Truth Social
By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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President Donald Trump posted a picture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro on the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday following his capture earlier that day.
Maduro and his wife landed in New York City late on Saturday, where they will face charges of narco-terrorism.
Why It Matters
Maduro was indicted in March 2020 on "narco-terrorism" conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York. In August 2025, the U.S. doubled its bounty to $50 million for information leading to Maduro's arrest. The Venezuelan president has consistently denied these charges.
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However, the U.S. captured Maduro and his wife during a "large-scale strike" against Caracas early on Saturday morning. Maduro previously declared a national emergency after multiple explosions rocked the capital city.
Trump had long warned he might authorize strikes on land targets. The U.S. has also seized sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela's coast, and Trump ordered a blockade of others in a move aimed at tightening economic pressure on the country.
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What To Know
Trump posted the photo on Truth Social ahead of his press conference on Saturday, during which he addressed the attack and outlined plans moving forward for the Latin American country. Trump said the U.S. would effectively "run" Venezuela for a time until proper leadership could be established.
In the photo, Maduro is standing in sweatpants and sweatshirt, but more notably, he is wearing some kind of blindfold and heavy-duty earmuffs that block out sound. He is also handcuffed but holding a bottle of water.
The photo also shows a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent's jacket, which indicates the agency is taking over the custody and prosecution of Maduro under federal authority.
The photo follows Trump's statement on Truth Social, which read in part: "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."
John Miller, CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, said Maduro will most likely be booked and processed into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, were held during their trials.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social, in part: "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."
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X: "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."
What Happens Next
Maduro and his wife are expected to appear in federal court on Monday.
Update 1/3/26, 2:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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