US President Donald Trump on Saturday praised what he described as a highly coordinated American military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling it a “brilliant operation” carried out by US forces.
In a brief telephone interview with the New York Times, Trump celebrated the planning and execution of the mission following confirmed US strikes on Venezuela earlier in the day.
“A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people,” Trump said. “It was a brilliant operation, actually.”
What Trump Said About the Operation
Trump’s remarks came hours after he publicly announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela following large-scale US military action.
During the interview, Trump declined to answer questions about whether he sought congressional authorization for the operation or what Washington’s next steps would be in Venezuela. He said those issues would be addressed later during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The White House and the Pentagon have not yet released a detailed operational briefing, leaving key aspects of the mission unclear.
US Embassy Issues Emergency Alert
As tensions escalated, the United States Embassy in Bogotá issued an alert advising American citizens in Venezuela to shelter in place.
The notice cited reports of explosions in and around major urban areas but did not provide additional details. The United States suspended operations at its embassy in Caracas in 2019.
The advisory underscored rising security concerns as reports of military activity spread across the Venezuelan capital.
US Military Buildup Before the Capture
Trump’s announcement followed months of increased US military presence in the Caribbean, described by analysts as one of the largest regional deployments in decades.
According to officials cited in earlier reporting, US naval and air assets were repositioned closer to Venezuela, intelligence and surveillance operations intensified, and contingency plans were drawn up well before Saturday’s strike.
The buildup suggested that Washington had been preparing for a major operation long before Trump’s public confirmation.
Venezuela Seeks Proof of Life
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said in a televised address that the government did not know the whereabouts of Maduro or his wife.
She challenged Trump’s claim directly and asked the US president to provide proof that Maduro is alive and in American custody.
The Venezuelan government has not officially confirmed the capture and has instead declared a national emergency while accusing the United States of violating its sovereignty.
Why Maduro Was a Longtime US Target
The United States has pursued Maduro for years through criminal charges and economic sanctions.
In March 2020, a US federal court indicted Maduro and several associates on charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. American authorities accused him of working with armed groups to flood the US with cocaine.
Last summer, the Trump administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, signaling an intensified effort to bring him into US custody.
‘Maduro Will Stand Trial in the US’
US Senator Mike Lee said Maduro would face criminal prosecution in the United States.
Lee said he spoke with Marco Rubio, who informed him that Maduro had been arrested by US personnel and would stand trial on criminal charges.
According to Lee, Rubio said Washington anticipates no further military action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in custody. He added that the force used during the operation was intended to protect US personnel executing the arrest warrant.
Lee said the action likely falls within the president’s authority under Article II of the US Constitution to protect American forces from imminent threats.
What Happens Next for Venezuela?
The capture of a sitting Venezuelan president marks a dramatic escalation in US–Latin America relations.
Several major questions remain unresolved, including where Maduro and his wife are being held, whether international bodies such as the United Nations will intervene, and how Venezuela’s military and political leadership will respond.
With US officials promising further briefings and Venezuela demanding proof of life, the situation remains fluid and highly volatile.
TL;DR
Donald Trump called the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife a brilliant operation, praising American troops and planning. The move followed months of US military buildup in the Caribbean, emergency alerts for Americans in Venezuela, and long-standing US efforts to arrest Maduro on criminal charges. Venezuela has not confirmed the capture and has demanded proof of life as global attention focuses on what comes next.
