In a stunning development, President Donald J. Trump announced early Saturday that U.S. forces have conducted a major military operation against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The announcement, made via Trump’s preferred social media platform Truth Social, marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations amid ongoing tensions over the South American nation’s political instability, economic collapse, and alleged ties to drug trafficking and authoritarian rule.
According to Trump’s post, the operation involved a “large scale strike” carried out in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies. Maduro and Flores have reportedly been apprehended and transported out of Venezuela, though specific details on their current location or the exact nature of the strike remain undisclosed. The president teased further information, promising a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at 11 a.m. Eastern Time today.
The move comes against a backdrop of longstanding U.S. sanctions against the Maduro regime, which Washington has accused of human rights abuses, election rigging, and enabling narcotics trade. Venezuela, once a prosperous oil-rich nation, has been plagued by hyperinflation, shortages, and mass emigration under Maduro’s leadership since 2013. The U.S. has previously recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president in 2019, though that effort fizzled amid internal divisions and lack of international enforcement.
Reactions poured in swiftly from around the globe. Venezuelan officials loyal to Maduro denounced the action as an “imperialist invasion” and vowed resistance, while opposition figures in exile hailed it as a potential turning point for democracy in the country.
In Washington, congressional leaders from both parties expressed surprise, with some Republicans praising Trump’s decisiveness and Democrats calling for immediate briefings on the legal and humanitarian implications.
The White House has yet to release an official statement beyond Trump’s social media post, but sources indicate that the operation may have involved special forces and intelligence assets, possibly with assistance from regional allies like Colombia or Brazil. Analysts speculate that this could reshape Latin American geopolitics, potentially affecting migration patterns to the U.S. southern border and global oil markets, given Venezuela’s vast reserves.
As the world awaits more details from the upcoming press conference, questions loom about the operation’s legality under international law, the fate of Maduro’s inner circle, and the potential for retaliatory actions from Venezuela’s allies, including Russia, China, and Iran. This bold step underscores Trump’s “America First” foreign policy in his second term, prioritizing direct action against perceived threats.
The full post reads:
“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.”
