West Palm Beach, FL – The United States has carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, coordinated with U.S. law enforcement and ordered by President Donald J. Trump, was executed by the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force unit. Both Maduro and Flores were flown out of Venezuela early Saturday, though their current location remains undisclosed.
President Trump announced the successful mission in a statement early Saturday, with further details expected at a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago.
“Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation,” Trump said. “The president offered multiple off-ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.”
President Trump also said Saturday that the U.S. had “overwhelming evidence” against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. “Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil… But we have people where the overwhelming evidence of their crimes will be presented in a court of law. And I’ve seen it. I’ve seen what we have. It’s both horrible and breathtaking that something like this could have been allowed to take place.”
Attorney General and Politicians
Attorney General Pam Bondi added, “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Maduro will face trial in the United States on multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. The charges were originally filed in the Southern District of New York in 2020, when the Trump administration placed a $15 million bounty on Maduro. That reward was raised to $50 million last August, as officials accused Maduro of using foreign terrorist organizations and drug cartels to traffic narcotics into the U.S.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) relayed details from Secretary Rubio on social media, writing: “He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by US personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant. This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect US personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”
President Trump’s actions fall within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.
Explosions were reported around 2 a.m. local time in Caracas and neighboring states, with U.S. airstrikes targeting several Venezuelan military facilities, including the country’s largest complex, Fuerte Tiuna. The strikes sparked widespread fires and chaos in the Venezuelan capital.
Attorney General Bondi said the Drug Enforcement Administration has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons tied directly to Maduro himself.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer continues to spread false narratives about the current administration, trying to undermine them by spreading false information to the public and creating fake fear. Schumer added that the moves by Trump should frighten Americans.
International and Domestic Reaction
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared on X: “A new dawn for Venezuela! The tyrant is gone. He will now—finally—face justice for his crimes.”
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, the constitutional successor to the presidency, demanded “proof of life” for Maduro and Flores, stating that the government does not know their whereabouts.
European Union leaders called for restraint and respect for international law, reiterating that “Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy” and advocating for a peaceful transition of power.
Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado is widely viewed as a potential replacement should Rodríguez fail to assume power.
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U.S. Policy and Future Plans
At the Mar-a-Lago press conference, President Trump praised the “brilliant operation” and said the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela’s government, citing the nation’s energy resources and the need for regional stability.
“We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors. We want to surround ourselves with energy; we have tremendous energy in that country,” Trump said. “We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, which will cost billions of dollars; it will be paid for by the oil companies directly. And we’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be.”
Trump added that the U.S. is “not afraid of boots on the ground,” confirming that American troops remain in Venezuela and are prepared for further action if necessary.
Rubio defended the lack of advance congressional notification, citing operational security. “It’s just simply not the kind of mission you can call people and say, ‘Hey, we may do this at some point in the next 15 days,’” Rubio said. “Congress has a tendency to leak. This would not be good.”
Background
Maduro, 63, has ruled Venezuela since 2013 and has long been accused by U.S. officials of running an illegitimate regime propped up by rigged elections and alliances with terrorist organizations and drug cartels. The Trump administration has repeatedly condemned Maduro’s government and supported efforts for a democratic transition.
As of Saturday morning, the whereabouts of Maduro and Flores remain undisclosed, and questions persist about the future leadership of Venezuela.
Further updates are expected following the scheduled news conference at Mar-a-Lago.
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