United States/Politics/Trump administration captures Venezuelan leader Maduro and asserts control over the country

Trump administration captures Venezuelan leader Maduro and asserts control over the country

Jan 30, 2026- Jan 28, 2026495 sources

person:trumpperson:maduroperson:machadoorg:ciaorg:unorg:vaticantopic:international lawtopic:war powers

Story Timeline

Jan 30, 2026Trump administration captures Venezuelan leader Maduro and asserts control over the country495 sources

Feb 13, 2026Trump says he plans to visit Venezuela and praises relations with its leader14 sources

Summary

The United States captured Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro, and brought him to New York to face charges. Following the capture, Trump said the U.S. would 'run' Venezuela, and the CIA director met with the country's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, in Caracas.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with Trump at the White House and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. Trump said he would accept the prize, and the White House said he was considering a role for Machado in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans blocked a resolution to limit Trump's war powers related to Venezuela.

Multiple Americans detained in Venezuela were released. U.S. allies and adversaries criticized the intervention at a UN meeting. Trump warned Cuba to make a deal and said the country was 'ready to fall' after Maduro's capture.