Trump Announces Capture Of Venezuelan President Maduro And Wife By US Forces

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a strike with law enforcement, claiming they were flown out of the country, with a news conference scheduled at Mar-a-Lago. Explosions rocked Caracas, with eyewitnesses reporting huge blasts and smoke from military sites like La Carlota airfield and Fuerte Tiuna base, amid heightened US-Venezuela tensions over drug trafficking accusations and recent US strikes on smuggling boats.

Venezuela's government rejected the claims as "military aggression" aimed at seizing oil and minerals, declaring a national emergency and urging mobilization, while Maduro had recently expressed openness to US talks on drug and oil issues. Details of the alleged capture remain unconfirmed by Venezuelan authorities, as the dramatic announcement escalates the long-running crisis.