President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after carrying out a “large scale strike” in the South American country.

The raid, carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, did not lead to any US casualties, a US official said.

The Trump administration has for years said that Maduro was a criminal and has looked to prosecute him through the US legal system. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, Maduro was charged in the Southern District of New York for “narco-terrorism,” conspiracy to import cocaine, and related charges.

In recent weeks, Trump had repeatedly warned that the US was preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela and that strikes on land will start “soon.” Trump’s pressure campaign on Maduro included strikes destroying more than 30 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in what the US described as a counter-narcotics campaign. Trump last month ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela.

Trump said Saturday that the US is “going to run” Venezuela indefinitely until a “proper and judicious transition” occurs.

A motorist drives down an empty street in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday.
A motorist drives down an empty street in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
Department of Justice Federal Officers await the arrival of Nicolás Maduro outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, on Saturday, January 3.
Department of Justice Federal Officers await the arrival of Nicolás Maduro outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, on Saturday, January 3.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
Venezuelans gather to mark what they describe as the 'fall of President Nicolas Maduro', chanting slogans calling for freedom for Venezuela, in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on Saturday.
Venezuelans gather to mark what they describe as the 'fall of President Nicolas Maduro', chanting slogans calling for freedom for Venezuela, in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on Saturday.
Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu/Getty Images
A still from a video posted by The White House's official rapid response X account of what appeared to be a perp walk by ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
A still from a video posted by The White House's official rapid response X account of what appeared to be a perp walk by ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
RapidResponse47/X
A heavy police presence surrounds a van believed to be carrying Nicolás Maduro at the Wall Street Heliport in New York on Saturday night.
A heavy police presence surrounds a van believed to be carrying Nicolás Maduro at the Wall Street Heliport in New York on Saturday night.
Thomas Hengge/Anadolu/Getty Images
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Westside Heliport in New York on Saturday.
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Westside Heliport in New York on Saturday.
Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images
One of the helicopters carrying Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores arrives at the Westside Heliport in New York on Saturday.
One of the helicopters carrying Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores arrives at the Westside Heliport in New York on Saturday.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
People on a bridge are silhouetted as smoke rises near Fort Tiuna following US strikes on Saturday.
People on a bridge are silhouetted as smoke rises near Fort Tiuna following US strikes on Saturday.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Smoke rises from explosions in Caracas, Venezuela, early on Saturday.
Smoke rises from explosions in Caracas, Venezuela, early on Saturday.
Reuters
This photo posted by US President Donald Trump to the social platform Truth Social appears to show Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.
This photo, posted by US President Donald Trump to the social platform Truth Social, appears to show Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Maduro’s eyes are covered with a blacked-out covering, and what looks like large headphones are over his ears.
From President Donald Trump/Truth Social
US President Donald Trump, alongside Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks to the press following US military actions in Venezuela, at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 3, 2026.
Trump speaks to the media from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday. Behind him, from left, are White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military, working with us, law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night," Trump said.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Venezuelans living in Argentina display a Venezuelan flag tath reads in spanish 'Freedom' as they celebrate at the Obelisk after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro, in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Venezuelans living in Argentina display a Venezuelan flag tath reads in spanish 'Freedom' as they celebrate at the Obelisk after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro, in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Tomas Cuesta/AFP/Getty Images
Men watch smoke rise from a dock after explosions were heard at Venezuela's La Guaira port on Saturday.
Men watch smoke rise from a dock after explosions were heard at Venezuela's La Guaira port on Saturday.
Matias Delacroix/AP
Pedestrians walk past destroyed containers at Venezuela's La Guaira port on Saturday.
Pedestrians walk past destroyed containers at Venezuela's La Guaira port on Saturday.
Matias Delacroix/AP
People holding Venezuelan flags react to the news after US President Donald Trump said the has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro in Doral, Florida, on January 3.
People wave Venezuelan flags in Doral, Florida, as they react to the news of Maduro's capture on Saturday.
Marco Bello/Reuters
Pro-government armed civilians patrol in La Guaira, Venezuela, on January 3, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country.
Pro-government armed civilians patrol La Guaira, Venezuela, on Saturday after news of Maduro's capture had spread.
Matias Delacroix/AP
Vehicles are damaged at La Carlota military air base in Caracas.
Vehicles are damaged at La Carlota military air base in Caracas.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Protesters gather outside the White House to denounce the US operation in Venezuela on Saturday.
Protesters gather outside the White House to denounce the US operation in Venezuela on Saturday.
Probal Rashid/Sipa USA/AP
A car is driven on an empty street in Caracas on Saturday after Maduro's capture.
A car is driven on an empty street in Caracas on Saturday after Maduro's capture.
Maxwell Briceno/Reuters
Trump and Rubio, seated at a table, observe the military operation unfold in Venezuela. Trump posted this photo to Truth Social.
Trump and Rubio, seated at a table, observe the military operation unfold in Venezuela. Trump posted this photo to Truth Social.
From President Donald Trump/Truth Social
Smoke rises near Fort Tiuna, a military installation in Caracas, following explosions on Saturday.
Smoke rises near Fort Tiuna, a military installation in Caracas, following explosions on Saturday.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Residents evacuate a building near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Saturday after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in the capital.
Residents evacuate a building near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Saturday after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in the capital.
Cristian Hernandez/AP
A fire is seen at Fort Tiuna in Caracas on Saturday.
A fire is seen at Fort Tiuna in Caracas on Saturday.
Luis Jaimes/AFP/Getty Images