Former United States President Donald J. Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were apprehended during a US-led operation carried out on Friday night in Caracas.
Trump made the assertion in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that US forces had conducted what he described as a large-scale strike targeting Venezuela’s leadership. He said the operation, which he claimed involved US law enforcement agencies, resulted in the arrest of President Maduro and his wife, who were allegedly flown out of the country.
Media reports and statements from Venezuelan authorities indicated that military action took place in the early hours of January 3, with explosions reported in the Venezuelan capital. The developments followed weeks of heightened tensions, marked by a growing US military presence in the Caribbean and repeated threats issued by Trump against the Maduro administration.
The reported explosions came against the backdrop of an expanding US security campaign in the region. Since September, American forces have carried out operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels across the Caribbean and the Pacific. The situation escalated further in late December with the interception of oil tankers linked to Venezuelan ports.
In recent weeks, the United States has deployed significant naval assets to the southern Caribbean, including guided-missile destroyers, a missile cruiser and a Marine Corps amphibious ready group. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has also been positioned in the region as part of the broader military buildup.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no independent confirmation from US government institutions or international bodies verifying Trump’s claims regarding the capture of the Venezuelan leader.
