US President Donald Trump wrote in Truth Social that Maduro and his wife were captured by the US military and taken outside the state.
“He informed me that Maduro had been arrested by American forces to face criminal charges in the United States, and that the military actions we saw during the night were aimed at protecting and supporting those executing the arrest warrant,” the politician wrote.
According to him, the operation probably took place within the framework of the powers of the US President under Art. 2 of the American Constitution, which regulates the protection of the country's citizens from the threat of attack, real or imminent. CNN writes that the US Senate Defense Committee did not report the possible operation in advance.
According to Lee, Rubio does not expect further American actions in Venezuela, since Maduro is already in US hands.
Just got off the phone with @SecRubio
He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by US personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant… https://t.co/lXCxhPoKSZ
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
Context
The Associated Press reported in the morning that at least seven explosions were heard in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas. The explosions occurred around 2.00 local time (8.00 Kyiv time).
According to CNN, some areas of the city are without power. Reuters wrote that a part of the city in the south, where a large military base is located nearby, was left without electricity. OSINT accounts on social networks reported American planes and helicopters in the skies over Caracas.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said that Maduro declared a state of emergency and mobilization in the country. The statement he released said the purpose of the US attack was to “seize Venezuela's strategic resources, in particular its oil and minerals.” Venezuela intends to appeal to the UN Security Council, demanding condemnation and accountability of the American government.
