Speaking at a news conference at his Mar‑a‑Lago estate, President Donald Trump praised the U.S.-backed military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump said the United States is “going to run” Venezuela until “such a time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition” of power.
Trump praised the U.S. operation, describing it as a clear success and noting that no American service members were killed and no U.S. military equipment was lost.
The president shared a photo on social media showing Maduro in a sweatsuit and blindfold, accompanied by the caption: “Nicolás Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”
The United States carried out a “large‑scale strike” on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a rapid military operation that lasted less than 30 minutes. President Donald Trump confirmed that the pair were “captured and flown out of the country” to face narco‑terrorism charges in U.S. courts.
Explosions and low‑flying aircraft were reported across Caracas as U.S. forces—identified by officials as Delta Force—hit multiple military and government sites. Venezuelan officials said civilians were killed, though the scale of casualties remains unclear.
The Venezuelan government condemned the strike as an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to mobilize in the streets.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on narco‑terrorism and weapons charges, and will “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil”. The indictment unsealed today against Nicolás Maduro stems from a federal drug‑trafficking case that has been active for 15 years, with Maduro listed as a defendant for the past six.
According to U.S. officials, the operation was carried out by Delta Force. This elite U.S. Army special operations unit transported Maduro to a U.S. warship before his transfer to the United States for prosecution.
World leaders responded sharply to the U.S. action
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz‑Canel condemned the strike as a “criminal attack,” accusing the U.S. of violating regional peace agreements.Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed “deep concern,” warning that the strikes risk destabilizing the region and escalating conflict.Other governments urged restraint as the situation continues to unfold, with many monitoring the power vacuum left in Venezuela following Maduro’s removal.
Venezuela’s attorney general reported that civilians were killed during the U.S. strikes, though the number of casualties has not been independently verified. The government accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure in addition to military sites.
President Trump said the U.S. will be “very strongly involved” in determining Venezuela’s political future and suggested that the country’s oil industry will play a significant role in upcoming decisions. When asked who would lead Venezuela in the interim, Trump said, “We’re going to have to look at it right now.
Trump added that he had decided the United States should take charge of Venezuela to ensure that any future leader would have “the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.” However, he offered no timeline for how long such a transition might take.
“We’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place,” he said.
The capture of Maduro marks one of the most dramatic U.S. military operations in Latin America in decades, and the long‑term implications for Venezuela’s governance and regional stability remain uncertain.
Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network