PALM BEACH, FL — Standing before a sea of cameras at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday morning, President Donald J. Trump addressed a stunned nation and a reeling world. In a speech marked by his signature blend of bravado and resolve, the President confirmed that the United States military had successfully executed a “large-scale strike” on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The operation, which unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of January 3, 2026, was described by the President as a “brilliant” and “precise” mission that signaled the end of Maduro’s decade-long grip on power.
“Last night, the United States did what had to be done,” President Trump declared. “We have captured Nicolás Maduro. He is no longer a dictator; he is a fugitive of American justice. He was in a fortress, a total fortress, but our people went in like it was a television show. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The Operation: “Speed and Violence”
The President revealed that he monitored the mission in real-time as elite Delta Force operators, supported by a massive armada of over 150 aircraft and several naval vessels, breached the fortified Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas. The strike, which lasted less than 30 minutes, targeted key military infrastructure and communication hubs, effectively paralyzing the Venezuelan military’s ability to respond.
“I watched it literally like I was watching a movie,” Trump said, praising the “speed and violence” of the American forces. “They broke through steel doors in seconds. The Venezuelan military was completely overwhelmed and quickly incapacitated. We have nobody killed—it was amazing.”
While Maduro and his wife were whisked away to the USS Iwo Jima—a Navy ship currently positioned in the Caribbean—the President confirmed they are being transported to New York to face a litany of narco-terrorism and corruption charges dating back to a 2020 indictment.
The Military Perspective
Joining the President at the podium, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided technical context to the mission. He described it as one of the most complex extractions in modern history, involving a level of integration between air, sea, and land forces rarely seen outside of a full-scale war.
“This was an assault like people have not seen since World War II,” General Caine stated. “The word ‘integration’ does not explain the sheer complexity. We launched more than 150 aircraft across the Western Hemisphere to ensure total air superiority and a precise extraction. Maduro and his wife gave up once they realized the overwhelming power they were facing.”
Caine confirmed that while there were minor injuries to U.S. personnel, no American lives were lost, and no equipment was destroyed during the high-stakes raid.
The Diplomatic Aftermath
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time hawk on the Venezuelan regime, hailed the capture as a “new dawn” for the Western Hemisphere. Rubio, who has spent years advocating for the removal of Maduro, spoke with a sense of grim satisfaction regarding the outcome.
“Nicolás Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid this,” Rubio said. “He was provided very, very generous offers to leave peacefully, but he chose instead to play around. He acted like a wild man. Today, he learned a very valuable lesson: don’t play games with this President. It’s not going to turn out well for you.”
Rubio emphasized that the U.S. currently recognizes Maduro not as a head of state, but as the leader of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terrorist organization. “He is a fugitive from justice, and he will now face that justice in an American court,” Rubio added.
Looking Forward
The fallout from the strike has been immediate. While supporters of Maduro in Caracas have called for a “national mobilization,” the Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, has demanded “proof of life,” admitting that the government has lost contact with the leader. Meanwhile, world leaders have reacted with a mix of shock and condemnation, with Cuba and Iran calling the move an “imperialist attack.”
President Trump, however, remains focused on the future of Venezuela’s resources and leadership. “We’re going to run the country on a temporary basis until a safe and judicious transition is possible,” Trump remarked. He also signaled a shift in energy policy, stating that the U.S. would now be “strongly involved” in the Venezuelan oil industry to ensure stability in the global markets.
As the USS Iwo Jima steams toward New York, the world watches to see how a post-Maduro Venezuela will take shape, and what the “full wrath of American justice” looks like for a man who once defied the world’s most powerful nation.
Mainstream News Media Sources
- Fox News: Trump gives Mar-a-Lago address to nation after US captures Maduro
- CBS News: U.S. strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro; Trump says “we’re going to run the country” for now
- The Guardian: US has captured Venezuela’s President Maduro and wife, says Trump
- PBS News: What we know about a U.S. strike that captured Venezuela’s Maduro
- Al Jazeera: Trump bombs Venezuela, US ‘captures’ Maduro: All that we know
- Forbes: Photo Of Captured Nicolas Maduro Posted by Trump
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