In the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured in a strike by U.S. forces in the South American country.The capture of the foreign leader comes after months of escalation from President Donald Trump against the nation, including more than a dozen strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats and a blockade on all “sanctioned oil tankers” going into and out of the country.U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Maduro was also indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges in 2020.In October, Trump said the U.S. was in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels after several strikes on boats in the Caribbean.Floridian lawmakers reacted to the overnight strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released a statement on President Maduro’s capture: “The capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who oppressed Venezuela’s people is welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule. However, cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows. Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder. My hope is it offers a passage to true democracy and liberation. This action offers beleaguered Venezuelans a chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo González. I’ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort. The absence of congressional involvement prior to this action risks the continuation of the illegitimate Venezuelan regime.”Bondi shared the below indictment of Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on social media.
In the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured in a strike by U.S. forces in the South American country.
The capture of the foreign leader comes after months of escalation from President Donald Trump against the nation, including more than a dozen strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats and a blockade on all “sanctioned oil tankers” going into and out of the country.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Maduro was also indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges in 2020.
In October, Trump said the U.S. was in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels after several strikes on boats in the Caribbean.
Floridian lawmakers reacted to the overnight strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.
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Thank you, @POTUS, @SecRubio, @SecWar, and the brave members of our military who led the operation that successfully CAPTURED narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro.
A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America. The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President… https://t.co/VL4bnsbGVZ
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 3, 2026
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Capturing the murderous Dictator Maduro is a major step towards a #VenezuelaLibre. Now there must be concerted efforts to ensure the democratically elected Edmundo Gonzalez is seated as the rightful new president.
Trump’s failure to seek Congressional approval for these strikes… https://t.co/rIjcCCSGbH
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) January 3, 2026
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The United States of America is safer today because of the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the bravery and heroism of the American Military which again proved itself the best in the world.
Best news of the night: no American casualties, a narco-terrorist Dictator in… https://t.co/RijjbTHl8b
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) January 3, 2026
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Maduro used foreign terrorist organizations to traffic deadly drugs and violence into our country, killing countless Americans.
He was one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.
This morning, he was captured.
This is “Peace Through… pic.twitter.com/sgJksscixT
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 3, 2026
U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released a statement on President Maduro’s capture: “The capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who oppressed Venezuela’s people is welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule. However, cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows. Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder. My hope is it offers a passage to true democracy and liberation. This action offers beleaguered Venezuelans a chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo González. I’ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort. The absence of congressional involvement prior to this action risks the continuation of the illegitimate Venezuelan regime.”
Bondi shared the below indictment of Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on social media.