Trump Announces U.S. Captured Maduro, Vows to Run Venezuela
Trump Announces U.S. Captured Maduro, Vows to Run Venezuela
Trump says the U.S. has captured Venezuela's president and first lady after overnight strikes, promising a new, tightly run Venezuela.
In a dramatic late-night briefing, Donald Trump announced that the United States has captured Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife after an overnight operation. He described the developments as worth the price, and said the action followed a series of strikes that he characterized as successful. The claims were echoed in a Truth Social post on Saturday, Jan. 3, with Trump asserting that the mission would reshape Venezuela’s leadership.
'We're going to run the country right. It's going to be run very judiciously, very fairly. And it's gonna make a lot of money,' Trump said, delivering his remarks in a tone that mixed confidence with a pledge for a new governance approach.
Trump also shared a photo purporting to show Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed aboard a U.S. warship, a stark image that immediately drew global attention. The overnight strike reportedly unleashed explosions in Caracas as U.S. forces moved quickly to secure the regime's leadership.
Officials described the strike as 'successful,' but no independent confirmation had been provided, and international observers cautioned that a claimed capture would have sweeping implications for Venezuela and the region. Analysts said it was too soon to assess the legality and legitimacy of the action, or its potential humanitarian impact.
Residents and regional leaders will be watching closely as the story develops, with diplomacy likely to take center stage in the days ahead.
