U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country following what he described as “large-scale” American strikes, a claim that, if confirmed, would mark a dramatic escalation in relations between the two countries.
Trump’s statement came as Venezuela’s government accused the United States of carrying out attacks on both civilian and military installations across multiple states. Caracas rejected what it called “military aggression” by Washington and said the strikes had prompted authorities to take emergency measures to protect national security and public order.
The Venezuelan government announced a nationwide state of emergency in response to the reported attacks, placing the armed forces on high alert and warning of further consequences. Officials said the strikes caused damage in several locations, though no independent verification of the scale or targets of the attacks was immediately available.
Trump did not provide details on where or how Maduro and his wife were allegedly captured, nor did he outline the legal or military basis for their removal from the country. The claim represents an extraordinary assertion involving the detention of a sitting foreign head of state, an act that would have profound legal, diplomatic, and geopolitical implications.
In Venezuela, there has been no official confirmation that Maduro has been detained or removed from the country. State media continued broadcasting, and no public images or statements were released to corroborate Trump’s claim, adding to uncertainty and confusion over the situation on the ground.
The United States and Venezuela have long been locked in confrontation, marked by sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and repeated accusations by Caracas that Washington seeks regime change. The latest developments, combining Trump’s claim with Venezuela’s declaration of emergency, have heightened fears of a wider regional crisis as the world awaits clearer information on what has actually transpired.
