US special forces captured Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro in a dramatic overnight operation in Caracas, Donald Trump has announced, vowing that the United States will temporarily run the country. The raid knocked out electricity in parts of the capital, and Trump said Maduro was seized in or near one of his safe houses.
Maduro, 63, was flown with his wife, Cilia Flores, to Stewart air national guard base in upstate New York on Saturday evening. He is expected to be taken by helicopter to New York City, where he will be processed and transported to the Metropolitan detention center, according to officials. The Venezuelan leader is due to appear in court by Monday evening.
Trump hailed the operation as "an assault like people have not seen since world war two" and said the US would "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition". He promised to bring in major American oil companies to repair Venezuela's damaged infrastructure, adding that a second, larger attack was possible if needed. "We're not afraid of boots on the ground," he said.
The intervention was condemned by Democrats and several world leaders as a dangerous example of US imperialism. The New York Times reported at least 40 people, including civilians and Venezuelan soldiers, were killed. Trump claimed that Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez had told him "We'll do whatever you need", but in a televised address Rodríguez maintained a critical tone, vowing defiance.
