’s statement
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Maduro and his wife.” The statement was followed by a public demand: “We demand confirmation that our President and First Lady are alive.”