U.S. claims capture of Venezuela's Maduro

The United States announced it carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, removing them from the country, according to a statement posted by US President Donald Trump on his social platform. Trump said the operation was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement” and promised further details and a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence. In a brief interview with the New York Times, he called the operation “brilliant” and praised the planning and personnel involved, while saying he would address questions about congressional authorization and next steps at the press briefing.

US officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, framed Maduro’s removal as a step toward accountability, with Landau saying Maduro will “finally face justice for his crimes.” CBS News, citing unnamed officials, reported the US Army’s Delta Force—an elite special operations unit—carried out the mission. Senator Mike Lee said Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him Maduro had been arrested and would stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that Rubio “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.”

Venezuelan authorities rejected the US account. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government was “unaware” of Maduro’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denounced the presence of foreign troops, calling the strike a “vile and cowardly attack” that threatens regional peace and stability. He said Venezuela was gathering information on the injured and deceased and called on the international community and multilateral organizations to condemn what he described as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law.

The operation follows months of mounting tensions between Washington and Caracas, with the United States accusing Maduro’s government of involvement in drug trafficking. US officials’ public statements signal an intention to prosecute Maduro on criminal charges, while Venezuelan leaders have sought to rally domestic and international condemnation of the intervention. The conflicting accounts leave key facts—such as independent confirmation of Maduro’s capture, casualty figures, and the precise legal basis cited by US authorities—unverified in the immediate aftermath.