Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.
MAR-A-LAGO, Fla. — President Donald J. Trump announced Friday that the United States carried out a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, stating that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.
The announcement was issued via the president’s social media account and described the operation as a coordinated effort involving U.S. law enforcement. Trump said additional details would be provided during a scheduled 11 a.m. news conference at Mar-a-Lago.
The statement was subsequently amplified by senior administration figures, including Karoline Leavitt and Pete Hegseth. Both reposted the announcement of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture. The reposts signal internal confirmation of the operation’s early details across senior levels of the administration.
Activity Reported in Venezuela
Reports from Venezuela indicated explosions and widespread power disruptions in and around the capital city of Caracas following the announcement. Venezuelan officials declared emergency security measures, while state media characterized the situation as an act of foreign military action.
No formal statement had been released by Venezuelan authorities regarding President Maduro’s status as of Friday morning.
Significant Escalation in U.S.–Venezuela Relations
If fully confirmed through official briefings, the operation would represent a major escalation by the U.S. Involvement in Venezuela is a decisive action against the Maduro government. The scope of the operation, including targets and next steps, is expected to be addressed during the president’s scheduled remarks.
This is a developing story and PNW Daily will monitor the situation as additional official information becomes available.
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