US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday 3 January 2026 that the United States had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taken them out of the country.
The announcement marked a serious and unexpected development in international relations.
According to Reuters, Trump's statement described an official US operation. American authorities had not, however, provided details of how the capture took place or where Maduro and his wife were being held.
Trump's statement
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has, along with his wife, been captured and flown out of the country.
“This operation was done in conjunction with US law enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a news conference today at 11am at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Associated Press reported that Trump described the action as a large-scale operation and accused Maduro's administration of hostile and aggressive behaviour.
At the time of the initial report, those claims had not been independently confirmed by reliable third-party sources.
International reaction and uncertainty
The announcement prompted immediate international attention. News organisations reported the statement and other governments monitored developments closely.
At that stage, officials from organisations including the UN and the United States had provided no further official briefing or documented evidence explicitly confirming Trump's account.
Venezuela had already faced months of tension, with Maduro's government confronting serious economic and political challenges and international pressure.
Analysts said the announcement could have substantial geopolitical consequences for Latin America and relations between the United States and Venezuela.
The initial report stressed that international organisations had not independently confirmed Maduro's detention and that the information remained, at that point, a statement by the US side.
