Fact-check analysisVerified as of January 3, 2026Curated by FactVerify
Mostly True

U.S. military attacked Venezuela and kidnapped President Maduro and his wife.

The claim that the U.S. Military attacked Venezuela and kidnapped President Maduro and his wife is mostly true because multiple reputable news sources report that the U.S. Conducted a large-scale military strike in Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country, as confirmed by statements from former President Donald Trump.

Venezuela President Maduro to 'stand trial' in the US as Trump 'captures' leader and his wife after explosions rocked capital Caracas - Daily Mail Online

Venezuela President Maduro to 'stand trial' in the US as Trump 'captures' leader and his wife after explosions rocked capital Caracas - Daily Mail Online

Source: dailymail.co.uk

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified January 3, 2026
  • Multiple major news organizations (The New York Times, BBC News, NPR, CBS News) report a large-scale U.S. Military strike in Venezuela.

  • Former President Donald Trump publicly stated that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.

  • International responses such as Russia's demand for clarification indicate the event's geopolitical significance.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

On January 3, 2026, numerous major news outlets including The New York Times, BBC News, NPR, CBS News, The Guardian, Fox News, NBC News, and others reported that the U.S. Military launched a significant strike against Venezuela. These reports consistently state that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured during this operation and subsequently flown out of Venezuela. The information largely stems from official statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed responsibility for ordering the attack and confirmed the capture.

The coverage also notes international reactions, such as Russia demanding clarification about the circumstances of Maduro's reported abduction. While the core facts of a U.S. Strike and capture are widely reported and corroborated across multiple independent sources, some details about the operation's specifics or legal ramifications remain developing.

Given the consistency across high-profile media outlets and official statements, the claim is supported by strong evidence. However, since this is a very recent event with ongoing developments and geopolitical complexities, some finer details or independent confirmations from Venezuelan or international authorities are still pending.

Primary trail

Verified Sources10

Venezuela President Maduro to 'stand trial' in the US as Trump 'captures' leader...

dailymail.co.uk
Open source

U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and...

cbsnews.com
Open source

US captures Venezuelan president Maduro during ‘large scale’ attack and says he...

theguardian.com
Open source
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