Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is reportedly in U.S. custody after an overnight operation that included airstrikes and special-forces action, according to statements from President Donald Trump.
> At a Glance
> – Footage posted by a White House-linked X account shows Maduro in handcuffs at a New York DEA office
> – Trump says U.S. troops seized Maduro during “large-scale strikes” on Venezuelan targets
> – Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to face drug-trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court next week
> – Why it matters: If confirmed, the arrest would mark a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela tensions and a major shift in Western Hemisphere politics
The sequence, as described by Trump on Truth Social, began with U.S. airstrikes on Fuerte Tiuna military base, La Carlota airbase, the El Volcán signal site, and La Guaira Port. During those attacks, special forces entered what Trump called Maduro’s safe room and took him into custody.
What the Video Shows
A clip released Saturday, Jan. 3, by the White House Rapid Response account captures Maduro, 63, walking down a hallway flanked by DEA agents. Handcuffed and wearing headphones and blackout goggles, he appears to say, “Good night” and “Happy New Year.”
- Video location: DEA offices in New York
- Transport aircraft: reportedly the USS Iwo Jima
- Current detention site: Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center
Venezuela’s Response
Caracas issued a statement condemning the strikes and accusing Washington of seeking to:
- Seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral wealth
- Undermine the country’s political independence
Defense officials vowed to activate “all national defense plans” in response.
Trump’s Next Steps
Speaking to reporters, the 79-year-old president declared that the United States will now “run” Venezuela and pledged to restart oil production while ensuring citizens are “taken care of.”
> “No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved, successfully capturing Maduro in the dead of night.”
> – President Donald Trump
Key Takeaways
- Maduro’s court appearance is scheduled for next week in Manhattan
- The White House has not produced formal confirmation from the Pentagon or Justice Department
- Venezuelan authorities report nationwide military mobilization
The operation, if verified, could reshape regional diplomacy and global energy markets.
