U.S. President Trump says the U.S. has captured Venezuelan President Maduro from Caracas and flown away.

• Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro captured by U.S. from his country with wife

• Maduro tightened security, changing beds to avoid attacks

• U.S. deployed 15,000 troops and cargo planes to Caribbean

• Maduro accused of drug ties, but direct leadership unproven

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Donald Trump disclosed an American military action centered on Caracas that resulted in Nicolás Maduro and his spouse being escorted abroad.
Sustained political and economic coercion against Maduro had preceded this development for a long period.

Donald Trump announced on Saturday that U.S. personnel had taken Nicolás Maduro into custody and were transporting him out of Venezuela, marking what he described as the decisive outcome of a prolonged effort to remove the country’s strongman leader.

The declaration appeared on Truth Social, where Trump claimed American forces launched a major military action inside Venezuela alongside domestic security agencies.

Speaking briefly by phone after the post, Trump praised the mission, crediting extensive preparation and the performance of U.S. forces, which he characterized as highly successful.

Questions about congressional approval and the future political direction of Venezuela were deferred, with Trump saying he would address them later that morning during remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan authorities reported explosions at a military installation in Caracas and alleged U.S. attacks across several regions. In response, officials imposed emergency measures, citing incidents in the capital as well as Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, according to a government release.

Officials in Caracas issued a sharp condemnation, condemning Washington’s actions as hostile and urging citizens, parties, and civic groups to organize nationwide resistance against what they described as foreign domination.

Over an extended period, Trump leveled repeated allegations at Maduro, including claims tied to narcotics trafficking, labeling his administration as criminal in nature.

American authorities have long refused to recognize Maduro’s rule, portraying the longtime leader as unlawfully in power and accusing him of directing gangs linked to the drug trade—claims he has consistently dismissed.

Toward the end of summer, U.S. defense forces steadily positioned soldiers, aircraft, and naval assets across nearby waters. During that buildup, multiple small boats were struck under the justification of counter-narcotics operations, resulting in more than a hundred deaths. Intelligence agencies also reportedly carried out an unmanned aerial assault on a Venezuelan harbor installation weeks earlier.

Legal specialists have criticized those maritime attacks, arguing they constitute unlawful killings, while the Trump administration insists the actions fall within wartime rules due to an ongoing conflict with organized crime networks.

At the same time, Washington intensified pressure on energy exports by targeting ships transporting crude, disrupting production and threatening the government’s primary income stream.

One embargoed vessel headed toward Asian markets was taken over by U.S. forces. Another ship, not previously restricted, was halted, while a third tanker was approached by the Coast Guard before it could load petroleum.

Here is what else to know: 

1️⃣Maduro’s Security

Ahead of Saturday’s American action, Venezuela’s leader reduced access to trusted aides and regularly shifted sleeping locations to avoid a precision attack or commando-style assault.

2️⃣U.S. Buildup

Flight records show that, in the previous month, heavy-lift military aircraft made at least 16 trips from U.S. bases to Puerto Rico to move personnel and gear. At the same time, Southern Command confirmed roughly 15,000 American service members are positioned across the Caribbean, marking one of the region’s biggest force concentrations in decades.

3️⃣ Cartel Accusations

U.S. prosecutors brought charges in early 2020 alleging that Maduro led a violent narcotics network labeled the Cartel de los Soles. Intelligence reviews later suggested he was in conflict with the gang Tren de Aragua, while experts argued the so-called cartel is not a single, organized entity. Instead, the label is often used to describe drug trafficking links among senior officers, with no proof tying Maduro to direct command.

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