- US special forces conducted a military operation in Caracas, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to face 2020 US drug trafficking charges, as claimed by President Donald Trump during a live Fox News appearance.
- Trump contrasted the operation with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, praising its professionalism and bravery while stating it restored global respect for the US.
- Legal scholar Jonathan Turley argues the capture did not require congressional approval, as it targeted Maduro on existing US drug trafficking charges rather than constituting a broader war.
In a dramatic turn of events, President Donald Trump took to Fox News to announce that US special forces executed a military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. According to people familiar with the matter, the operation involved a "large-scale strike" with US law enforcement participation, and the couple was reportedly flown out of the country. Trump, speaking in real-time, emphasized the professionalism and bravery displayed, stating, "You had to see this in real time, you had to see this -- the professionalism and the bravery, everything." He contrasted this with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he described as making the US a "laughingstock all over the world," asserting that this operation has restored respect.
Trump announced the details via Truth Social and elaborated during his Fox News appearance, promising further information at an 11:00 a.m. press conference at Mar-a-Lago. The operation targets Maduro on longstanding US drug trafficking charges from 2020, marking a rare extraction of a sitting foreign president. Legal expert Jonathan Turley weighed in, arguing that the capture did not require congressional approval because it was based on existing criminal charges rather than initiating a broader conflict. This has sparked immediate debate over executive military powers, with Turley suggesting it could set a precedent for law enforcement-driven captures abroad without congressional oversight.
Efforts to restructure Venezuela's political landscape have hit a snag, as the capture raises questions about the country's future stability. Trump deferred questions on congressional authority and Venezuela's next steps to his upcoming press conference. Market reactions were muted in early trading, but analysts are closely watching for potential geopolitical ripple effects. In a brief statement, a spokesperson for the operation declined to comment on specifics, citing ongoing assessments. Attempts to reach Venezuelan officials for comment were unsuccessful, adding to the uncertainty.
Without a deal for a transitional government, Venezuela could face increased instability, according to sources monitoring the situation. The operation echoes past US special forces raids but stands out for its direct targeting of a head of state. As Trump prepares to outline his plans at Mar-a-Lago, the focus shifts to how this will impact US-Venezuela relations and broader international law norms. Updates may follow as more details emerge from the press conference.