what happened with the venezuelan president

What Happened With the Venezuelan President

In an extraordinary turn of events, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces during a military operation on January 3, 2026. The United States launched a series of airstrikes on Venezuela and forcibly removed the sitting president, transporting him to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.

The Military Operation

Operation "Absolute Resolve" began around 2:00 a.m. local time on January 3, 2026, when more than 150 United States Armed Forces aircraft conducted airstrikes across northern Venezuela and areas around the capital city of Caracas. President Trump gave the order to proceed at 11:46 p.m. on January 2, and the administration did not notify the United States Congress in advance due to concerns about endangering the mission. At least seven explosions were reported, with low-flying aircraft seen predominantly in La Guaira, Higuerote, Meseta de Mamo, Baruta, El Hatillo, Charallave, and Carmen de Uria—areas mostly inside or near Caracas.

Maduro's Capture and Transport

Following the overnight strikes, Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of Venezuela. The former Venezuelan leader arrived in New York to face federal charges related to drug trafficking, stemming from a 2020 narcoterrorism indictment issued during Trump's first administration. The U.S. Attorney General stated that Maduro and his wife would face "the full wrath of American justice on American soil, in American courts". Photos later emerged showing a handcuffed Maduro being escorted by the DEA administrator.

Venezuela's Response

The Venezuelan government responded swiftly to what Vice President Delcy Rodríguez called a "barbaric" and "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping". She described Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" and called for calm and unity to defend the country, stating that Venezuela would "never again be a colony of any empire". The Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to assume the presidency in Maduro's absence, granting her full presidential power to "guarantee the administrative continuity" of the nation.

Trump's Plans for Venezuela

At a press conference on January 3, 2026, President Trump stated: "We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". He indicated that the U.S. might send troops to Venezuela as part of this process and mentioned that as the country with the world's largest oil reserves, U.S. oil companies would modernize and renovate infrastructure "to make money for the country". Trump also claimed that Marco Rubio had made contact with Rodríguez and that she allegedly told Rubio "We'll do whatever you need," though he noted she "really doesn't have a choice".

International Reaction

The Venezuelan Government denounced the act as "extremely serious military aggression" by the U.S., which followed months of increasing tension. The United Nations characterized the U.S. actions in Venezuela as constituting "a dangerous precedent". Venezuela has declared a state of national emergency, with casualty figures and the extent of the damage yet to be confirmed. A UN meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday morning to address the situation.

TLDR: On January 3, 2026, the United States launched Operation "Absolute Resolve," conducting airstrikes across Venezuela and capturing President Nicolás Maduro. He was transported to New York to face drug trafficking charges from a 2020 indictment. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the action as kidnapping and was ordered by Venezuela's Supreme Court to assume the presidency. President Trump announced plans for the U.S. to "run Venezuela" during a transition period, citing the country's oil reserves as a priority for American companies. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.