U.S. Attacks Venezuela, Maduro and Wife Detained: Trump

Caracas, Jan. 3, 2026 — The United States has carried out a major military attack on Venezuela, detaining President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and transferring them out of the country, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday.
Multiple explosions were reported across the Venezuelan capital Caracas and several other regions shortly after midnight, prompting authorities to declare a nationwide state of emergency.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said U.S. forces had successfully executed a large-scale operation targeting the Venezuelan leadership. He claimed that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody following the assault and removed from Venezuelan territory.
“The United States has successfully conducted a major operation against Venezuela and its leader President Nicolás Maduro,” Trump wrote. “Maduro and his wife have been detained and taken out of the country. This operation was carried out in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies. Further details will be provided later.”
Trump added that a press conference would be held at 11:00 a.m. local time at his Mar-a-Lago residence to brief the media on the operation.
The Venezuelan government strongly condemned the attack, calling it an “outrageous military aggression” by the United States. In an official statement, Caracas said it categorically rejects the operation and will lodge a formal complaint with the international community.
“The Venezuelan government vehemently condemns the blatant and unacceptable military aggression carried out by the United States on Venezuelan soil,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that President Trump personally authorized the strikes inside Venezuela. According to U.S. officials cited by the network, American forces targeted military infrastructure and other strategic locations.
U.S. troops had earlier deployed warships and military assets in the Caribbean region, accusing Venezuela of producing and trafficking drugs into the United States. Initial operations reportedly focused on maritime targets before escalating into direct strikes within Venezuelan territory on Saturday.