Trump Announces Dramatic US Strike Seizes Venezuelan Leader, Wife in Daring Overnight Operation

By Tgnews Reporter

President Donald Trump declared early Saturday that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a “large-scale strike” on targets across the country.

Trump broke the news in a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after explosions rocked Caracas and surrounding areas: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow.”

The announcement came amid reports of multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft over the Venezuelan capital in the pre-dawn hours. Witnesses and journalists described blasts near key military sites, including Fuerte Tiuna complex and La Carlota air base, with smoke visible and power outages in parts of the city. Similar incidents were reported in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua.

Venezuelan officials swiftly condemned the events as “imperialist aggression” by the United States. The government declared a national state of emergency, mobilized forces, and urged citizens to resist what it called a foreign invasion aimed at seizing the nation’s oil and mineral resources. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López vowed that Venezuela would “resist the presence of foreign troops.”

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez later stated that the government was unaware of Maduro’s whereabouts, demanding “proof of life” for the president and first lady.

U.S. officials, citing sources, confirmed to multiple outlets that elite Delta Force operatives were involved in the capture, marking a bold culmination of months of intensified pressure on Maduro’s regime. The operation follows a series of U.S. strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels and facilities linked to Venezuela, part of a broader counter-narcotics campaign that escalated with land-based actions.

Trump, in a brief phone interview with The New York Times, described the mission as a “brilliant operation” involving “a lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops.” He is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. from Mar-a-Lago to provide further details.

The Pentagon and White House have yet to issue an official statement, but the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited U.S. flights over Venezuelan airspace due to “ongoing military activity.”

International reactions poured in quickly. Allies of Venezuela, including Cuba and Iran, condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty. Argentina’s President Javier Milei praised the development, while Colombia expressed concern over regional stability.

The dramatic events cap a prolonged U.S. campaign against Maduro, accused by Washington of heading a “narco-terrorist” state and rigging elections. Analysts note the operation echoes historical U.S. interventions in Latin America, raising questions about legality, congressional authorization, and potential fallout across the hemisphere.

As the situation unfolds rapidly, global leaders monitor for further developments in what could reshape Venezuela’s future and U.S. foreign policy in the region.