According to Reuters, Trump made the statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he said the United States had carried out a ‘large scale and successful operation’ against Venezuela’s leadership. He claimed that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and transferred abroad.
So far, the claim has not been independently verified, and no immediate confirmation has come from Venezuelan authorities or other neutral sources.
The statement follows reports that the United States carried out strikes inside Venezuela, with loud explosions shaking Caracas and other regions earlier this week.
Venezuelan officials said attacks also hit the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, prompting President Maduro to declare a national state of emergency and place security forces on high alert.
Witnesses described a tense night in the capital, marked by aircraft activity, power outages near military sites, and thick smoke rising over the city. Videos circulating online showed flashes of orange light in the sky and residents reacting with fear and disbelief.
Trump has openly pressured Maduro for months, suggesting that stepping down would be the ‘wise’ choice. U.S. officials have long accused the Venezuelan leader of election fraud, corruption, and fueling drug trafficking charges Caracas strongly denies.
The Pentagon has referred questions to the White House, which has declined to comment. Venezuela’s government, meanwhile, has accused Washington of attempting to seize control of its oil and mineral wealth, calling the actions a violation of international law.
The United States has already positioned major military assets in the Caribbean, including warships, fighter jets, and an aircraft carrier, as part of what it describes as a broader pressure campaign.
If confirmed, the reported detention of Maduro would mark a historic and unprecedented turn in U.S. Venezuela relations. For now, uncertainty hangs in the air, with observers warning that the situation remains fluid, tense, and highly volatile.
