Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Saturday, January 03, 2026, 11:53 / Updated Saturday, January 03, 2026 11:56
Donald Trump (79), the president of the United States of America, one of the co-organizers of the 2026 World Cup, along with Canada and Mexico, ordered airstrikes on military targets in Venezuela on January 3 in the name of the “war on drugs”.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared a state of emergency. He was accused by Donald Trump of being in charge of a vast drug trafficking network. Maduro denied the accusation and blamed the fact that the United States of America wants to remove him from the leadership of the state in order to seize the country's oil reserves, the largest on the planet, according to Libertatea.
UPDATE 11:30: Donald Trump announces that Nicolas Maduro has been captured
Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela
“The United States of America successfully conducted a large-scale military operation against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured along with his wife and flown out of the country. This operation was carried out in collaboration with American law enforcement. Details will follow. There will be a press conference today at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
The United States of America attacked Venezuela
The United States is set to host the most matches at this year's World Cup, which is co-hosted by Canada and Mexico.
Just 3 days after the start of 2026, Donald Trump ordered an attack on Venezuela. The capital Caracas was subjected to air raids this morning. and the president decreed a state of emergency.
The explosions took place after Donald Trump raised the possibility of ground attacks on Venezuela. He had threatened that President Nicolas Maduro's days were “numbered”, asking him to leave voluntarily.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on the UN to “meet immediately” after multiple explosions were heard in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
Shortly after the attacks from the US, Maduro accuses that they are aimed at “confiscating Venezuela's strategic resources, especially oil and minerals”, but also “forcibly destroying the nation's political independence”.
Venezuela failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after finishing 8th in their qualifying group. From South America, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay have already secured their presence in the final tournament, and Bolivia will play in the intercontinental play-off that will take place in March.
