US President Donald Trump Has Claimed That Venezuelan President Have Been Captured And Flown Away From His Country.

Washington; January 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump said early Saturday morning (local time) that the United States had carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, claiming that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured along with his wife and flown out of the country.

In a post published on his social media platform Truth, Trump stated that the operation was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement” and announced that further details would follow, including a news conference scheduled for 11:00 Hours (local time) at Mar-a-Lago.

The statement comes hours after reports of explosions and airstrikes across Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, where residents described sustained detonations, military aircraft overhead and widespread power outages.

A wave of powerful explosions shook Caracas early Wednesday, signaling the most serious escalation yet in the standoff between the United States and Venezuela. Residents reported repeated blasts, aircraft flying overhead and widespread power outages, while images circulating on social media showed fires and thick plumes of smoke rising from strategic areas of the capital.

According to preliminary reports and independently reviewed footage, the strikes appear to have hit key military installations, including Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s main military complex. Additional impacts were reported at other security facilities in Caracas and nearby cities, though the full scope of the operation has not been officially confirmed.

Attacks have also been reported against La Carlota air base and other military sites in Caracas, including the Cuartel de la Montaña, where Hugo Chávez’s remains are kept, as well as targets in Maracay and La Guaira, and Higuerote airport along the central coast. Social media footage shows helicopters operating over the city.

Venezuelan Government Statement –

Two and a half hours after the first explosions, state television VTV read an official statement announcing the activation of a state of emergency due to external commotion, a measure the government said had been prepared since October. The statement called for “armed struggle” in response to U.S. aggression. “The entire country must mobilise to defeat this imperialist aggression”, the broadcast said. The U.S. administration has not issued public comments so far. However, CBS journalist Jennifer Jacobs reported that White House officials are aware of the unfolding events in Venezuela.

The developments follow four months of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. President Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened military action, first cited counter-narcotics operations and later arguing for control over Venezuela’s oil sector, which he claims was unlawfully taken from U.S. companies.

Last week, Trump said a first ground strike had already taken place against a dock used by drug traffickers in December. U.S. media placed the incident in La Guajira, near the Colombia border—an account also shared by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

U.S. issues NOTAM restricting Venezuelan airspace –

United States aviation authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) prohibiting U.S. civil aircraft from operating at all altitudes within the Maiquetía FIR — Venezuelan airspace covering much of the country. Such notices are typically issued when there are significant safety risks, and have already led to flight cancellations and reroutes by international carriers.

Explosions documented in Caracas –

International reporting has noted that on 03rd January 2026, multiple explosions were heard in Venezuela’s capital during the early morning, along with reports of low helicopters and aircraft, and outages across parts of Caracas. The incidents occur amidst ongoing tension with the United States, but official confirmation from Venezuelan or US authorities is still pending.

Shortly after the first reported strikes, Venezuela’s government declared a state of emergency due to external aggression and called on the population to prepare for armed resistance, according to a statement broadcast on state television. Until Trump’s post, Washington had remained publicly silent on the unfolding events.

Team Maverick.