United States President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following what he described as a “large-scale” military operation against Venezuela.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said Maduro and his wife were apprehended during the operation 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 Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump stated, adding that the mission was conducted in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies.
Trump announced that he would address the development at a press conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is currently spending the holiday season.
Speaking briefly to The New York Times, the US president described the operation as “brilliant,” praising the planning and execution by American troops and personnel.
The dramatic claim comes after months of escalating US military and economic pressure on the Maduro administration, as Washington continues to challenge the legitimacy of Venezuela’s leadership.
In December, Trump had publicly suggested that it would be “smart” for Maduro to step down, while also warning that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered.”
The announcement follows a recent attempt by Maduro to engage Trump diplomatically, during which he proposed cooperation on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuela of exporting large quantities of illegal drugs into the United States and of unlawfully seizing American oil interests. While he has stopped short of directly calling for Maduro’s removal, the US government—alongside several European countries—does not recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
In recent weeks, the United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several other warships. US forces have also reportedly seized oil tankers enforcing a blockade on Venezuelan crude exports.
Additionally, American airstrikes have targeted boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking, with reports indicating that over 100 people have been killed during the operations. Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that US forces destroyed a docking facility used by suspected drug traffickers, marking the first acknowledged strike on Venezuelan territory during the campaign.
Venezuelan authorities have yet to officially respond to Trump’s claims, while international observers await further confirmation of the developments.
