LIVE: NICOLÁS MADURO AND HIS WIFE ARRIVE IN NEW YORK TO STAND TRIAL
The United States launched a large-scale operation in Venezuela, attacking strategic and symbolic points of the Venezuelan regime.
Maduro at the DEA offices
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the U.S. carried out airstrikes against precise targets in Venezuela, achieving the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, accused of narco-terrorism by the U.S. government and Justice Department.
"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!" Trump announced on Truth Social.
CBS News, citing U.S. sources, claimed that the capture operation against the dictator was carried out by a Delta Force unit of the U.S. Army.
Venezuela's Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodríguez to assume Maduro's role
On Saturday, Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to temporarily assume the powers of President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently in a New York prison awaiting trial.
The Constitutional Chamber of the Caribbean country's highest court ruled "that Rodríguez assume and exercise, in her capacity as acting president, all the powers, duties, and authorities inherent to the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation."
The decision was made "in view of the foreign military aggression that took place" and "which was aimed at the kidnapping of the constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro Moros."
Trump confirms that US oil companies will return to Venezuela
President Donald Trump announced that he will allow US oil companies to enter Venezuela to exploit its large crude oil reserves. "We are going to let our US oil companies, the largest in the world, go in, invest billions of dollars, repair the badly deteriorated infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country," Trump said at a press conference.
However, the president noted that Trump also stated that "the embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains fully in effect." The US oil company Chevron already operates in Venezuela thanks to a special authorization.
Duffy announces that flights over the Caribbean can resume following Maduro's capture
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced that US airlines can resume flights over the Caribbean after security restrictions imposed by the Trump administration during military operations to capture Maduro were lifted.
"The original restrictions on Caribbean airspace expire at midnight Eastern Time and flights can resume," Duffy posted on social media.
The U.S. aviation regulator (FAA) had "prohibited" U.S. companies from operating in Caribbean airspace on Saturday "due to security risks (...) associated with ongoing military activity."
What do we know about the operation?
- U.S. launched a large-scale attack against Venezuela.
- Trump claims Nicolás Maduro was captured and taken out of the country with his wife, Cilia Flores.
- Explosions were reported in the capital Caracas and nearby areas.
- Users spread videos of explosions and flyovers on social media.
- Airstrikes were reported at La Carlota base, Fuerte Tiuna and other strategic facilities.
- Residents of the capital said they heard airplanes flying over the city.
- The offensive follows months of U.S. military pressure in the Caribbean.
- The background is the crisis following the July 2024 election and the crackdown on protests.
The White House releases a video of Maduro at the DEA offices
The video shows Maduro being escorted by agents as he walks through the corridors of the DEA.
What is Nicolás Maduro accused of?
- Narcoterrorism conspiracy.
- Conspiracy to import cocaine.
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
“Prosecutors assert that, for more than 25 years, Venezuelan leaders abused their positions of public trust and power to corrupt government institutions and import tons of cocaine into the U.S.,” The Hill reported.
Trump questions the leadership of María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s leading opposition leader
During a press conference on Friday, Trump was asked about María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s top opposition leader, who was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She is a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago.
Elon Musk: “A win for the world”
Elon Musk congratulated Donald Trump and welcomed the arrest of Nicolás Maduro in a post on X: “Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere.”
First video of Nicolás Maduro in the United States
The White House released the first images of Maduro on U.S. soil.
Maduro and His Wife Arrive in New York to Stand Trial
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York, where they are set to stand trial on multiple charges. Their arrival took place Saturday afternoon, just hours after they were captured in Caracas, landing at Stewart International Airport, north of New York City.
The Washington Post Backs Maduro’s Removal: “A Major Victory for American Interests”
The Washington Post Editorial Board endorsed the operation that led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, describing it as a “tactical success” and a “major victory for American interests.”
“Millions of people around the world, most of all in Venezuela, are celebrating the downfall of the dictator Nicolás Maduro. President Donald Trump’s decision to capture him on Saturday was one of the boldest moves a president has made in years, and the operation was an unquestionable tactical success,” the Editorial Board wrote in an article published Saturday afternoon.
The board also highlighted the United States’ military, intelligence, and cyber capabilities, describing them as “unmatched.”
Trump assures that US troops will not remain in Venezuela as long as Maduro's vice president “does what we want”
In an exclusive interview with The New York Post, Trump assured that US troops will not remain in Venezuela as long as Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, “does what we want.”
Otherwise, he said they are prepared for a new operation: “We have a second wave that is much bigger than the first.”
Zohran Mamdani condemns Maduro's removal: “An act of war”
The new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, condemned the Trump administration for removing the Venezuelan dictator.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” he said on his X account.
“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance,” he added.
">I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026
Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and…
The best of Trump's press conference on Maduro
Hours after the operation was over, the president explained all the details in an extensive press conference.
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The White House publishes live photos of Trump following the operation against Maduro
Just hours after the press conference ended, the White House released photos of President Trump following the operation live. Appearing alongside him are the Secretary of State; Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth; and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Ted Cruz: Ousting Maduro “Will Save Countless Lives and Serve as a Warning to Those Who Attack Americans”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) praised the operation against Nicolás Maduro, arguing that the Venezuelan leader “enabled, and profited from flooding the United States with drugs that injured and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.” As a result, Cruz said, removing him from power “will save countless lives and serve as a warning to all others targeting Americans.”
“I applaud President Trump for his leadership, and I am deeply grateful to our servicemembers for their execution of this operation. Heidi and I are praying in thanks and for the quick and full recovery of our injured", he added.
Trump Notified Congress After the Operation Was Already Underway
According to The Hill, citing a source with knowledge of the matter, the White House informed top Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress about the operation in Venezuela only after it had already begun.
During a press conference on Saturday, Trump argued that the administration sought to maintain secrecy and avoid leaks that could have jeopardized the operation in Caracas.
“That’s probably one reason it didn’t leak over these four days as they were waiting for the right weather,” said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in an interview with Fox News.
“Congress isn’t notified when the FBI is going to arrest a drug trafficker or cyber criminal here in the United States, nor should Congress be notified when the executive branch is executing arrests on indicted persons,” he added.
Nayib Bukele mocks Maduro after his capture
The president of El Salvador reacted to Maduro's capture with a post on X, where he recalled a
speech by the now former Venezuelan dictator, in which he threatened Bukele.
More than 150 aircraft participated in the operation in Venezuela
The military operation to capture and extract Nicolás Maduro from Caracas required "months of planning and rehearsal" and used more than 150 U.S. aircraft, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said Saturday.
"The word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission and extractions so precise. It involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere," Caine said at a joint press conference with President Donald Trump.
Maduro captured
Donald Trump published on his social network Truth Social the first photo of Nicolás Maduro after his capture, showing the Venezuelan leader aboard the U.S. military ship USS Iwo Jima.
Trump says U.S. will not allow anyone from Maduro regime to take power
Donald Trump said Saturday following the capture of Nicolas Maduro that he would not allow anyone to "pick up where he left off," and that the United States will be directly involved in a possible transition.
"We’ll be involved in it very much. And we want to do liberty for the people," Trump told Fox News in a telephone interview, adding that the U.S. special forces operation showed that Washington was "not going to be intimidated."
Maduro may appear in New York
Nicolás Maduro and his wife will be brought to justice in New York, declared President Donald Trump.
"They'll be heading to New York. They were indicted in New York," Trump told Fox, alluding to charges of drug trafficking, terrorism and arms smuggling, among others, filed in 2020.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will first be taken to the USS Iwo Jima, which is deployed in Caribbean waters, Trump explained to reporters.
Trump watched the operation from Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump spoke to “Fox & Friends Weekend” Saturday morning, just hours after the U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
The president said he watched the operation from Mar-a-Lago.
"It was an amazing thing, amazing job that these people did. There’s nobody else [who] could have done anything like it," Trump said of the historic operation.
When asked about the criticism that has surfaced in the hours after the attacks, Trump downplayed it, saying they were "weak, stupid people."
J.D. Vance: "President Trump means what he says"
This Saturday, Vice President J.D. Vance stated on X that the president offered multiple outlets and was very clear throughout the 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," Vance said.
"Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation," added Vance.
Pam Bondi says that Maduro will answer for drug‑trafficking and terrorism charges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated Saturday that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
"Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers," Bondi wrote on X.
Russia issues a lukewarm response to the attack against Cartel de los Soles
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep concern and condemnation” over the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, while making clear that its support is limited to political statements. Moscow called for avoiding further escalation and urged that any disputes be addressed through dialogue, emphasizing that Latin America should remain a “zone of peace.”
Russia reiterated its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and its support for the Chavista leadership, while also backing calls by Caracas and other countries in the region to urgently convene a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. The Kremlin also said its embassy in Caracas is operating normally and that, so far, there are no reports of Russian citizens being affected.
Rubio reminds that Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a previous statement from July 2025 in which he reiterated that the United States does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. In the eyes of the White House, as well as several other countries around the world, Maduro stole the July 2024 elections and is considered the leader of the narco-terrorist organization known as the Cartel de los Soles.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 3, 2026
Maduro fell on Jan. 3, as did Soleimani and Noriega
Jan. 3 is, officially, a deadly date for enemies of the United States. On Jan. 3, 1990, Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega was captured. On Jan. 3, 2020, by order of President Donald Trump, Qasem Soleimani was killed. Finally, six years later, Trump himself ordered an attack against the Cartel de los Soles and took down its leader, the dictator Nicolás Maduro.
3 de enero de 2020: Trump ordena el dar de baja a Qassem Soleimani.
— Raymond Azar (@RaymondAzarM) January 3, 2026
3 de enero de 2026: Trump ordena la captura del venezolano Nicolás Maduro.
Dos operaciones de gran impacto, separadas exactamente por seis años, ambas dirigidas contra figuras clave contrarias a Estados Unidos.… pic.twitter.com/lIh01zrWXM
Diosdado Cabello, No. 2 in Venezuelan dictatorship, makes first public appearance
Diosdado Cabello, the second-in-command in the Venezuelan dictatorship, who has been accused by U.S. courts of narco-terrorism for allegedly being one of the leaders of the Cartel de los Soles, made his first public appearance following the U.S. operation. The Venezuelan leader, who serves as interior minister, appeared surrounded by military personnel and regime security officials, condemning the attack on the capital, Caracas. He called on his allies to remain mobilized and loyal.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS | Images show multiple explosions in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, amid alleged U.S. airstrikes pic.twitter.com/QC6GkpUj4E
— VOZ (@Voz_US) January 3, 2026
Trinidad and Tobago says it did not participate in the attack
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated on social media that Trinidad and Tobago was not involved in U.S. military operations. Although she has voiced support for U.S. strikes against boats suspected of drug trafficking near Venezuela, she emphasized that her country continues to maintain peaceful relations with Venezuela.
Images from the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Videos show multiple explosions in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, amid U.S. airstrikes.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS | Images show multiple explosions in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, amid alleged U.S. airstrikes pic.twitter.com/QC6GkpUj4E
— VOZ (@Voz_US) January 3, 2026
The operation in Venezuela was approved days ago
According to CBS News, President Trump had given the green light to the bombing several days earlier. The U.S. military had considered carrying out the strikes on Christmas Day, but Nigeria ended up being the first target. After Dec. 25, the operation was considered again, but it was postponed due to bad weather.
Javier Milei, president of Argentina, reacts to Maduro's capture
"VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO," said the Argentine president in reaction to the news of Maduro's capture.
Maduro captured by elite U.S. forces
CBS News reports that Nicolás Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the U.S. Army's elite special operations unit, sources told that media outlet.
Delcy Rodríguez, vice president of Venezuela: "We demand proof of Maduro's life"
Venezuela's illegitimate vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was one of the first spokespersons for the regime of captured Nicolás Maduro to give an assessment of the U.S. operation. In a voice call, without video, Rodríguez affirmed that she "does not know" the whereabouts of dictator Maduro and demanded President Donald Trump "a proof of life." The Chavista leader also announced that Venezuelan military personnel were killed during the operations.
Nicolás Maduro captured by U.S. after months of pressure
After months of intense legal, political and military pressure, the United States finally launched a massive operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. President Donald Trump confirmed the capture of the Chavista dictator on the social network Truth and the White House announced that the president will speak later this Saturday at 11 a.m. (ET) to provide more details.
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