The United States launched a military strike against Venezuela and detained longtime President Nicolas Maduro early Saturday, prompting President Donald Trump to declare Washington would govern the nation temporarily despite fierce resistance from Venezuelan authorities.
American Special Forces seized Maduro during a nighttime raid near one of his secure residences that disrupted power across portions of Caracas, according to Trump. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the president announced plans for direct American oversight of Venezuela. “We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump declared. “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”
Reports from multiple media sources confirmed that an aircraft transporting Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, touched down in upstate New York Saturday evening. Footage captured FBI agents and other federal personnel boarding the plane at Stewart International Airport, approximately 60 miles from Manhattan.
Facing narco-terrorism conspiracy and other federal charges, Maduro will appear in Manhattan federal court Monday, a Justice Department representative confirmed. Authorities expect to hold him at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center beforehand. His wife confronts separate accusations involving cocaine importation conspiracy.
Back in Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez appeared on state television alongside senior government figures to condemn what she termed an abduction. “We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez stated, identifying Maduro as “the only president of Venezuela.” Her statement contradicted Trump’s earlier assertion that his team had communicated with Rodriguez and found her willing to cooperate. “She really doesn’t have a choice,” Trump said.
Venezuelan streets remained largely quiet Saturday, with military personnel monitoring certain areas while small groups of Maduro supporters assembled in the capital. Merchant Carolina Pimentel, 37, from Maracay, expressed cautious optimism. “I’m happy, I doubted for a moment that it was happening because it’s like a movie,” she said. “It’s all calm now, but I feel like at any moment everyone will be out celebrating.”
Trump offered few concrete details about American governance plans for Venezuela when questioned repeatedly during his press conference alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The president indicated his cabinet would supervise the country and suggested possible deployment of American troops. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he stated.
The detention of Maduro, criticized as an authoritarian during his dozen years leading Venezuela, creates uncertainty in the nation bordered by Colombia, Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean. Trump publicly rejected cooperation with opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, claiming she lacks domestic support, a comment that sparked outrage among her backers.
The UN Security Council plans to convene Monday regarding American intervention. This marks Washington’s most direct regional military action since deposing Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega over drug trafficking allegations 37 years ago.
International reactions varied sharply. Argentina’s Javier Milei praised Venezuela’s new “freedom” while Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned crossing “an unacceptable line.” Trump insisted Venezuelan oil revenues would finance the occupation, recalling failed predictions about Iraq War costs. “Won’t cost us a penny,” Trump claimed, referring to reimbursement from “money coming out of the ground.”
