U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Military Strike, Plan to "Run" Country

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Maduro in Military Strike, Plan to "Run" Country In an unprecedented military escalation, United States forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale strike on Venezuelan soil. The operation, ordered by the Trump administration, has removed the long-time leader from power and plunged the South American nation into a leadership crisis [41033][41227][41379]. The capture occurred following U.S. military strikes on targets in Venezuela, including the capital, Caracas, on Saturday, January 3, 2026 [40921][41055][41227]. President Donald Trump announced the action, stating the United States will now "run" Venezuela to stabilize the country and "take back the oil" [41227][41525][42114]. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its production has collapsed after years of economic crisis [40871][41227]. Maduro and his wife have been taken to New York, where they will face criminal charges, including accusations of narco-terrorism and running a drug trafficking organization [40942][41136][40970]. The specific charges have not yet been made public in detail [40871][41136]. The U.S. government has long labeled Maduro's rule illegitimate, accusing his administration of corruption, human rights abuses, and stealing elections [40668][41136][41525]. Since 2019, the U.S. has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president [41379][40505]. With Maduro's sudden removal, a dangerous power vacuum has been created, and it is unclear who is currently governing the country [41136][40970]. While Trump suggested Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, should follow U.S. orders as an interim leader, she has so far defied those instructions [41525]. The immediate consequences are severe for Venezuela's 30 million people, who already suffer from hyperinflation, food shortages, and a profound humanitarian crisis [40871][42114]. The long-term plan for the country's governance and the U.S. role in administering it remains unclear [41055][42114]. The capture of a sitting head of state by a foreign military on their own soil is a rare event in modern history and marks a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy [40668][40737][41088]. International legal experts have immediately questioned the operation's legality, predicting the U.S. will justify it as an act of self-defense [40942]. U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President in Military Strike Venezuela Leader Ousted in U.S. Strike, Faces Charges in New York US Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro U.S. Captures Venezuela's President in Secret Operation U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro US Strikes Venezuela, Abducts President Maduro US Captures Venezuelan President in "Large-Scale Strike" U.S. Military Strike Captures Venezuelan Leader Maduro U.S. Captures Maduro: What Now for Venezuela? US Seizes Venezuelan President, Vows to "Run" Country and "Take Back the Oil" U.S. Claims Capture of Venezuelan Leader in Military Strike U.S. Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro US Captures Venezuelan President in Military Strike U.S. Strikes Venezuela, Captures President Maduro Venezuelan President Captured in U.S. Military Raid