Last Updated on Saturday, 3 January 2026, 12:39 by Writer
United States President, Donald Trump said Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and taken overseas, after a pre-dawn Saturday strike on several military bases in Caracas.
“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,” said Trump.
“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,” he said.
That is in contrast to a statement issued by the Venezuelan government in the name of President Maduro, declaring a state of emergency and the mobilisation of civilians, police and the military to defend that South American nation from imperialists.
So far, no video has surfaced showing Mr Maduro speaking after the attack. Instead, Venezuela’s Defence Minister Padrino López has been on state television regurgitating sections of the statement. “We have been attacked but they will not win over us…We will find the strength to resist and this imperial attack is opening us to a situation to maintain calm because desperation is an ally to the invader,” Mr Padrino said.
The US has for several months labelled Mr Maduro a narco-terrorist, accusing him of being at the helm of the narco-terrorist organisation, Cartel de Los Soles.
A US$50 million reward had been issued for information leading to the arrest of the socialist leader after he was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
