The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, confirmed this Saturday that US forces captured the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a large-scale military operation carried out during the early morning hours. According to the announcement, both were transferred out of Venezuela by members of the US Armed Forces.
In a message posted on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that the operation was carried out “successfully and in coordination with U.S. security agencies,” asserting that “Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, has been captured and taken out of the country.” The president added that he would hold a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11:00 a.m. (local Florida time) to provide more details.
The Venezuelan government admits that Maduro is not in the country
A few hours after the announcement, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that the government of Venezuela is unaware of the whereabouts of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, effectively admitting that both are no longer in Venezuelan territory. During a special broadcast on Venezolana de Televisión, Rodríguez described the situation as "a moment of utmost gravity for the nation" and denounced "an unprecedented imperial aggression."
"Until now, we have not been able to establish communication with the president or the first lady. We demand from the government of President Donald Trump immediate proof of life for President Maduro and the first lady," stated the official. This statement confirms that the Chavista regime acknowledges Maduro's capture, although it characterizes it as a "kidnapping."
Rodríguez confirmed that the country remains under a state of emergency as bombings and clashes are reported in several regions, including Caracas, Aragua, La Guaira, and Miranda. Images from early morning show explosions near Fuerte Tiuna and the Palacio de Miraflores, the epicenters of Venezuelan military and political power.
International and regional reactions
Colombian president Gustavo Petro called for urgent meetings of the UN Security Council and the OAS to address the crisis, while from Havana, Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the attacks and accused Washington of "state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people." In contrast, several governments in the region have remained silent or issued ambiguous statements as they await further details.
Celebration in Miami and Washington
In the United States, several Cuban-American congressmen openly celebrated the military operation and Trump's announcement. Republican representative Carlos A. Giménez wrote on social media platform X: “Maduro has fallen; Díaz-Canel and Ortega are next. Our hemisphere will be the hemisphere of freedom.”
The legislator Mario Díaz-Balart described the action as “an example of decisive leadership,” stating that Maduro's regime “represented a direct threat to the national security of the United States.” He thanked President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Armed Forces “for acting with determination.”
On her part, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar celebrated the end of the "narco-terror imposed by the Maduro regime," highlighting the role of the Trump administration in "restoring freedom and democracy in Venezuela."
Venezuela under tension and without visible leadership
In Caracas and other regions of the country, blackouts, communication outages, and explosions at military facilities continue. Local sources report isolated confrontations and a strong military presence in strategic areas, while the chavista power structure appears to be disorganized. Major state media outlets have scaled back their coverage, and officials within Maduro's circle remain silent.
With the confirmation of his capture and transfer out of the country, Nicolás Maduro leaves Venezuela in an unprecedented power vacuum. The international community watches with caution the outcome of an operation that could redefine the political balance in Latin America.
CiberCuba continues to gather information and verify the political and diplomatic consequences of this confirmed capture.
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