U.S. Special Forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on Saturday, according to a statement made by Donald Trump on his Truth Social account. Trump accompanied the statement with a photograph purportedly showing Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Trump stated the U.S. would "run" Venezuela while Maduro is in U.S. custody, pending future arrangements.

The overnight operation reportedly caused power outages in parts of Caracas. Details surrounding the exact location of Maduro's capture remain unclear, with Trump indicating it occurred in or near one of his safe houses. Venezuelan officials have vowed defiance in response to the U.S. action.

The U.S. has long maintained a strained relationship with Maduro's socialist regime, levying sanctions and accusing him of human rights abuses, election rigging, and economic mismanagement, all of which Maduro denies. The Trump administration previously recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela in 2019, though Maduro remained in power.

The capture of Maduro marks a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela. The legal basis for the military operation and the long-term implications for U.S.-Venezuelan relations remain uncertain. The Venezuelan government has yet to issue a formal statement beyond initial vows of resistance. The U.S. State Department has not yet released an official statement. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.