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Saturday, January 3, 2026
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social early this morning that the US “carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro.”[SOURCE, SOURCE] Trump said authorities were taking Maduro and his wife to New York to face charges.[Source] Attorney General Pam Bondi announced an indictment of Maduro for leading “state sponsored gangs” and supporting drug trafficking.[Source]
Yván Gil Pinto, Venezuela’s foreign minister, said the country sought an emergency UN Security Council meeting after the attack.[Source]
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez called for Maduro and his wife to be released, saying the operation violated the country’s territorial integrity.[Source]
According to CNN, Trump stated that he advised Congress only after the operation, to maintain operational secrecy.
CNN also reported that the administration was criticized by Democratic lawmakers for failing to request authorization from Congress prior to the attack.
General Dan Caine told reporters on Saturday that the final approval for the operation was given by Trump on January 2 at 10:46 p.m. EST (0346 UTC).[Source] According to Caine, over 150 aircraft were launched from more than twenty airbases. Caine said the operation began with low-flying helicopters carrying law enforcement officers and military personnel. The helicopters were protected by other aircraft such as fighters, drones, and bombers. Once they reached Maduro’s compound in Caracas, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and US military forces entered the compound where Caine said Maduro and his wife surrendered. By 3:29 a.m. EST (0829 UTC), Maduro and his wife were in US custody[Source] aboard the USS Iwo Jima, according to Trump.[Source]
