U.S. President Donald Trump said on January 3, 2026 that American forces carried out strikes in Venezuela, captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, and that the United States will “run the country” on an interim basis while arranging a transition. Trump’s remarks, delivered minutes ago at Mar-a-Lago, add new detail to an overnight operation already marked by explosions around Caracas and widespread power disruptions near military sites.
What Trump Said Minutes Ago
Speaking to reporters, Trump asserted that “all Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless” during the operation and that Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country for prosecution in U.S. courts. He added that the United States would temporarily administer Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” language echoed in contemporaneous coverage by CBS News and summarized by AP’s live file. Trump also linked the raid to his months-long campaign against cartel networks he describes as “narcoterrorist,” a frame that has underpinned earlier U.S. lethal actions at sea.
The president did not provide precise target coordinates, a casualty count, or imagery of the detention, but he said further waves were prepared if regime elements resist. Reuters’ write-through on the speech highlights his assertion that Maduro was captured after U.S. strikes and that Washington intends to oversee an interim period, even as state media in Caracas continued broadcasting.
Asked about backing María Corina Machado, Trump said he had not coordinated with her and was not endorsing any opposition figure, describing her as “a very nice woman” who “does not have the support or the respect” to lead Venezuela right now. He added that the United States would administer the country “until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” stressing he would not “let somebody else get in” and repeat what he called past failures.
What Is Verified, And What Is Not
Three points are firm in the public record. First, Trump has stated on camera that Maduro and Flores are in U.S. custody following a U.S. military operation. Second, explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported around 2 a.m. in the Caracas area, with smoke and localized outages near military zones. Third, the U.S. intends to prosecute Maduro, building on prior narcotics and conspiracy charges, according to early AP reporting.
Unresolved are the precise chain of custody, the legal basis the administration will cite for temporary administration of Venezuela, and on-the-ground control in Caracas. AP notes there were no immediate signs of U.S. control inside ministries or state media, even as Trump described an interim role for Washington.
Signals From Caracas And The Region
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López released a video vowing to resist any foreign troop presence and alleging that civilian areas were hit, while saying casualty assessments were under way. His statement did not provide evidence to contradict Trump’s claim of custody, but it underscored that loyal units remain active.
Regional and global responses are mixed. Early reactions compiled by Reuters show denunciations from governments aligned with Caracas and concern from others about cross-border escalation. That split will shape whether neighboring states cooperate with U.S. stabilization aims or erect diplomatic obstacles.
Oil, Sanctions And “Who Runs What” In The Next 48 Hours
Trump tied post-strike aims to reviving Venezuela’s energy sector, saying U.S. firms would help “fix” oil infrastructure and invest “billions.” Outlets summarized the line that Washington will be “very strongly involved” in oil, an approach that sits atop existing sanctions policy and raises fast questions about ownership, licensing and revenue handling for a state company still run by regime appointees. AP and Reuters stress that, despite the rhetoric, institutional control remains murky and markets will watch for verifiable signs of operational changes at PDVSA facilities.
A conservative reading of prudence applies. If the United States can suppress cartel-linked command nodes while sparing civilian infrastructure and then move quickly to legal processes, that advances both justice and stability. If, however, the interim claim outpaces real control, the vacuum invites misrule by remnants and militias. Transparency on who holds which sites, how electricity and fuel are protected, and what rules govern detentions will determine whether the stated goals are met.
Legal Frame And Accountability
The administration has previously told Congress it considers the fight against cartel networks a non-international armed conflict, which it says justifies lethal force. That theory, reported in October by Reuters, provided the backdrop for maritime strikes and Trump’s late-December comment that the U.S. had already “hit” a dock inside Venezuela. Those earlier steps foreshadowed today’s announcement. See Reuters’ reporting on the conflict determination and the dock comment for context.
Balanced context matters. Supporters will argue that removing a criminalized autocrat prevents ongoing harm to Americans and Venezuelans and restores deterrence after years of narco-state impunity. Critics will counter that a self-declared interim administration of a sovereign country, absent consent or a clear international mandate, clashes with the U.N. Charter and risks open-ended entanglement. Whichever view readers favor, both sides should demand evidence-based disclosures: targeting criteria, casualty assessments, legal authorities and a timetable that avoids mission creep.
