In a shocking announcement on Saturday, President Donald Trump claimed that U.S. forces had successfully executed a “large scale strike” in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. Trump declared this development on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Trump is expected to elaborate on the operation during a scheduled news conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is currently on a Christmas and New Year vacation. In a brief interview with The New York Times, Trump praised the operation as “brilliant,” expressing gratitude for the planning and efforts of the military personnel involved.
This announcement comes on the heels of increasing military and economic pressures exerted by the U.S. on Maduro’s government, which has been struggling under international sanctions and a deepening economic crisis. Over the past months, Trump has suggested that Maduro’s leadership is nearing its end, urging him to consider stepping down for the sake of the country.
Interestingly, just two days prior to Trump’s statement, Maduro had reached out in an apparent effort to discuss cooperation on matters of drug trafficking and illegal migration with the U.S., highlighting a dramatic shift in diplomatic communication. Trump’s administration has characterized Colombia as a major drug exporter, linking Venezuelan involvement to the U.S. drug crisis and asserting that Maduro’s regime has militarily seized U.S. oil interests.
The legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency is widely contested by the U.S. government and numerous European nations, which have refused to recognize him as the legitimate leader following controversial elections. In a show of military strength, the U.S. has ramped up its naval and aerial presence in the Caribbean region, deploying aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and other vessels.
Recent military operations have included the seizure of two oil tankers in an ongoing blockade against Venezuela and airstrikes that have reportedly resulted in over 100 casualties, targeting small boats accused of drug trafficking. Trump’s administration previously disclosed an assault on a docking facility used for these vessels, marking a military engagement on Venezuelan soil that has raised concerns over regional stability and international response.
As details continue to unfold, analysts and political observers are closely monitoring the implications of this high-stakes military action and its potential impact on U.S.-Venezuelan relations.
