Night view of Caracas taken after a series of explosions heard on January 3, 2026. FEDERICO PARRA / AFP
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown from the country, President Donald Trump announced early Saturday, January 3, after confirming that US forces conducted what he called "a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader." In a post on social media, Trump said Maduro's wife was also seized in the operation conducted along with US law enforcement. Trump said he planned to deliver a statement later Saturday morning.
Multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital, as Maduro's government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations. The Venezuelan government called it an "imperialist attack" and urged citizens to take to the streets.
It was not immediately clear who was running the country, and Maduro's whereabouts were not immediately known. Maduro, Trump said, "has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow." He set a news conference for later Saturday morning.
The explosions in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, early on the third day of 2026 – at least seven blasts – sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report hearing and seeing the explosions. It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. The apparent attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes, but it was unclear if more actions lay ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out "successfully."
