> At a Glance
> – U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores overnight on Jan. 3
> – Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump declared America will now “run” Venezuela and restart its oil exports
> – No American casualties or lost equipment were reported in the operation
> – Why it matters: The U.S. has effectively taken control of a foreign country, promising a “judicious transition” without a clear timeline
In an overnight operation that stunned the world, U.S. forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and President Donald Trump announced from Mar-a-Lago that Washington will now “run” the oil-rich nation until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can occur.
The Operation
Trump confirmed the action in a Jan. 3 Truth Social post, saying large-scale strikes targeted Venezuelan military sites and that Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were flown out of the country. Among the locations hit, according to Venezuelan opposition spokesman David Smolansky, were:
- Fuerte Tiuna, the main military base
- La Carlota, the principal airbase
- El Volcán signal antenna site
- La Guaira Port, a Caribbean seaport
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the secrecy, telling reporters, “It’s simply not the kind of mission you can call people [and alert them]. It’s not the kind of mission you can pre-notify, because it endangers the mission.” Trump added, “Congress has a tendency to leak. This would not be good.”
Trump’s Post-Capture Plans
From his Palm Beach residence, the 79-year-old president outlined an ambitious agenda for Venezuela:
- Restart oil exports and sell “large amounts” to other countries
- Ensure “peace, justice…a real country” for Venezuelans
- Maintain a U.S. presence “until such time as a proper transition can take place”
> “We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be…we’re gonna run it properly. We’re gonna make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth framed the action in nationalist terms, saying, “This is about the safety, security, freedom and prosperity of the American people. This is America first, this peace through strength. Welcome to 2026.”
Accusations and Fallout
Trump accused Maduro of drug trafficking, forcing migration to the U.S., and using oil proceeds to fund drug crimes-all allegations Maduro has denied. In a statement, Maduro denounced the U.S. for attempting to “seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals” and called for national mobilization against the “imperialist attack.”
Asked whether U.S. troops would remain on Venezuelan soil, Trump replied, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground. We had boots on the ground last night at a very high level.”
The president also hinted at future action, with Rubio naming Cuba as a possible next target. “Cuba is a disaster,” Rubio said.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores without American casualties
- Trump says the U.S. will “run” Venezuela and revive its oil sector
- Congress was not notified in advance over leak concerns
- No timeline was given for ending U.S. control
- Cuba may be the next U.S. target, officials suggest
With Venezuela’s government under U.S. control, the world now watches how long the occupation will last and what form any “judicious transition” might take.
