US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by American forces and flown out of the country in a late-night operation, declaring that the United States now plans to run Venezuela for an indefinite period.
Speaking to journalists at his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump said the operation completely neutralised Venezuela’s military capacity and was carried out without any loss of American lives or equipment. According to him, Maduro was arrested “in the dead of night” during what he described as a highly successful mission.
“We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said. “We don’t want a repeat of what Venezuela has gone through for years. We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela.”
CNN reported that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, defended the operation, saying Maduro and his wife were being transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima to New York, where they are expected to face trial. Rubio argued that the mission could not have been disclosed to Congress beforehand because of its sensitive nature.
“This was a trigger-based mission,” Rubio said. “Conditions had to be met night after night. It’s not something you pre-notify because that could endanger the operation. It was largely a law enforcement function.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, confirmed that one US aircraft was struck during the operation but remained fully operational and returned safely. He noted that intelligence teams provided real-time support to ground forces, helping them navigate what he described as a complex and hostile environment.
Caine also disclosed that US forces encountered resistance while exiting Venezuela, leading to multiple self-defence engagements. Despite this, he said American forces would remain in the region following the capture of Maduro.
Describing the mission as a success, Caine praised the troops involved, calling the operation “a testament to the dedication and unwavering commitment to justice,” and said it reflected the US resolve to hold accountable those it believes threaten peace and stability.
The development has continued to spark global debate, with critics questioning the legality of the operation and its implications for international law and sovereignty, even as the US insists it acted in pursuit of justice.
