President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning that Venezuelan socialist strongman Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been “captured and flown out of the country,” following a series of explosions that rocked Caracas. In other words, a very bad morning for the dictatorship—and a very decisive one for American leadership.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, President Trump confirmed that the United States carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote. He added that more details would be shared during a press conference later Saturday at Mar-a-Lago. Straightforward, transparent, and refreshingly direct.
Trump’s announcement came hours after apparent airstrikes hit multiple locations across Caracas and other regions of Venezuela, signaling that this was not a symbolic gesture but a coordinated and serious operation.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt both shared Trump’s Truth Social post on X, underscoring that the administration was unified and unapologetic about the action. No leaks, no confusion—just clarity.
Maduro, who has clung to power through what can generously be described as sham elections, has long been wanted by U.S. authorities on multiple narco-terrorism charges. The United States currently has a $50 million bounty for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Turns out, justice doesn’t always need tips—it sometimes arrives by helicopter.
In 2020, U.S. courts accused Maduro of being a central figure in the Cartel of the Suns, an international cocaine trafficking operation run by top members of the Venezuelan regime. Prosecutors said the cartel sought to “flood” the United States with cocaine to harm the American people. Not exactly the résumé of a legitimate head of state.
As of press time, the Venezuelan socialist regime had not officially commented on Trump’s announcement. However, the newspaper El Nacional reported widespread power outages across Caracas early Saturday, with residents evacuating Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s main military complex. For years, Fuerte Tiuna was believed to house Maduro’s personal bunker—apparently not secure enough.
El Nacional also reported that La Carlota, Venezuela’s main military airport, was struck during the operation, further highlighting the scale and precision of the action.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, himself wanted by the United States on drug trafficking charges, addressed the nation via an Instagram video shortly after the strikes. He denounced the operation as an “invasion” and called it the “greatest outrage suffered by Venezuela.” Strong language, predictable tone.
Padrino López rejected the narco-terrorism accusations and claimed the strikes were part of a “regime change” effort to submit Venezuela to the “American Empire.” He urged calm, warned against chaos, and called on the international community to condemn the United States. The message was posted moments before President Trump’s announcement—unfortunately for him, reality had already moved on.
In the end, the facts are simple: a wanted narco-terrorist leader is no longer in power, accountability has finally arrived, and Venezuela may be standing at the door of a new chapter. Decisive action, moral clarity, and American strength once again proved that leadership matters—and that’s a positive note worth ending on.
