United States President Donald Trump has claimed that US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following what he described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela.
Trump made the claim on Saturday in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that Maduro and his wife were apprehended during the operation and flown out of the country.
“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,” Trump wrote, adding that the operation was carried out in conjunction with US law enforcement agencies.
The US president announced that he would address the development at a news conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
In a brief telephone interview, Trump described the operation as “brilliant,” crediting extensive planning and the efforts of US military personnel.
The claim follows months of escalating military and economic pressure by Washington on the Venezuelan government and its oil-dependent economy. In December, Trump had publicly urged Maduro to step down, stating that it would be “smart” for him to do so, while also warning that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered.”
Trump’s announcement came just days after Maduro reportedly sought to engage with the US administration, offering cooperation on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration.
The US president has repeatedly accused Venezuela of exporting illegal drugs to the United States and of seizing American oil interests. While Trump has stopped short of directly calling for Maduro’s removal, the US government, alongside several European countries, does not recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
In recent weeks, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying naval and aerial assets, including an aircraft carrier and multiple warships. US forces have also seized oil tankers at sea as part of an oil blockade and carried out airstrikes targeting vessels accused of drug trafficking.
Washington recently confirmed strikes on a docking facility allegedly used by drug traffickers, marking one of the first known US attacks on Venezuelan territory during the ongoing campaign.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no independent confirmation of Trump’s claim from Venezuelan authorities, who have previously denied similar allegations and accused the United States of aggression and destabilisation.
