‘Long Live Liberty, Damn It!’: Foreign Leaders Respond To Trump’s Capture Of Socialist Dictator Nicolás Maduro

A range of reactions from world leaders poured in Saturday morning after President Donald Trump announced the capture and indictment of Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Trump wrote early Saturday on Truth Social the U.S. “successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela” resulting in the capture and removal of Maduro and his wife from the country. Three hours later, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X the couple had been indicted on four charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, adding that the couple “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.

Argentina President Javier Milei, a libertarian populist and key Trump ally, hailed the capture and removal of his fellow South American leader.

“LIBERTY ADVANCES,” Milei wrote in Spanish on X early Saturday. “LONG LIVE LIBERTY, DAMN IT.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, meanwhile, appeared to commit neither to praising nor condemning Trump’s move in his initial reaction.

“It’s obviously a fast-moving situation. I’m waiting to establish all the facts,” Starmer told a reporter Saturday. “What I can say is that the U.K. was not involved in any way in this operation.”

The prime minister added that the U.K. is prioritizing British nationals in Venezuela and working closely with the British embassy in Caracas. Starmer also mentioned Trump’s planned press conference for 11:00 a.m. local time Saturday, adding, “hopefully more information will come out then.”