Washington/Caracas — The United States on Saturday claimed it had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a sweeping overnight military operation and would temporarily administer the country until what President Donald Trump called a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be arranged.
Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said U.S. forces carried out what he described as an extraordinary joint military and law-enforcement operation targeting the Venezuelan leader, whom Washington has long accused of drug trafficking and links to armed groups. The announcement triggered sharp reactions across Latin America and renewed debate in Washington over the legality and scope of U.S. military action abroad.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, adding that the operation would “not cost us anything” because of Venezuela’s oil wealth. “The money coming out of the ground is very substantial.”
According to Trump, U.S. forces captured Maduro during a night raid and flew him out of Venezuela. He said no U.S. service members were killed, though some sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The White House did not immediately release independent confirmation of Maduro’s whereabouts, but Trump said the Venezuelan leader was being transferred to New York to face long-standing federal charges.
Maduro has been indicted in the United States on drug- and weapons-related offenses, allegations he has repeatedly denied. U.S. officials have accused him of leading a “narco-terrorism” network, claims Caracas has dismissed as politically motivated.
Venezuela declares emergency, rejects U.S. claims
In Caracas, the Venezuelan government declared a national emergency and denounced what it called “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States. State media reported explosions near military installations in and around the capital during the early hours of Saturday, though details about casualties and damage remained unclear.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said in a statement that the country had been subjected to a foreign attack and demanded proof of life for Maduro and his wife. She urged international bodies to intervene, calling the operation a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“The Venezuelan people are facing an imperial assault,” Rodríguez said in remarks broadcast on state media shortly after the strikes. “We demand respect for our national sovereignty and the immediate clarification of the president’s situation.”
Despite Trump’s assertion that Maduro had been removed, Venezuelan state television continued broadcasting pro-government programming, and officials loyal to the ruling party said the country’s institutions remained intact.
Oil, security and “America First”
At the center of Trump’s remarks was Venezuela’s vast energy wealth. The South American nation holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, though production has collapsed over the past decade because of mismanagement, corruption and international sanctions.
“We’re in the oil business,” Trump said during the Mar-a-Lago news conference, arguing that U.S. companies would rebuild Venezuela’s “badly broken infrastructure” and restart production. “We’re going to sell it to other countries, and we’re going to get reimbursed for all of that.”
Asked how the operation aligned with his “America First” platform, Trump said the goal was regional stability. “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors,” he told reporters. “We want stability, and we have tremendous energy in that country. It’s very important that we protect it.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stood alongside Trump, said Maduro had “multiple opportunities to avoid this” outcome. Speaking to reporters in Florida, Rubio described the operation as primarily a law-enforcement action tied to existing U.S. indictments.
“At its core, this was the arrest of indicted fugitives of American justice,” Rubio said, adding that advance congressional notification was not possible because it would have endangered the mission.
International concern and domestic criticism
The announcement drew swift international concern. Several governments in Latin America and beyond warned that unilateral military action could further destabilize the region. Cuba and Iran, both allies of Caracas, condemned the operation and called for an international response.
Within the United States, some lawmakers from both parties questioned the legal basis for the strikes and the lack of congressional authorization. Critics warned that the operation echoed past U.S. interventions that led to prolonged instability.
“This is what many Americans thought they voted to end,” said Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia in a public statement, criticizing what she described as another foreign military entanglement.
Supporters of the move, however, argued that Maduro’s removal could open the door to democratic change in a country mired in economic collapse and political repression.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, speaking in a recorded statement addressed to the nation on Saturday, welcomed the developments. “Venezuelans, the time for freedom has come,” she said, calling for the release of political prisoners and the restoration of democratic institutions.
Uncertain road ahead
Despite the dramatic claims from Washington, key questions remain unanswered: how the United States would administer Venezuela, who would exercise day-to-day authority inside the country, and how long any U.S. presence would last. Trump acknowledged that details were still being worked out, saying only that a “group of people” would oversee the transition.
Analysts warned that even if Maduro were removed, governing Venezuela would be extraordinarily complex. The country has been ruled by the same political movement since 1999, and its institutions, economy and security forces have been deeply shaped by years of polarization and sanctions.
As night fell in Caracas on Saturday, some neighborhoods remained tense and partially without power, while scattered protests and celebrations reflected a nation bracing for an uncertain future.
