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The United States launched a “large-scale strike” early Saturday, capturing the country’s president and expelling him from the country after months of increased pressure from Washington.
The president announced the details during a press conference Saturday morning.
“Under my instructions, the armed forces of the United States conducted a extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela,” he said.
“Air, land and sea were used to launch a spectacular attack.”
Trump claimed that US forces “managed to capture Maduro in the middle of the night,” adding: “We are going to lead the country until we can make a safe, appropriate and wise transition.”
According to Venezuelan law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez should normally take power.
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There was no confirmation of what had happened, although she issued a statement after the strike.
“We don’t know where President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores are,” Rodríguez said. “We demand proof of life.”
The Venezuelan government condemned what it called an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to take to the streets.
Multiple explosions occurred and low-flying planes flew over Caracas, the capital, on January 3.
Maduro’s government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations.
General Dan Caine described “Operation Absolute Resolve” as “discreet, precise and conducted during the darkest hours.”
He added that the strikes were “the culmination of months of planning and rehearsal, an operation that only the US military could undertake.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre praised Trump for X, calling Maduro a “narcoterrorist and socialist dictator” and calling for a transition to opposition leadership.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand also addressed X with a statement that Canada continues to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro regime and is “closely monitoring developments.”
“Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand with the Venezuelan people,” Anand said in a statement.
The Government of Canada has updated its travel advisory, urging citizens to avoid all travel to Venezuela, warning that the situation is “tense and could escalate quickly.”
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