United States (US) President Donald Trump gave a press conference at his residence in Mar-a-Lago. Trump confirmed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife: “Maduro and his wife both will face US justice,” Trump said, adding the US will be running Venezuela until they can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.

Key takeaways:

• Air, land, and sea were used in the Venezuela operation.
• This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of US military might and competency.
• All Venezuelan military capacity was rendered powerless.
• The lights of Caracas were turned off due to a certain expertise we have.
• Maduro and wife both face US justice.
• Maduro and his wife are on a ship right now that will head to New York.
• They were waiting for us; they knew we were coming.
• We're going to run Venezuela until we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.
• Going to have our large US oil companies go into Venezuela.
• We're ready to stage a second attack if we need to do so.
• We assumed a second wave was necessary, but now probably not.
• Maduro will not threaten US or Venezuelan citizens anymore.
• They took all our property, we built it, costing us billions and billions of dollars.
• We built the Venezuelan oil industry with American talent, and they stole it through force.
• Embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect.
• US retains all military operations until the US demands have been fully met.
• Previous administrations have neglected or contributed to these growing security threats in the Western Hemisphere.

As it happened

US President Donald Trump fulfilled his threats and finally struck Venezuela. Different media reports that explosions in Caracas began around 1:50 am local time on Saturday, leaving multiple areas of the city without power.

As the day unfolded, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated the government was unaware of President Maduro and his wife's location. Finally, US President Trump confirmed the attack on the country and shared on social media:

The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

US Attorney indicts President Maduro and his wife

US Attorney General Pamela Jo Bondi has just announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York, through her X account:

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers."

Venezuelan official statement

The Venezuelan government has released an official statement about the ongoing conflict with the US. The following is an extract of the most relevant parts of it:

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the grave military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and its population in the civilian and military areas of Caracas, the capital of the Republic, and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. This act constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, especially Articles 1 and 2, which enshrine respect for sovereignty, the legal equality of states, and the prohibition of the use of force. Such aggression threatens international peace and stability, specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean, and places the lives of millions of people at grave risk."

"The objective of this attack is none other than to seize Venezuela's strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, attempting to break the nation's political independence forcibly. They will not succeed."

"President Nicolás Maduro has ordered all national defense plans to be implemented at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances, in strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Organic Law on States of Emergency, and the Organic Law on National Security."

"In strict adherence to Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, Venezuela reserves the right to exercise legitimate self-defense to protect its people, its territory, and its independence. We call upon the peoples and governments of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world to mobilize in active solidarity against this imperialist aggression."

"As Supreme Commander Hugo Chávez Frías stated, “In the face of any new difficulties, however great they may be, the response of all patriots…is unity, struggle, battle, and victory.”

Caracas, January 3, 2025

Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello, the number two of the regime in Venezuela, appeared publicly and called for calm among the population and assured that the US “will not defeat” the Venezuelan people, despite the military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Additionally, Reuters reported that the Venezuelan Vice President Delsy Rodriguez is currently in Moscow. According to the news agency, Rodriguez left the country before the US strike. Russian authorities, however, denied the headline.