Donald Trump says Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country

0 January 3, 2026 12:08

President Donald Trump says the US has captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, after a large-scale military operation in the country. Multiple explosions rocked the capital Caracas earlier. Reuters news says witnesses report at least seven loud blasts near Fort Tiuna, which houses the country defence ministry’s headquarters. Social media footage also shows low-flying aircraft during the explosions, which took place at about 2am local time. Mary Mena reports from Caracas and Nick Harper tells us more from Washington DC. We also spoke with Chedomir Nestorovic – professor of geopolitics at ESSEC Business School Asia Pacific, on the significance and wider implications of these developments.