United States President Donald Trump has said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were removed from Venezuela by US forces and will be taken to New York to face federal charges, sparking widespread international condemnation and concern.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Fox News from West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said the pair were extracted by helicopter and transferred to a ship before being moved to the United States.
“They’re on a ship, but they’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out,” Trump said.
The US president added that Washington would play a key role in determining Venezuela’s political future following Maduro’s capture, insisting the move was aimed at restoring freedom for the Venezuelan people.
“We’ll be involved very much. We want liberty for the people, and we won’t allow anyone to take over where he left off,” Trump said.
Earlier, Trump announced that US special forces had captured Maduro after overnight air strikes on Caracas and other locations. Venezuela’s government has described the action as “extremely serious military aggression” and demanded proof that the president is alive.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government had no information on Maduro’s whereabouts and called on Washington to provide “proof of life.” She said urgent clarification was being sought following the attacks.
US Vice President JD Vance accused Venezuela of failing to de-escalate tensions, saying the Trump administration had offered multiple opportunities to avoid confrontation.
“The president was clear: drug trafficking must stop, and stolen oil must be returned to the United States,” Vance said, adding that living in a presidential palace did not exempt anyone from US justice.
Washington has long accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network—claims Venezuela strongly denies, accusing the US of attempting regime change because of its oil resources.
International reaction was swift. The European Union called for restraint and respect for international law. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Maduro lacked legitimacy but stressed that all actions must comply with the UN Charter.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed support for a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela, while European Council President Antonio Costa urged de-escalation.
Spain offered to mediate, while Chile’s President Gabriel Boric condemned the US military action, calling it a violation of international law.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described the strikes and Maduro’s capture as a serious breach of Venezuelan sovereignty, warning that it threatened regional peace and calling on the United Nations to respond.
Russia condemned what it called US “armed aggression” and demanded immediate clarification on Maduro’s fate, while Turkey urged restraint to avoid wider regional consequences. China advised its citizens in Venezuela to avoid travel and remain cautious.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was not involved in the operation and stressed the need to uphold international law. He said the government’s priority was the safety of British nationals in Venezuela, as travel warnings were updated.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered security forces to the Venezuelan border, describing the US action as an assault on Latin American sovereignty and warning of a possible humanitarian crisis.
As of Saturday, there has been no independent confirmation of Maduro’s location or condition. Trump said he would provide further details during a news conference later in the day.
