Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured following U.S. strikes on Caracas, Trump says

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 3, 2026, that the United States had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale military strike on Caracas, Venezuela's capital. The attack, which began around 4:00 a.m. local time, involved multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft, prompting Venezuela's government to declare a state of external disturbance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Maduro would stand trial in the U.S. on narcotics-related charges, specifically a 2020 indictment for narco-terrorism conspiracy in the Southern District of New York. The Federal Aviation Administration immediately banned U.S. commercial flights over Venezuelan airspace due to ongoing military activity. The strike triggered a rapid regional response, with Cuba condemning the action as a criminal attack and the European Union calling for restraint and respect for international law. The legal implications under U.S. law remain unclear, as Congress had not authorized the use of military force for such operations.