Donald Trump has praised the ‘brilliant’ execution of an operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while Maduro’s deputy has called for evidence confirming the leader’s wellbeing.

In an early morning conversation with The New York Times, a mere nine minutes after publicizing the raid on his TruthSocial account, Trump stated: “A tremendous amount of planning went into this, with outstanding troops and exceptional individuals at the helm.”

When questioned about whether he had consulted Congress before approving the operation, Trump replied, “We’ll discuss that.” He indicated intentions to provide further insights during a press conference slated for 11:30 AM ET at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Maduro is expected to face trial in New York on charges related to drugs and weapons conspiracy and is likely to be detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, sharing space with alleged United HealthCare CEO murderer Luigi Mangione.

According to CBS News, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by the US Army’s elite Delta Force during a strike in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, at 2 AM local time on Saturday.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seized by the US Army’s elite Delta Force unit during a strike on the South American nation’s capital Caracas at 2am local time Saturday, CBS News reported. 

Explosions rang out across the city, with flames seen billowing into the air. The US struck five sites in Venezuela – three in Caracas, including La Carlota Airport, La Guaira Port just north of the city and Higuerote airport around 60 miles east of Caracas.

American forces do not appear to have encountered much resistance from the Venezuelan military, despite Maduro claiming he was ready for any attack.  

The security-conscious Maduros were having their location tracked by the CIA in the days leading up to their capture, CNN reported.  

Donald Trump hailed his government’s ‘brilliant’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the early hours of Saturday

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded ‘proof of life,’ suggesting he fears Maduro and Flores may have been killed during the operation.

And the country’s attorney general Tarek William Saab said: ‘Innocent victims have been mortally wounded and others killed by this criminal terrorist attack.’

He called for peaceful protests. 

No details have been shared on the number of people killed or wounded during the Delta Force strike. 

Trump ran as an anti-war ‘president of peace,’ with the strikes on oil-rich Venezuela likely to anger some of his MAGA base. 

The air strikes which exploded in Caracas around the same time were done in support of the US operation to execute an arrest warrant against Maduro, Utah Senator Mike Lee said.

Trump plans to fly Maduro to the United States to stand trial on ‘narco-terrorism’ charges.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia were both seized by a US military unit in the early hours of Caracas, with Maduro now set to face drugs and gun charges in the United States  

President Trump says Maduro and his government have conspired to flood the United States with illegal drugs.

Maduro was indicted in 2020, during Trump’s first term as president, on charges of importing cocaine into the United States.

Trump offered a $15 million reward for his arrest at the time. 

That rose to $25 million during the final days of former President Joe Biden’s administration and was doubled to $50 million in August 2025 after Trump began his second term as president. 

Trump alleges Maduro is leader of a drug running organization called Cartel de los Soles and has designated the group a foreign terrorist organization. 

On Saturday morning, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro ‘will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts’.

She said Maduro will face multiple weapons charges in addition to the drug counts he is facing.

Saturday’s capture sparked international shockwaves. Maduro’s government branded the United States ‘cowardly’ for its capture of their leader.

A military vehicle destroyed by Saturday’s strikes in Venezuela is seen burned-out as dawn breaks in Caracas on Saturday morning

A bus with its windows blown out is seen in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday. Venezuela’s attorney general said ‘innocent people’ had been ‘mortally wounded’ by the strikes but did not offer further details or the number of people injured or killed 

An explosion rocks Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning during a US military operation which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro  

Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, suggested the United States may have broken international law with its capture of Maduro.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said: ‘We are extremely concerned by reports that Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed from the country during today’s aggressive actions by the United States.

‘We call for immediate clarification of this situation.’ 

In recent weeks, the US has been blowing up suspected drug boats sailing through the eastern Pacific Ocean with ties to Venezuela.

Maduro is said to have increased his security in recent weeks and slept in a different bed every night to try and evade attempts to capture him.  

The seized leader, who leads the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, was elected in 2013. 

He has been branded a corrupt authoritarian who has presided over the economic collapse of his nation, rigged subsequent elections and crushed dissenters. 

Trump announced Maduro’s capture on his Truth Social media platform early Saturday, writing: ‘The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas 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. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’

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