Trump Confirms Major US Attack On Venezuela, Claims Nicolas Maduro And His Wife Detained

US President Donald Trump on Saturday morning made a dramatic announcement, asserting that American forces had launched a “large-scale military operation” against Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been detained and removed from the country. Trump shared the claim in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the action was carried out with the support of US law enforcement agencies. He added that further details would be disclosed during a press briefing scheduled for 11 a.m. local time at his Mar-a-Lago residence. As of now, there has been no independent verification of these assertions.

Trump’s remarks followed reports of powerful explosions and the sound of aircraft flying at unusually low altitudes over parts of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday. Journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Associated Press confirmed hearing multiple blasts that rattled several neighborhoods of the Venezuelan capital, heightening fears of a military escalation.

According to AFP, the explosions were first reported at around 2 a.m. local time (0600 GMT). An Associated Press correspondent on the ground said at least seven distinct detonations were heard, accompanied by the roar of aircraft passing overhead at low altitude across different sections of the city. The sudden blasts reportedly caused alarm among residents, many of whom were jolted awake by the noise.

If confirmed, the reported operation would mark the most direct US military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, which resulted in the removal of military ruler Manuel Noriega. That historical comparison underscores the seriousness of Trump’s claim and the potential geopolitical consequences of such an action.

In his Truth Social post, Trump declared, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country.” Despite the gravity of the statement, no immediate response or confirmation was issued by the Venezuelan government.

Washington has long accused Maduro of presiding over a “narco-state” and manipulating elections to maintain his grip on power. Maduro, who assumed the presidency in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez, has repeatedly rejected these allegations. He has instead argued that the United States is seeking to undermine his government in order to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the world.

Trump’s post appeared shortly after Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino released a video message early Saturday, warning that Venezuela would resist any foreign military presence. Padrino claimed that US strikes carried out earlier in the day had hit civilian areas and said authorities were in the process of gathering information on casualties and injuries. His statement added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation, as conflicting claims continued to emerge amid rising regional tensions.