U.S. President Donald Trump claimed early Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the country,” as reports of explosions and military activity spread across Caracas and other areas. The White House has not yet released a full public account of where Maduro is being held or what the next steps are, but multiple outlets reported that the U.S. carried out a large-scale operation overnight.

Live reporting described strikes hitting sensitive sites around the capital while Venezuelan officials denounced the attack and announced deployments of security forces. U.S. agencies also issued travel-related warnings as the situation developed, and U.S. aviation restrictions were reported for Venezuelan airspace amid what authorities described as ongoing military activity.

What Trump said — and what is still unclear

• Trump said Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from Venezuela, linking the claim to U.S. military strikes reported overnight.
• Officials and news organizations have described a fast-moving operation in and around Caracas, but key details remain unconfirmed publicly, including the destination, legal basis, and the immediate command structure inside Venezuela.
• Venezuelan authorities have condemned the strikes and called for national mobilization, while international reactions have begun to roll in.

Brief history: who is Nicolás Maduro?

Maduro rose from union organizing and political work within Venezuela’s Chavista movement to become a senior figure under Hugo Chávez. After Chávez’s death in 2013, Maduro won the special election and has remained in power since, overseeing years marked by political polarization, international sanctions, contested electoral outcomes, and a prolonged economic and humanitarian crisis. His government has repeatedly rejected accusations from U.S. officials and critics that it engages in systematic repression or criminal enterprise, insisting instead that Venezuela is the target of foreign interference.

Maduro’s family and inner circle

Maduro is married to Cilia Flores, a lawyer and longtime political ally who has held major leadership roles in Venezuela’s legislature. Maduro has one son from a previous marriage, Nicolás Maduro Guerra — widely known as “Nicolasito” — who has appeared in prominent political positions over the years. Flores has three children from her first marriage, making them Maduro’s stepchildren.

Why this matters

If the claim of Maduro’s removal is confirmed, it would mark a dramatic escalation in U.S.–Venezuela tensions and could trigger a rapid reshaping of power inside Venezuela, with immediate implications for regional security, migration, energy markets, and diplomatic relations across the Americas. For now, the biggest questions are who controls state institutions on the ground, what happens to Maduro’s chain of command, and whether international bodies intervene to contain escalation.

Read more (authoritative sources): CBS News live updates on the strikes and Trump’s claim  |  Reuters report on Trump’s capture claim  |  Britannica background on Nicolás Maduro

Related (Swikblog): More breaking updates on Swikblog