In a historic and stunning escalation of geopolitical tensions, United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that American special forces have successfully captured and extracted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The mission, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, was revealed through a series of posts on Truth Social, including a dramatic photograph of the deposed president in handcuffs and a blindfold aboard a U.S. Navy vessel.