Venezuela President Maduro, Wife Captured By US: Trump In 1st Statement After Massive Airstrikes

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by US forces and flown out of the country following massive airstrikes on Venezuela.

In a statement on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “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. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump's post marks a huge escalation after months of mounting pressure from Washington, as the Trump administration intensified efforts to unseat Maduro through sweeping sanctions, diplomatic isolation and repeated warnings of military intervention. The action is being viewed as a regime change operation by Trump in Venezuela.

As per reports, Maduro and his wife were captured by the Delta Force of the US Army. This comes after multiple airstrikes rocked Venezuela at around 1:50 am on Saturday (local time).

No Confirmation On Maduro's Capture From Venezuela

Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez made a statement following the airstrikes on Saturday saying the country has been subjected to criminal military aggression by the US government. However, he did not make any statement regarding Trump-'s claim that Maduro and his wife have been captured by US forces.

Venezuela Demands Proof Of Life

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said the location of Maduro and his wife is unknown. She added, “We demand proof of life.” Condemning the attack on Caracas, Rodriguez stated that the strikes resulted in the deaths of military personnel and Venezuelan civilians. He further demanded for respect for international law.

Airstrikes on Caracas

At least seven blasts rocked the capital city of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday. A series of loud explosions were reported across Venezuela's capital Caracas, triggering power outages in several neighbourhoods. Civilians also heard sounds of low-flying aircraft and helicopters.

World Condemns US Attack

Russia, which is an ally of Venezuela, has condemned US' “armed aggression” against Venezuela, warning against further escalation.

“The pretexts cited to justify these actions are untenable. Ideologically driven hostility has prevailed over practical pragmatism and a willingness to build relations based on trust and predictability,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added, “We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the course pursued by its Bolivarian leadership to defend the country’s national interests and sovereignty."

Iran also “strongly condemned" the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

Why Did US Attack Venezuela?

The explosions occurred amid sharply heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of presiding over what he has described as a "narco-terrorist" government. The US has also imposed sanctions on vessels it claims are involved in transporting Venezuelan oil.

Earlier in 2025, the United States had announced a $50 million bounty for any information that could lead  to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. The United States has repeatedly accused Nicolás Maduro of running a transnational drug-trafficking network, an allegation the Venezuelan leader has consistently denied.

Why Did US Capture Maduro?

As per reports, Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by American troops to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States. Maduro is accused of being a leader of Cartel de los Soles, which is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States.

Also Read- Chilling Videos Show Exact Moment US Airstrikes Rocked Venezuela | WATCH