Trump Says Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro and His Wife Have Been Captured [WATCH]

The United States carried out a military operation against Venezuela early Saturday that included strikes across multiple regions and resulted in the capture and removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to an announcement by President Donald Trump.

In a statement posted Saturday morning, President Trump said the operation targeted Venezuela and its leadership and confirmed that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

“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,” Trump wrote.

“This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement. Details to follow.”

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/nHDqtsqRFh

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 3, 2026

Explosions were reported beginning around 2 a.m. local time in and around Caracas during the operation.

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Reports indicated that at least seven explosions were heard in the capital city. Low-flying aircraft were observed over Caracas during the early morning hours as the strikes unfolded.

The strikes affected multiple locations, including sites in the state of Miranda, where Caracas is located, as well as nearby Aragua and La Guiera.

The explosions sent smoke and fire into the air and caused power outages in affected areas.

BREAKING: Trump confirms strike in Venezuela, says Maduro and wife have been ‘captured’ pic.twitter.com/8OkLawxk6s

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 3, 2026

Photographs from the capital showed fire burning through Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex located in Caracas, following an explosion at the site.

Residents in Caracas reacted to the blasts as they moved through the city streets.

“The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance,” Carmen Hidalgo said.

“We felt like the air was hitting us.”

As the military activity continued, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Air Missions early Saturday prohibiting all U.S. commercial aircraft from operating at any altitude within Venezuelan airspace.

The restriction was issued because of what the FAA described as ongoing military activity.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas also issued guidance advising Americans not to travel to Venezuela and urging U.S. citizens currently in the country to leave.

The Venezuelan government denounced the operation, calling it an act of aggression by the United States and a violation of the United Nations charter.

In a statement, the government said the objective of the attack was to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources.

“The objective of this attack is none other than to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, attempting to forcibly break the nation’s political independence,” the statement said.

“They will not succeed. After more than two hundred years of independence, the people and their legitimate government remain steadfast in defense of sovereignty and the inalienable right to determine their own destiny.”

FULL STATEMENT: The Venezuelan government published a communique condeming a military US attack, which it said aimed to “seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals.”

(My own highlithgs — translated from the Spanish original) pic.twitter.com/El7mRn87k3

— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) January 3, 2026

Following the strikes, Maduro declared a state of emergency and ordered all national defense plans to be implemented.

The declaration granted expanded authority to the armed forces and allowed for the suspension of certain rights. A government statement called on citizens to mobilize.

“Today, with the spirit of Bolivar, Miranda, and our liberators, the Venezuelan people rise up once again to defend their independence against imperial aggression. People, take to the streets!” the statement said.

In a video address aired earlier in the week, Maduro accused the United States of seeking to force a change in Venezuela’s government and gain access to the country’s oil reserves.

Maduro, 63, has held power in Venezuela for 13 years and has been charged by the United States with narco-terrorism.

One day before the strikes, he met with a special envoy for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the presidential palace in Caracas to reaffirm ties with China amid growing tensions with the United States.

Regional leaders responded to the operation as reports emerged. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Venezuela had been attacked and called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations.

“Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela,” Petro wrote.

“They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately.”

Cuban officials also condemned the strikes. “Our ‘Peace Zone’ is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said.

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Maduro had previously claimed that his government was willing to discuss an agreement with the United States aimed at preventing drug trafficking.

“The US government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready,” Maduro said in a recorded interview broadcast on state television.

The U.S. military has carried out drone strikes off the Venezuelan coast targeting suspected drug-smuggling boats, and Maduro’s remarks came shortly after a drone strike on a docking area believed to be used by cartels.

Venezuela has detained at least five Americans following the latest round of U.S. military and economic pressure.

One detainee, James Luckey-Lange of Staten Island, has said he was wrongfully detained while crossing the Venezuelan border during a long trip across Latin America.