Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was being held in a New York detention facility on Saturday, just hours after US special forces seized him in a dramatic pre-dawn operation ordered by Donald Trump.
Trump announced the operation after American commandos carried out a lightning raid in Caracas, detaining Maduro and his wife as air strikes hit military and strategic sites around the capital. A US government aircraft flew the couple out of Venezuela the same day. Authorities later transferred them by helicopter to New York, where prosecutors are preparing drug trafficking and weapons charges.
The White House shared footage showing Maduro in handcuffs, escorted by federal agents through a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. In the clip, the 63-year-old leader briefly addressed officers in English, saying, “Good night, happy new year.”
Despite the operation’s swift execution, the political fallout remains uncertain. Trump said he had begun assigning cabinet members to oversee US involvement in Venezuela but offered few details. He also raised the possibility of deploying US troops, stating that Washington was “not afraid of boots on the ground.”
At the same time, Trump downplayed the prospect of Venezuela’s opposition taking power. He said he could work with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, whom he described as open to cooperation. Rodriguez rejected the suggestion, demanded Maduro’s release, and vowed to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Perp walked.pic.twitter.com/34iIsFUDdG
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 4, 2026Late Saturday, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Rodriguez to assume presidential powers on an interim basis, adding to the uncertainty over governance.
Trump made clear that Venezuela’s vast oil reserves sit at the centre of US interest. He said American energy companies would invest billions to repair infrastructure and expand oil production, adding that the United States planned to sell large volumes of Venezuelan crude.
Read: Who Is Nicolás Maduro? Venezuela’s Most Controversial Ruler
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate, declared that “the hour of freedom has arrived” and urged opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia to assume the presidency. Trump dismissed her influence, claiming she lacked broad domestic support.
BREAKING: Donald Trump has shared an image of Nicolas Maduro, showing the Venezuelan leader in custody.
Trump says Maduro is on board US warship USS Iwo Jima.
Latest updates: https://t.co/QiYZWZ6Hlk pic.twitter.com/sKDkPwCAzB
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 3, 2026International reaction was swift. China condemned the operation, while France warned against imposing a solution from outside. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said he was deeply concerned about respect for international law. At Venezuela’s request, the UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Read: Venezuela Oil Industry Explained: Reserves, Production, and Global Impact
Residents in Caracas reported explosions and heavy helicopter activity around 2:00 am as the operation unfolded. US officials said 150 aircraft supported the mission after months of intelligence gathering. According to the Pentagon, Maduro surrendered without resistance and no US personnel were injured.
Trump has justified the action by citing narcotics trafficking, migration, and oil security. Several US lawmakers questioned the legality of the operation, while senior Republicans defended it as necessary.
