US military forces conducted precision strikes on Caracas, detaining Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and transporting them to New York. US President Donald Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, stated that the United States would govern Venezuela until a secure and lawful transfer of power is completed. Trump described the operation as “highly successful,” warned of potential further action if necessary, and emphasized that Maduro’s removal allows the Venezuelan people freedom and access to prosperity, while US companies could aid in infrastructure and oil development. The operation reportedly included temporary blackouts in Caracas and neutralization of key military targets, with Maduro supporters cautioned against resisting US forces.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the development, declaring that freedom has returned to Venezuela and urged citizens to support a peaceful and democratic transition. She voiced support for Edmundo González Urrutia as the next presidential candidate and highlighted the release of political prisoners and the establishment of a stable democratic future. Machado, currently in Oslo, Norway, emphasized that years of struggle for democracy have now yielded results, with the US acting to ensure a secure transfer of power.
Trump also clarified that Maduro’s political ally, Machado, does not yet have sufficient domestic support to govern independently. Meanwhile, photos and videos surfaced showing Maduro in handcuffs being transported by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials in New York, during which he exchanged New Year greetings with US authorities. The operation has drawn global attention, raising questions about Venezuela’s political future, US intervention in South America, and regional stability.