US to run Venezuela during transition after Maduro’s capture in military strike, says Trump

In a stunning escalation of US foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced on 3 January 2026 that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured in an overnight military strike carried out by American special forces in Caracas.

The unprecedented operation, which involved Delta Force operatives and months of logistical preparation, has been described by Trump as “one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American might and competence in American history.”

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump stated that Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and are being transported to New York to face longstanding narcoterrorism charges.

He added that the US would now govern Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition” to new leadership.

A bold and controversial operation

The strike was carried out under secrecy in the early hours of 3 January, involving air and sea support, and targeting what the Trump administration described as a “fortified military fortress” in Caracas.

Maduro was reportedly captured near a safe house and quickly transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a US Navy warship stationed in the Caribbean.

The Pentagon confirmed that no American personnel were killed or seriously injured. Trump credited the operation’s success to US intelligence cooperation, including information provided by a CIA asset embedded in Maduro’s government.

The former bus driver turned president, who led Venezuela since 2013, is now facing extradition and prosecution in the US.

A superseding indictment in the Southern District of New York charges him with conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of destructive devices, and coordination with guerrilla groups such as Colombia’s FARC.

US says it will temporarily administer Venezuela

Trump’s statement that the US would temporarily govern Venezuela has raised significant alarm among international observers and legal scholars.

“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.

“We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind”.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the operation was necessitated by Maduro’s refusal to step down despite multiple diplomatic overtures.

Rubio said Maduro “had multiple opportunities to avoid this” but chose instead to defy international pressure.

Power vacuum and contested authority

Despite Maduro’s capture, Venezuela remains in a state of uncertainty. The streets of Caracas were calm but tense, with sporadic power outages and a visible military presence.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, seen as Maduro’s likely successor, was reported to be in Russia, but Moscow later called this “fake news.”

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López posted a defiant video calling on the military to resist foreign aggression, though he made no direct reference to Maduro’s disappearance.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been in exile since 2024, welcomed the US action, calling it a “moment of liberation.”

She urged that opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia be recognised as the legitimate president and called for the immediate release of political prisoners.

China and Russia lead global condemnation

The US action drew swift condemnation from several global powers. A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Beijing was “deeply shocked” and “strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its president.”

China called the strike a “hegemonic act” that violated both international law and the principles of the UN Charter. “It threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region,” the spokesperson said, urging Washington to “stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security”.

Russia and Iran issued similar condemnations. Moscow described the strike as “armed aggression” and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Tehran labelled the act a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty”.

The European Union called for restraint, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating that international law must be respected regardless of the political legitimacy of Maduro’s regime.

Criticism at home: legal and constitutional concerns

Within the United States, political leaders reacted with a mix of approval and alarm. Congressional leaders were only informed of the operation after it had begun.

Republican Senator Mike Lee questioned the constitutionality of the action, while Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego labelled it “illegal,” noting that Congress had not authorised the use of military force.

Trump allies defended the move. Vice President JD Vance argued that since Maduro had been indicted in the US, his capture was a lawful arrest rather than an act of war. “You don’t get to avoid justice because you live in a palace in Caracas,” Vance said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro would soon face trial in the Southern District of New York, and indicated that new charges may be added to the existing indictment filed in 2020.

Public reactions and humanitarian implications

In Venezuela, public sentiment appeared divided. In cities such as Maracay and Caracas, some residents expressed cautious optimism, hoping the removal of Maduro would lead to political reform. Others feared chaos and uncertainty, particularly given the lack of clarity on who is now in charge.

In South Florida, home to a large Venezuelan exile population, celebrations erupted as news of Maduro’s capture spread. Crowds waved Venezuelan flags and chanted “Libertad,” embracing the moment as a long-awaited victory.

In Miami, Mayor Eileen Higgins called on the Trump administration to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, noting that conditions at home remained unsafe and unstable. TPS had been rescinded in 2025, affecting thousands of Venezuelan migrants in the US.

Looking ahead: transition or occupation?

What comes next for Venezuela remains unclear. While Trump pledged that the US will support infrastructure rebuilding and open the country’s vast oil reserves to American investment, questions remain about legitimacy, sovereignty, and the future of Venezuelan democracy.

Opposition groups are calling for internationally supervised elections and a return to civilian-led governance. Meanwhile, US officials have said that no further military action is anticipated, though Trump noted that a “second, much larger attack” was ready to be launched if needed.

The world now watches as the US assumes de facto control of a sovereign state—an act that not only reshapes the future of Venezuela but may redefine America’s role in the region for years to come.