Trump Announces Capture of Maduro, Transfer to New York, U.S. to Govern Transition
Updated (3 articles)
Massive Night‑Time Raid Captures Maduro and Cilia Flores President Donald Trump told reporters at Mar‑a‑Lago that U.S. forces seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas before 1:01 a.m., loading them onto helicopters that flew them to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima [1][2][3]. The operation deployed more than 150 aircraft, including F‑22, F‑35, F‑18 and B‑1 platforms, and returned to base with the captives by 3:29 a.m., with one U.S. plane damaged but no fatalities reported [1][2][3]. Trump described the mission as “amazing” and a decisive blow against a regime he linked to drug trafficking [1][2][3].
Indictments and Narco‑Terrorism Charges Prompt U.S. Jurisdiction The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Maduro and Flores with Narco‑Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy and related offenses in the Southern District of New York [1][2][3]. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the charges and said the pair will face trial in New York, reinforcing a years‑long campaign that began with a 2020 indictment [2][3]. The U.S. government framed the capture as part of a broader effort to dismantle the Maduro regime’s drug networks [1][2][3].
Congressional Pushback Highlights Legal Controversy Lawmakers including Jim McGovern and Andy Kim condemned the raid as lacking congressional authorization, warning of constitutional breaches and regional instability [1][2]. Senator Marco Rubio defended the action, arguing it was not a regime‑change operation but a targeted law‑enforcement strike [1]. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau issued a statement celebrating the removal of the “tyrant,” while critics warned of precedent‑setting executive war powers [1][2].
U.S. Plans Interim Governance and Economic Investment Amid Venezuelan Outcry Trump announced that the United States will administer Venezuela during a “safe and proper transition,” promising American oil companies will rebuild infrastructure [1]. Venezuelan officials, including Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, demanded proof of life and condemned the act as aggression, while the defense ministry mobilized forces in response [3]. The administration signaled readiness for a second, larger strike if necessary, underscoring a hardline stance on the crisis [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Trump says U.S. captured Maduro in Venezuela strike, will run country during transition – Details the night‑time raid, aircraft count, transport to USS Iwo Jima, legal charges, congressional criticism, and U.S. plans to govern Venezuela post‑capture .
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Yonhap: Trump claims Maduro captured in large‑scale U.S. strike against Venezuela – Focuses on the capture announcement, indictment specifics, lack of U.S. casualties, and lawmakers’ objections to the operation’s legality .
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Newsweek: Maduro captured and flown out of Venezuela after U.S. operation, Trump says – Highlights the capture, transport, charges, Trump’s praise, Venezuelan official reactions, and background on the bounty and prior indictment .
Timeline
2020 – The United States indicts President Nicolás Maduro in the Southern District of New York on narco‑terrorism and related drug‑trafficking charges, laying the legal groundwork for future action. [1]
2025 – Washington raises the bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, intensifying pressure on the Venezuelan regime. [1]
Months before Jan 2026 – The U.S. conducts a sustained diplomatic and covert pressure campaign against Maduro’s government, citing the New York indictment as a central justification for a possible kinetic operation. [2]
Early Saturday, Jan 3, 2026 – Explosions rock Caracas for about 30 minutes, causing no immediate casualties, as the U.S. strike team prepares to move in. [1]
1:01 a.m., Jan 3, 2026 – More than 150 U.S. aircraft—including F‑22s, F‑35s, F‑18s and B‑1 bombers—launch a coordinated strike on Caracas; one plane is hit but remains flyable and no U.S. personnel are killed. [2]
3:29 a.m., Jan 3, 2026 – Helicopters extract Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, transport them to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, and begin the flight to New York for prosecution. [1][2][3]
Jan 3, 2026 (morning) – President Donald Trump watches the operation from Mar‑a‑Lago and declares it “an amazing achievement” by the military, emphasizing the success of the mission. [1]
Jan 3, 2026 (midday) – Trump posts on Truth Social that the “tyrant is gone,” calling the capture an “amazing job” with zero American casualties. [3]
Jan 3, 2026 (evening) – At a press briefing in Mar‑a‑Lago, Trump announces that the United States will run Venezuela during a transition, that American oil firms will invest to rebuild infrastructure, and that a second, larger strike stands ready if needed. [2]
Jan 3, 2026 (evening) – Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau issues a celebratory note stating “the tyrant is gone,” reinforcing the administration’s narrative of decisive action. [2]
Jan 3, 2026 (after the raid) – Venezuela’s executive vice‑president Delcy Rodríguez demands proof of life for Maduro and calls for national unity, while the defense minister orders a rapid deployment of military forces in response to what Caracas calls aggression. [1]
Jan 3, 2026 (post‑operation) – Lawmakers Jim McGovern and Andy Kim criticize the strike’s legality for lacking congressional authorization, whereas Marco Rubio defends the operation as lawful and necessary. [2]
Jan 3, 2026 (future outlook) – The Trump administration plans to govern Venezuela until a safe and proper transition can be arranged, to channel U.S. oil investment into the country, and to keep a second strike option on standby. [2]
External resources (1 links)
- https://x.com/SecRubio (cited 1 times)