Donald Trump announced the arrest of Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026
Earlier, GhanaWeb reported on how US President Donald Trump had caused the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, along with his wife.
This information came from an official statement from the US president and shared via X.
According to the CNN, President Nicolas Maduro was captured and flown out of Venezuela after the US carried out a large-scale strike on the capital city of Caracas.
It also stated that US President Donald Trump announced that there will be “further details to follow.”
A CNN team earlier witnessed several explosions in Caracas and reported some areas of the city were without electricity. The first blast, it reported, was recorded at approximately 1.50 AM local time on Saturday (0.50 AM ET).
But what exactly has been happening in Venezuela and why has Donald Trump been instrumental in it?
US Allegations Against Maduro
One of the first news items that emerged around this situation was that the US has, for years, accused Nicolas Maduro of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism — linking him to criminal networks that export illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, into the United States; corruption and repression — claiming his government is illegitimate, unfairly rigged elections, and has jailed political opponents; threat to US security and regional stability — including designating Venezuelan criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups.
Because of these allegations, the US Justice Department previously indicted Maduro on federal charges, and the Trump administration offered a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest.
Also, according to Trump and US officials, the military operation was carried out to capture Maduro as part of its broader anti-drug and anti-cartel campaign.
The capture was reportedly executed by elite US forces such as Delta Force.
This is reportedly part of a longer US pressure campaign — including strikes on drug-smuggling boats, sanctions on Venezuelan oil firms, and naval deployments — justified by US officials as necessary to combat narcotics trafficking.
US Military Strikes and Operation
The United States then carried out military strikes inside Venezuela on December 29, 2025, according to Trump, including in and around Caracas and other strategic locations.
Explosions and aircraft were reported over the Venezuelan capital. These actions, according to AP News, were part of a dramatic escalation between the US and the Venezuelan government.
US government announcements — particularly from former US President Donald Trump — stated that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured by US forces and flown out of the country as part of the operation.
Venezuela’s Response
The Venezuelan government has condemned the US actions as a “criminal military aggression” and an attack on its sovereignty.
They have declared a state of emergency, mobilised supporters, and urged citizens to resist what they describe as an imperialist assault.
Tensions and Uncertainty
There are also contradictory reports and confusion about the situation on the ground — including who is actually in control in Venezuela and whether Maduro truly has been removed — because independent verification is still limited.
AE
