At least 40 Venezuelans were reportedly killed after the US launched large-scale strikes on Venezuela overnight in a ploy to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
The death toll included military personnel and civilians, a top Venezuelan official told the New York Times.
No US fatalities have been reported, but there were an unspecified number of injuries, per CBS, which reported that all injured service members are in stable condition.
Maduro and Flores arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon after being apprehended by the US military.
Trump announced the military mission in the early hours of Saturday morning, confirming that a ‘large-scale strike’ was carried out in Venezuela. He added that the operation was done in conjunction with US Law enforcement.
The president said this morning on Fox News that he watched the operation with federal officials in a room at Mar-a-Lago.
‘If you would’ve seen the speed, the violence… it was an amazing thing,’ he said.
Sources told CNN and the Associated Press that Maduro and Flores were taken from their home by US troops in the middle of the night and were sleeping when the raid began.
President Trump addressed who should lead Venezuela after President Nicholas Maduro and his wife touched down in the US following their military capture.
Maduro and Flores are facing criminal drug trafficking charges and will be federally tried in New York.
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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the US should ‘stay out’ of Venezuela
Tulsi Gabbard took to social media to express her thoughts on the US’s overnight operation in Venezuela.
The Director of National Intelligence wrote the government needs to ‘stay out of Venezuela.’.
‘Let the Venezuelan people determine their future,’ she wrote. ‘We don’t want other countries to choose our leaders–so we have to stop trying to choose theirs.
President Trump stated earlier today that the US will take control of Venezuela for the time being.
Dozens of Venezuelans killed in US strikes, top official claims
At least 40 people were reportedly killed during US strikes on Venezuela amid the operation to capture leader Nicolas Maduro.
The Saturday morning strikes allegedly killed civilians and military personnel, a top Venezuelan official told the New York Times.
No deaths among US military were recorded, per CBS. The outlet reported an unspecified number of injuries.
All US personnel are in stable condition according to the outlet.
Maduro touched down in New York on Saturday evening along with his wife Cilia Flores who was also taken into custody following the raid on their home in Caracas.
Takeaways from Trump’s press conference
Trump concluded this morning’s press conference on the overnight military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolas Maduro after an hour of speaking to the press.
He was joined on the podium by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Below are some key takeaways from the conference:
The US will take control of Venezuela, with Rubio and Hegseth working as a ‘team’ alongside the ‘people of Venezuela.’
Trump said he wasn’t opposed to ‘boots on the ground.’ He didn’t confirm whether the military would be stationed in Venezuela and didn’t provide further details on how the country would operate with Maduro in custody.
Rubio defended the administration’s decision not to seek Congressional approval before the raid.
General Dan Caine said the operation was named ‘Absolute Resolve.’ He said 150 aircraft were involved in the mission, which launched from 20 different bases.
Trump said Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado will not take over for Maduro and that his administration hasn’t been in contact with her.
Trump posts first look at Maduro
Donald Trump shared a shocking photo of Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima on social media.
In the image posted to Truth Social, Maduro was wearing blackout goggles and a grey sweatshirt.
He also appeared to be strapped to a flotation device and was holding a water bottle.
Detention center where Maduro and wife are held is known as ‘inhumane and barbaric’
Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, may be in for a rude awakening at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where they have been detained.
According to Axios, the high-profile center is known for ‘inhumane’ and ‘barbaric’ conditions.
Even judges have reportedly condemned the conditions of the federal prison, sometimes even reducing inmates’ sentences because of it.
CNN reported the Metropolitan Detention Center to be cold and occasionally riddled with rats.
Up until very early Saturday morning, the couple had access to their Caracas palace.
White House shares video appearing to show Maduro perp walk
An X account linked to the White House has shared video apparently showing Maduro being perp walked through DEA offices.
The ousted Venezuela leader was handcuffed and flanked by officers as he made his way down a hallway.
As he approached the camera he appeared to say: ‘Good night, Happy New Year.’
Maduro was taken to the DEA field office in downtown Manhattan shortly after arriving in New York City on Saturday night.
Maduro is now being held Brooklyn detention center where he will await trial
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has made it to the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where he will be held for the foreseeable future as he awaits trial.
CNN reported that Maduro’s first hearing could occur within 36 hours, where he will face drugs and weapons charges.
Airplanes, helicopters, and motorcades ushered Maduro and his wife across New York on Saturday night.
Maduro and his wife appear to arrive at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center
President Nicolás Maduro appeared to arrive at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where he will be held as he awaits trial.
His wife, Cilia Flores, reportedly is also in US custody, per ABC.
The couple was escorted by swarms of federal agents as they pulled up in the extensive motorcade around 8.45pm.
Sources suggest that the couple will be held separately at the detention center, possibly in solitary confinement.
Venezuelans celebrate Maduro’s ousting after overnight US military operation
Venezuelan-Americans across the country were seen celebrating the capture of President Maduro as the ousted leader makes his way to a US detention center.
AP News reported Venezuelan communities in Southwest Florida had taken to the streets waving Venezuelan flags and shouting ‘liberty.’
The outlet reported that Venezuelans in Colombia, Argentina, Spain and Chile celebrated in the streets.
Even as Maduro and his wife are ushered across New York, Venezuelan New Yorkers follow closely behind, cheering at their demise.
Kamala Harris speaks out on Trump’s overnight attack on Venezuela
Former vice president Kamala Harris condemned the US’s attack on Venezuela while calling President Maduro a ‘brutal, illegitimate dictator.’
‘Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,’ the ex-presidential candidate wrote on X.
‘That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise.’
Harris claimed the military operation was ‘about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.’
‘If he cared about either, he wouldn’t pardon a convicted drug trafficker or sideline Venezuela’s legitimate opposition while pursuing deals with Maduro’s cronies,’ she wrote.
Helicopters carrying Maduro and his wife leave US Drug Enforcement Administration en route to detention center
Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared to leave the US Drug Enforcement Administration in New York after being processed.
The couple arrived in New York earlier this evening and were loaded onto helicopters, which flew them to Manhattan.
From there, they were transported via motorcade to the DEA to be fingerprinted, CNN reported.
Maduro and Flores appeared to be loaded back into helicopters by the DEA around 8.15pm this evening.
They are reportedly en route to the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center where they will be held separately.
Democratic leaders deem Trump’s strike on Venezuela ‘unconstitutional’
Members of the Democratic National Convention criticized President Trump after he ordered strikes on Venezuela without congressional approval.
DNC Chair Ken Martin issued a statement on Saturday condemning the military operation.
‘Trump promised peace, but has delivered war…’ he wrote on X.
‘Today, Trump finally said the quiet part out loud. The justification for this war isn’t about stemming the flow of drugs. This is about regime change.
Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss called the move ‘blood for oil,’ per CNN.
House Democrats are set to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss the president’s actions.
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Venezuela live: At least 40 civilians and military personnel killed in US attack, top Venezuela official claims
