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The capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States military forces not only shook Venezuela and the region but also raised a warning signal and hope for many among those living under authoritarian regimes, including millions of Cubans inside and outside the island.
The businessman and former member of Donald Trump’s government, Elon Musk, publicly reacted to the announcement by the U.S. president and hailed the operation as a blow with global reach.
"Congratulations, President Trump! This is a victory for the world and a clear message to the evil dictators around the globe," Musk wrote on his X account, in a message that quickly went viral and was seen as a direct warning to other authoritarian governments in the hemisphere.
The tech mogul's statement came just a few hours after Trump confirmed the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a military operation carried out early in the morning in Venezuela.
According to the U.S. president, both were transported out of the country by U.S. forces, in a coordinated action with security agencies and without any casualties among the participating troops.
The Venezuelan government itself eventually admitted to Maduro's absence. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez publicly acknowledged that no contact had been established with the president or with the so-called "first combatant," while denouncing the situation as a "kidnapping" and an "unprecedented imperial aggression."
The statements confirmed, in fact, that the Chávez regime lost control of its leader amid a dawn marked by explosions, clashes, and bombings near key centers of power in Caracas.
While Venezuela was plunged into a power vacuum, the international response displayed deep divisions. Governments such as Colombia's called for urgent meetings of multilateral organizations, while from Havana, Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the operation and accused Washington of "state terrorism," immediately aligning himself with chavismo.
Hours later, Trump outlined from Mar-a-Lago the charges against Maduro: international drug trafficking, armed conspiracy, use of war weapons, and links to the Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Cilia Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and will face trial in U.S. courts.
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