"Mr. Maduro’s regular public dancing and other displays of nonchalance in recent weeks helped persuade some on the Trump team that the Venezuelan president was mocking them and trying to call what he believed to be a bluff," The New York Times reported, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the discussions.
This perception of defiance reportedly fueled frustration in the White House, culminating in Trump's approval of "Operation Absolute Resolve," a high-stakes raid executed by elite U.S. forces.The operation unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of January 3, 2026, beginning around 2 a.m. local time in Caracas.
Over 150 U.S. aircraft, including bombers, fighters, and surveillance planes, neutralized Venezuelan air defenses, paving the way for helicopters to insert Special Operations forces, including members of the Army's Delta Force.
The team, supported by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, breached Maduro's fortified compound using tools like blowtorches to cut through steel doors.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured "completely by surprise" inside the residence, with no U.S. casualties reported.
The entire mission lasted about two hours and 20 minutes.
Venezuelan officials reported at least 40 deaths, including civilians and soldiers, from accompanying strikes on military sites such as Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota air base.
One civilian, 80-year-old Rosa González, was killed in an apartment complex near Caracas airport.
Intelligence played a crucial role, with the CIA tracking Maduro's location via a source within the Venezuelan government, alongside support from the NSA and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
The captured couple was flown to Guantánamo Bay, then to New York, where Maduro faces U.S. charges including narco-terrorism, weapons offenses, and cocaine importation conspiracies.
Upon arrival, Maduro reportedly wished DEA agents a "Happy New Year" and gave a thumbs-up.
In the aftermath, Trump announced that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela, emphasizing control over its oil infrastructure.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has softened her tone, raising prospects for dialogue, while Trump has issued warnings to neighboring Colombia.
The incident has sparked global debate, with some viewing it as a bold enforcement of U.S. policy and others criticizing it as an overreach. Vice President J.D. Vance commented on social media: “Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.”
