Trump Claims U.S. Captured Venezuela’s President Maduro After Major Military Strike

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American forces carried out a large-scale military strike inside Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, who he claimed had been removed from the country along with his wife.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro,” adding that Maduro had been taken into custody and flown out of the country.

There was no immediate confirmation of the claim from the Venezuelan government or independent international sources.

An Extraordinary Claim With No Immediate Verification

If confirmed, the operation would mark the most direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, when Washington ousted military ruler Manuel Noriega. However, analysts cautioned that Trump’s statement represents an extraordinary claim that has yet to be corroborated by the Pentagon, U.S. allies, or multilateral organisations.

At the time of reporting, the U.S. Department of Defense had not issued a public statement, and Venezuelan state media had not acknowledged Maduro’s capture.

Venezuela Rejects U.S. Claims, Warns Against Foreign Troops

Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino released a video statement rejecting what he described as foreign military aggression, saying Venezuela would resist the presence of foreign troops on its soil.

Padrino alleged that U.S. attacks carried out in the early hours of the morning struck civilian areas, and said authorities were compiling information on possible casualties, including dead and injured civilians. No independent verification of these claims was immediately available.

Long-Running U.S.–Venezuela Confrontation

Washington has for years accused Maduro of presiding over a “narco-state,” election fraud, and human rights abuses, while imposing sweeping economic sanctions aimed at isolating his government.

Maduro, who came to power in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez, has consistently rejected the accusations, arguing that the United States seeks to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the world.

The reported operation comes amid heightened tensions following recent U.S. strikes and intelligence activity linked to Venezuela, though officials have previously stopped short of openly endorsing regime-change through direct military action.

What Is Known — and What Remains Unclear

Claimed by the U.S. president:

• A large-scale U.S. strike inside Venezuela
• The capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro

Not independently confirmed:

• Maduro’s detention or location
• The scale, targets, or legal basis of the operation
• Casualty figures or extent of damage

Diplomats and security analysts say confirmation from multiple official and international sources will be critical before assessing the full implications.

Potential Regional and Global Fallout

If substantiated, the capture of a sitting head of state by U.S. forces would have major consequences for international law, regional stability, energy markets, and U.S. relations across Latin America. Several governments in the region are expected to seek urgent consultations at international forums if events escalate.