Donald Trump claims Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured after US strikes on Caracas, as explosions, power outages and emergency measures deepen regional uncertainty.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country following what he described as a large-scale US military operation targeting Caracas.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social early Saturday, Trump said the United States had carried out a major strike against Venezuela, asserting that the operation resulted in the capture of the Venezuelan leader and his wife. He said the action was conducted in coordination with US law enforcement agencies and promised further details at a scheduled news conference later in the day at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The dramatic claim followed reports of multiple explosions in Caracas during the early hours of Saturday, triggering panic across the Venezuelan capital. Residents reported hearing loud blasts and sounds resembling aircraft flying overhead at around 2:00 a.m. local time, with at least seven explosions shaking parts of the city.
Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from several locations, while brief power outages and partial disruptions to telecommunications were reported in some areas, including near a military base. Witnesses said the sudden explosions forced people onto the streets amid confusion and fear.
In its first official response since the blasts, the Venezuelan government strongly condemned the United States, accusing the Trump administration of carrying out what it described as “extremely serious military aggression”. Caracas alleged the attacks were aimed at undermining Venezuela’s political independence and seizing control of its strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals.
Shortly afterwards, US media reported that officials in Washington had confirmed strikes against Venezuela, though details of the operation and the claim regarding Maduro’s capture remain unclear.
Amid the escalating situation, the US Embassy in Bogotá, which also handles US interests related to Venezuela, issued an urgent advisory warning Americans not to travel to Venezuela or its border regions. US citizens currently in the country were advised to shelter in place, while others were urged to depart immediately.
The United States raised its travel warning for Venezuela to Level 4, the highest advisory level, citing severe risks including wrongful detention, civil unrest, crime and limited access to medical care. The embassy reiterated that the US government has no capacity to provide emergency assistance inside Venezuela, having withdrawn all diplomatic staff from Caracas and suspended embassy operations in 2019.
Following the explosions, President Maduro declared a national emergency, as authorities assessed damage and security risks across the capital. Reports of power disruptions and communications outages added to the sense of instability as Venezuelans awaited clarity on the unfolding crisis.
As uncertainty continues to surround Trump’s claims and the scope of US military involvement, the developments have heightened international concern over the risk of further escalation in an already volatile region.
