Trump claims Maduro ‘captured and flown out’ of Venezuela after US strikes

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been “captured and flown out of the country” along with his wife following the large-scale US military operation.

In a Truth Social post shared on X, Trump wrote, “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 the U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the statement reads.

Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said that the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro and the First Lady Cilia Flores, demanding immediate proof of their lives, as reported by The Guardian.

While speaking to the New York Times (NYT) via a short telephone interview, Trump hailed the US attack on the South American country, celebrating it as a “brilliant operation.”

According to the publication, Trump said, “A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people. It was a brilliant operation, actually.”

Earlier, Venezuela’s capital Caracas was rocked with multiple explosions, prompting the government to declare a national emergency and mobilize defense forces.

As reported by Reuters, the country has accused the US of carrying out “military aggression.” On early Saturday, the attacks were also reported in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, according to the government statement.

Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino López, blamed the US for launching a “deplorable” and “criminal” regime change operation.

“This invasion represents the greatest outrage the country has ever suffered,” Gen Padrino López declared.

The US officials told CBS News, the attacks have followed US President Donald Trump’s orders to carry out the strikes on Venezuela’s capital and various military installations.