President Donald Trump released a striking image on Saturday showing deposed Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro blindfolded aboard a U.S. military vessel, confirming that the longtime dictator is now firmly in American custody.
The photo, shared on Truth Social just moments before Trump addressed reporters at Mar-a-Lago, shows Maduro seated aboard the USS Iwo Jima following his overnight capture by U.S. special forces.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was also taken into custody during the operation.
The dramatic raid unfolded around 2:00 a.m. local time inside the heavily fortified Fuerte Tiuna military complex in Caracas.
The compound, often described as a fortress, has long served as a key hub for Venezuela’s military leadership.
U.S. Army Delta Force operators led the assault, supported by federal law enforcement personnel.
According to Trump, Maduro was asleep when the operation began and attempted to flee toward a reinforced secure room before being intercepted.
Trump said Maduro “never made it to safety,” adding that U.S. forces were prepared to breach steel doors if necessary.
“He was caught quickly,” the president told reporters.
The mission was preceded by a wave of precision airstrikes and missile attacks targeting Venezuelan air defenses, command centers, and rapid response units across Caracas and surrounding regions.
The strikes were designed to neutralize threats and divert attention away from the ground assault, per Trending Politics.
Multiple U.S. military helicopters were seen flying low over Caracas in the early hours of the morning as explosions lit up parts of the city. Venezuelan state media briefly went silent as the operation unfolded.
Trump confirmed that no U.S. service members were killed during the raid. He acknowledged that some personnel were injured but said there were no fatalities. Specific details regarding injuries have not yet been released.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on state television shortly after the raid, claiming Maduro and Flores were missing and demanding proof of life. Hours later, Trump released the image of Maduro aboard the U.S. vessel, effectively ending any doubt about his status.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess prohibited weapons against the U.S.
“Nicolás Maduro and his wife will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said.
She praised the operation as a decisive step toward accountability, thanking President Trump for authorizing the mission and commending U.S. military forces for what she called an “extraordinary and highly successful” operation.
Maduro is accused of leading the Cartel de los Soles, a criminal network that U.S. officials say flooded the U.S. with narcotics while propping up a brutal regime at home. Trump has repeatedly labeled Maduro a narco-terrorist and vowed to bring him to justice.
As Maduro is transported toward the U.S., attention is now shifting to what comes next for Venezuela.
Trump has stated that the U.S. will oversee a temporary stabilization period while a new leadership path is established.
