The United States stunned the world on Saturday by launching military strikes in Venezuela and seizing President Nicolás Maduro, swiftly ending his 13-year rule in an operation the Trump administration framed as a demonstration of American power, as President Donald Trump boasted that the U.S. possessed “capabilities and skills our enemies can scarcely imagine.”

Trump Captures Maduro: Venezuelan Allies Condemn US Capture of Nicolas Maduro 

Leaders around the world have responded with a mix of condemnation and support to the US capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro.

Following a large-scale strike on Venezuela on Saturday, Maduro and his wife were captured by US forces and removed from the country. The pair have been indicted on drug charges in New York.

Brazil's Lula Says Capture of Maduro Cross Unacceptable Line, Argentina Prez Calls It 'excellent News for Free World'

President Trump's pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is the latest chapter in a long history of U.S. intervention in the Caribbean basin, rooted in the 1823 Monroe Doctrine but fully realized in the 20th century — ostensibly to protect U.S. interests and counter communism.

Nicolas Maduro’s Ouster and US’ Monroe Doctrine for Latin America 

US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a pre-dawn raid at his Caracas residence, according to officials. The operation marks a dramatic escalation in US–Venezuela tensions and has triggered global political and market reactions.

US President Trump Announces Maduro Prosecution Plans

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be confined in the infamous New York jail that previously housed Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell. The prison has been described as as “hell on earth” and an “ongoing tragedy” for its “disgusting” and “horrifying” conditions.


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Following military action in Venezuela, the US has announced it will temporarily oversee the country until a “judicious transition” can take place. 


Venezuela Under Attack: 'US Will Temporarily Run Venezuela Until Judicious Transition' 

Delsi Rodriguez Appointed Interim President by Venezuelan Supreme Court 


President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the U.S. will "run" Venezuela in the wake of a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Trump: Lights Of Caracas Were Turned Off By US

President Donald Trump declared that large American oil companies will be permitted to operate in Venezuela, following military efforts to remove Nicolas Maduro from power. This initiative aims to revitalize the country's oil production and infrastructure, potentially transforming Venezuela's economy while enhancing US energy interests.


Trump: US Is Going To Have Its Oil Companies Go In To Venezuela'

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured from a highly guarded "fortress", adding that no Americans were killed in the operation. "He was in a fortress," Trump told Fox News in a telephone interview. "You know, that we had nobody killed was amazing," he said, adding that a "couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they're supposed to be in pretty good shape."

US Strikes Venezuela: Maduro Captured in Daring US Operation

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Trump: US Troops Captured Maduro From A Fortress

Trump: US Will Be Involved In Deciding Venezuela's Next Leader

Donald Trump shared the first photo of captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the US warship USS Iwo Jima on his Truth Social platform after his capture by the US armed forces during a massive midnight operation in Caracas and several other parts of the country. The picture showed the now-deposed Venezuelan president handcuffed and blindfolded.&nbsp;Earlier, President Donald Trump told Fox &amp; Friends Weekend that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture in Caracas on Saturday morning.&nbsp;During the interview, when asked about the whereabouts of the couple, Trump replied, “Well, they'll be heading to New York.” When Jenkins clarified if they were taken to a ship first, Trump confirmed: “Yes, the Iwo Jima. They’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter on a nice flight.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> | Donald Trump shares a picture of Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima <a href="https://t.co/FO5ePLcZ2V">pic.twitter.com/FO5ePLcZ2V</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2007489570661969963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hours after the operation, the US president, during a press conference on Saturday from his Mar-a-Lago estate that the United States will "run" Venezuela until a political transition can occur, after the spectacular US military operation to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from the country.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-be-strongly-involved-in-venezuela-oil-industry-trump-says-after-maduro-s-capture-1767456938870">US will be ‘strongly involved’ in Venezuela oil industry, Trump says after Maduro’s capture</a>&nbsp;"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump told a press conference, adding that US forces were ready to conduct a second, "much bigger" wave of strikes if necessary.&nbsp;Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has long been at odds with the United States. Washington has justified its pressure campaign through the language of the “war on drugs,” allegations of dictatorship, and accusations of communist rule, even as control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources has remained a central underlying issue.

Earlier, Trump revealed that the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were being brought to New York to face federal charges.

Donald Trump shared the first photo of captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the US warship USS Iwo Jima on his Truth Social platform after his capture by the US armed forces during a massive midnight operation in Caracas and several other parts of the country. The picture showed the now-deposed Venezuelan president handcuffed and blindfolded. Earlier, President Donald Trump told Fox & Friends Weekend that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture in Caracas on Saturday morning. During the interview, when asked about the whereabouts of the couple, Trump replied, “Well, they'll be heading to New York.” When Jenkins clarified if they were taken to a ship first, Trump confirmed: “Yes, the Iwo Jima. They’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter on a nice flight.”

Earlier, Trump revealed that the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were being brought to New York to face federal charges.

Trump releases first image of first image of Venezuela's captured Nicolás Maduro aboard USS Iwo Jima

The US has carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, with President Donald Trump confirming that his counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country.

US Strikes Venezuela: What is US Army's Elite Delta Force That Carried Out the Venezuela Operation?

Colombian President Gustavo President reacted to reports of explosions in Caracas,  calling for UN to convene immediately. Petro's reaction came as blasts were heard across Caracas and low-flying aircraft were spotted in Caracas' skies. Watch the video for more. 

US Strikes Venezuela: Caracas Rocked By Blasts Amid US-Drug Smuggling Crackdown

U.S. President Donald Trump holds presser after the United States said it captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and flown them out of the country.

'Like A Television Show': Trump Revels in Maduro Capture

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado vowed at a press conference on Thursday that Venezuela "will be free". The Venezuelan opposition leader, honoured for her fight for democracy, said she would try to return to end the "tyranny" in her home country, despite warnings she could be arrested.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader: González Must Immediately Assume His Constitutional Mandate

Donald Trump on Saturday (Jan 03) said that the United States will be deeply involved in Venezuela's oil industry after deposing and capturing the president Nicolás Maduro through "large-scale" US military strikes in Caracas and several other parts of the country. Trump clarified that Washington will be "very involved" in regime change, saying "we can't take a chance of somebody else taking over, we will make the decision now, he said during an interview with ‘Fox &amp; Friends Weekend.’&nbsp;The US president revealed that he watched the operation from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, adding that "It's just it was an amazing thing, the amazing job that these people did. There's nobody else could have done anything like it," as quoted by Fox News. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-accuses-us-captured-maduro-oil-grab-trump-1767442103594">Trump wanted Venezuela to 'collapse' so the US could take control of its oil</a>&nbsp;When asked about the future of Maduro loyalists in Venezuela, Trump said, “If they stay loyal, the future is really bad, really bad for them... They have American flags being waved on the streets, so I think he's got very little support. He was a dictator that the people hated."<h2>Maduro, his wife were flown by helicopter to USS Iwo Jima</h2>President Donald Trump told Fox &amp; Friends Weekend that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture in Caracas on Saturday morning.&nbsp;During the interview, host Griff Jenkins asked Trump where the couple was at that moment. Trump replied, “Well, they'll be heading to New York.” When Jenkins clarified if they were taken to a ship first, Trump confirmed: “Yes, the Iwo Jima. They’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter on a nice flight.”&nbsp;Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has long been at odds with the United States. Washington has justified its pressure campaign through the language of the “war on drugs,” allegations of dictatorship, and accusations of communist rule, even as control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources has remained a central underlying issue.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump, however, has often laid bare that strategic motivation through his unguarded remarks. In 2024, just months ahead of the presidential election, Trump openly boasted about what critics described as a neo-colonial approach toward Venezuela.&nbsp;“When I left, Venezuela was ready to collapse. We would have taken it over, and we would’ve gotten all that oil. It would have been right next door,” Trump said at the time.The remarks reinforced long-standing claims that Washington’s sustained hostility toward Caracas was driven less by governance concerns and more by strategic and economic interests tied to energy dominance.

Donald Trump clarified that the United States will be deeply involved in the regime change and can not take a chance with somebody else taking over. 

Donald Trump on Saturday (Jan 03) said that the United States will be deeply involved in Venezuela's oil industry after deposing and capturing the president Nicolás Maduro through "large-scale" US military strikes in Caracas and several other parts of the country. Trump clarified that Washington will be "very involved" in regime change, saying "we can't take a chance of somebody else taking over, we will make the decision now, he said during an interview with ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.’ The US president revealed that he watched the operation from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, adding that "It's just it was an amazing thing, the amazing job that these people did. There's nobody else could have done anything like it," as quoted by Fox News. Also Read: Trump wanted Venezuela to 'collapse' so the US could take control of its oil When asked about the future of Maduro loyalists in Venezuela, Trump said, “If they stay loyal, the future is really bad, really bad for them... They have American flags being waved on the streets, so I think he's got very little support. He was a dictator that the people hated." Maduro, his wife were flown by helicopter to USS Iwo Jima President Donald Trump told Fox & Friends Weekend that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture in Caracas on Saturday morning. During the interview, host Griff Jenkins asked Trump where the couple was at that moment. Trump replied, “Well, they'll be heading to New York.” When Jenkins clarified if they were taken to a ship first, Trump confirmed: “Yes, the Iwo Jima. They’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter on a nice flight.” Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has long been at odds with the United States. Washington has justified its pressure campaign through the language of the “war on drugs,” allegations of dictatorship, and accusations of communist rule, even as control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources has remained a central underlying issue. US President Donald Trump, however, has often laid bare that strategic motivation through his unguarded remarks. In 2024, just months ahead of the presidential election, Trump openly boasted about what critics described as a neo-colonial approach toward Venezuela. “When I left, Venezuela was ready to collapse. We would have taken it over, and we would’ve gotten all that oil. It would have been right next door,” Trump said at the time. The remarks reinforced long-standing claims that Washington’s sustained hostility toward Caracas was driven less by governance concerns and more by strategic and economic interests tied to energy dominance.

Donald Trump clarified that the United States will be deeply involved in the regime change and can not take a chance with somebody else taking over.&nbsp;

US will be ‘strongly involved’ in Venezuela oil industry, Trump says after Maduro’s capture

President Donald Trump says the United States ⁠has ‘captured’ Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and flown them out of ⁠the country after “large-scale” strikes.

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Iran has strongly condemned the US attack on Venezuela, describing it as a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The US military attack on Venezuela constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic rules of international law, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Charter, which prohibits the use of force,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

US Strikes Venezuela: Vice-President Demands Immediate 'Proof of Life' of Maduro & Family

Vladimir Padrino López is Venezuela’s long-serving Defence Minister and a top General. Explore about his rise from the military academy to becoming a key pillar of the nation's power structure.

Who is Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López?

BREAKING | Caracas in Darkness: Power Outages Reported in Venezuelan Capital

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