In a meticulously coordinated military operation authorized by former President Donald Trump, United States forces successfully apprehended Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores over the weekend of January 2-3, 2026. The dramatic capture unfolded with American special operations teams converging on Maduro’s compound in Caracas before transporting the detainees to a U.S. warship stationed in the Caribbean Sea.
The operation commenced at 10:46 p.m. EST on January 2 when Trump authorized the mission. Within hours, at 1:01 a.m. EST on January 3, U.S. forces reached Maduro’s residence in Venezuela’s capital. By 3:29 a.m. EST, the extraction team had already departed Venezuelan territory with their high-value captives. Trump publicly announced the successful operation via Truth Social at 4:21 a.m. EST, proclaiming a ‘large scale strike’ against Venezuela.
Maduro and Flores were transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima to New York, where they faced arraignment on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. The Justice Department released a new indictment detailing their alleged involvement in drug trafficking operations. During a press conference, Trump was accompanied by key administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Homeland Security advisor Stephen Miller.
The U.S. president made controversial statements regarding America’s intentions, stating the U.S. would ‘run Venezuela’ until a ‘judicious transition of power’ could be arranged. Trump further escalated regional tensions by making provocative comments about neighboring governments, suggesting similar actions might target Colombian President Gustavo Petro and criticizing Mexico’s approach to drug trafficking.
Venezuela’s political leadership responded with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming interim presidential duties following a directive from the nation’s high court. Rodríguez demanded proof of life for Maduro and Flores while leaving open possibilities for diplomatic engagement with the U.S. despite the military intervention.
The operation resulted in significant international backlash, with Cuba reporting 32 military and police officers killed during the strikes. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting where both allies and adversaries of the United States uniformly condemned the unilateral action.
On January 5, Maduro appeared in a Manhattan federal courtroom where he pleaded not guilty to all charges, declaring himself ‘a decent man, the president of my country.’ His next court date was scheduled for March 17, 2026, as the unprecedented case continues to develop amid global diplomatic repercussions.