Donald Trump announced early Saturday that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following what he described as a large-scale military operation across Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said Maduro and Flores were “captured and flown out of the country.” He characterized the mission as a coordinated strike involving U.S. military assets and law enforcement, adding that further details would be disclosed at a press conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Overnight Strikes Across Venezuela
The announcement followed a series of pre-dawn explosions reported in Caracas and several surrounding regions. Witnesses said blasts began around 2:00 a.m. local time and continued for roughly 90 minutes, with low-flying aircraft and helicopters observed over the capital.
U.S. officials confirmed strikes on multiple military targets, including Fuerte Tiuna, the country’s largest military base, and La Carlota Airport. Additional strike activity was reported in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Power outages were reported in parts of southern Caracas near major military installations.
Venezuelan Response and Airspace Restrictions
Before news of Maduro’s capture emerged, Venezuelan authorities declared a national emergency and a “state of external disturbance,” ordering the mobilization of defense forces in response to what officials described as foreign aggression.
Amid the ongoing military activity, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order barring U.S. commercial air carriers from operating over Venezuelan airspace, citing safety risks.
Escalation of U.S. Pressure Campaign
The operation represents a sharp escalation in the Trump administration’s months-long “maximum pressure” campaign against the Maduro government. That effort has included a naval blockade, sanctions, and earlier actions targeting alleged drug-smuggling networks in the Caribbean.
If confirmed, the capture would mark the first U.S. operation to seize a sitting foreign leader since the 1989 invasion of Panama, a comparison already being raised by analysts and former officials.
Markets, regional governments, and international organizations are now watching closely for confirmation and further details as President Trump prepares to address the operation publicly later today.
