US President Donald Trump announced early on Saturday that American forces had carried out what he described as a “large scale strike against Venezuela”, claiming that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country, triggering explosions in Caracas and a declaration of national emergency by Venezuelan authorities.
The Venezuelan government does not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro or his wife Cilia Flores, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in an audio announcement played on state TV.
“We demand immediate proof of life of President Nicolas Maduro and the first combatant Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said.
On the other hand, in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “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.” He added, “This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law
Enforcement. Details to follow.” Trump also announced a news conference at 11 a.m. EST at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.
The White House has yet to issue a detailed briefing, and the Venezuelan government has not confirmed the claim of Maduro’s capture. Caracas, however, declared a state of national emergency and rejected what it described as “military aggression”, denouncing the reported strikes.
Footage circulating from the Venezuelan capital showed fires burning and thick plumes of smoke rising over parts of Caracas, while helicopters were seen flying low over the city. An eyewitness said, “My heart was pumping and legs were shaking,” describing the moment explosions were heard across the capital.
Also read: Venezuela releases 88 political prisoners detained since 2024
The developments mark a dramatic escalation after weeks of heightened tension between Washington and Caracas. The United States has long accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organisation, allegations he has consistently denied. Washington had earlier announced a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest, a move widely interpreted in the region as intensifying pressure on the Venezuelan leadership.
Details surrounding the alleged capture remain unclear, including where Maduro has been taken and under what legal authority. The Venezuelan authorities have so far issued no verification of Trump’s assertion, while social media posts from the US president offered no operational specifics.
Regional analysts describe the action as the most significant US military build-up in the Americas since the Cold War. Recent months have seen a series of interdictions and seizures linked to alleged drug trafficking, the confiscation of sanctioned oil tankers, and reports of earlier land-based operations in oil-rich regions of western Venezuela.
Venezuela’s leadership has called on its supporters, including militias and grassroots organisations, to mobilise in response, appealing to its political base amid uncertainty over the situation on the ground. With conflicting claims and limited independent confirmation, attention has turned to Trump’s promised news conference for further clarity on the scope, targets and consequences of the operation.
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