President Donald Trump took to Truth Social early Saturday morning to announce the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during “a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader” by U.S. forces.
“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. “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.”
Trump warned Christmas Eve 2025 that if Maduro “plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
The toppled Venezuelan dictator, who had been the target of an extensive pressure campaign by the Trump administration to leave office, blamed the U.S. for increasing tensions ahead of the attack, which reportedly stretched across four locations in the South American country’s capital.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 3, 2026
Multiple explosions and sightings of low-flying aircraft were reported in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, The Associated Press (AP) reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had banned U.S. commercial flights from Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activity” ahead of the explosions.
The U.S. Army’s elite special forces unit, Delta Force, executed the operation, CBS News reported, citing unnamed officials. The attack is the most recent escalation of U.S. military action in the region, supported by a massive buildup of and posturing by 11 Navy warships, including its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, five destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, and two cruisers. The seizure of two oil tankers and strikes against at least 30 boats intelligence believed to be running drugs to the U.S. preceded the operation targeting Maduro.
Under glowing lights and open skies.✨
⁰Flight operations continue aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in the Caribbean, supporting U.S. Southern Command’s mission. pic.twitter.com/jQkvY0jxo1
— U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) January 2, 2026
⁰Flight operations continue aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in the Caribbean, supporting U.S. Southern Command’s mission. The apprehension mission happened to occur on the sixth anniversary of the 2020 drone operation which eliminated Major General Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s top general and terrorist head of the Quds Force. Not since the 2003 invasion of Iraq under the George W. Bush administration has the U.S. so openly removed an opposing world leader, albeit one whose legitimacy was disputed following allegations of stolen elections.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS‼️
President Trump and our incredible military have liberated the people of Venezuela AND made America safer in the process.@POTUS is making America proud!
— Rep. Marlin Stutzman (@RepStutzman) January 3, 2026
Wishing military leaders “Good luck and godspeed,” the commander in chief issued final approval of the mission, named Operation Absolute Resolve, at 10:46 p.m. EST Friday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine revealed during a Saturday press conference at Mar-a-Lago. The operation was reportedly ready for execution days earlier, following months of intelligence gathering “to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets.”
Over 150 aircraft, including F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, EA-18s, E-2s, B-1 bombers, support units, and remotely piloted drones, subsequently launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere toward Venezuela as weather conditions which were “always a factor” favorably aligned for the operation.
“Thousands and thousands of hours of experience were airborne,” Caine highlighted.
“As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water,” Caine said.
Venezuelan air defenses were neutralized amid blackout conditions initiated by U.S. cyberwarfare operations to successfully preserve the deployed force and the element of surprise.
“The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” Trump said. “It was dark, and it was deadly.”
Trump says he spoke to Maduro himself about a week ago. “I said, ‘you have to give up. You have to surrender.’” But in the end, he said on Fox News, “we had to do something that was really much more surgical, much more powerful.”
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 3, 2026
The helicopter apprehension force arrived to Maduro’s compound at 1:01 a.m. EST (2:01 a.m. Caracas time), when it drew gunfire which was responded to with “overwhelming force and self-defense.” All aircraft and personnel were ultimately able to return safely following the operation’s conclusion.
“He was in a house that was more like a fortress than a house,” Trump told Fox News before the press conference. “It had steel doors. It had what they call a safety space,” Trump said, adding that Maduro was “bum rushed” by U.S. forces before he was able to escape to a secured area. As part of the preparation for the operation, a replica house was constructed to facilitate training, the president noted.
Maduro and his wife ultimately “gave up” before being captured and loaded for departure.
“The helicopters took ’em out, and they went by helicopter in a nice flight. I’m sure they loved it,” Trump said.
By 3:29 a.m. local time, the departing strike force was over the water and indicted persons were embarked upon the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima to return to Guantanamo Bay, then New York City to “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil.”
Vice President JD Vance was not present during the time of the attacks partly to maintain operational security but remained “deeply integrated in the process and planning of the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest,” the Daily Wire reported, citing a spokesperson. “He joined several late night meetings via secure video conference with National Security principals leading up to the operation.” Vance also reportedly met with Trump the morning before the operation.
The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.
Kudos to our brave… pic.twitter.com/b1fqkdbB4x
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 3, 2026
“I want to be clear about one thing: Nicolas Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid this,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday. “He was provided multiple, very, very, very generous offers and chose instead to act like a wild man, chose instead to play around, and the result is what we saw tonight.”
“[Maduro has] offered everything,” Trump warned Oct. 17, 2025. “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States.”
October 17, 2025 — President Trump on Venezuela’s Maduro: “He’s offered everything. You know why? Because he doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States.” pic.twitter.com/aYNLaHrvYi
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 3, 2026
Editor’s Note: This breaking news report has been updated with additional details.
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