Up First from NPR - The U.S. strikes Venezuela, captures President Maduro

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

The U.S. bombed the Venezuelan capital Caracas and other areas of the country, and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump said Maduro is being flown to the U.S. and Attorney General Pam Bondi says he will be indicted in the Southern District of New York. The events come after months of escalating U.S. pressure, sending troops and warships to the Carribean.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The United States has struck Venezuela, and President Trump says, captured its leader. Trump says President Nicholas Maduro has been flown out of the country. Our reporters will have the latest on this extraordinary development. I'm Daniel Estrin. I'm Ayesha Rosco, and this is up first from NPR News. After a month's long campaign to oust the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Trump says he's come through with his last. threats. The White House called the strikes on the capital Caracas large scale.

The U.S. military has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean over the last few months, but what does it mean to capture a world leader, and when has it happened before? We'll also hear what Venezuelans on the ground have to say. Stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend. The U.S. has bombed Caracas in other areas of Venezuela, and President Trump says the country's leader has been captured. It comes after months of escalating U.S. pressure, sending troops and warships to the Caribbean. NPR's South America correspondent Carrie Khan joins us now from Rio de Janeiro. Good morning, Carrie. Good morning.

So President Trump said in a social media post that Maduro and his wife are in U.S. custody, what else do we know? Inside Venezuela, we've heard that confirmed by the vice president, Delci Rodriguez. She's been on state TV via phone all morning. Here's some of that indignation from her that you were talking about earlier. She's been just saying this nonstop since the operation took effect. She's demanding that the U.S. present a proof of life that Maduro is still alive and she's asked the same for his wife. She's also said that she is executing Maduro's defense. plans for the nation that she says were practiced and ready to go. Maduro has long-faced

U.S. federal charges for narco-terrorism. The U.S. says he's involved in drug trafficking and conspiracy with the Cartel de los Soles, while the International Criminal Court is investigating him also for crimes against humanity, including torture and extradicial killings. Carrie, can we just start from early this morning around 2 a.m. local time. What happened there? Sure. Reports started flooding social media with videos of multidis. multiple explosions throughout the city. And I spoke right away with a reporter, Vanessa Silva, and she actually lives right in front of the military airport La Carlotta in Caracas. And let me just play you her first immediate reactions. I just wake up with the strong noise, super strong noise.

I see the explosion. It was in the middle of the runway. She says relatives throughout the city were also reporting explosions. And Caracas is in a valley. And so she said you could hear explosions echoing throughout there, and she said she was just terrified. The house wasn't shaking, but I was. And then I hear, like, airplanes. She says there were several fires on the runway, but they were put out quickly, but she could hear airplanes continuing to circle around the Caracas guys for hours. Wow, it's incredible to hear that eyewitness account from someone who lives right near the airport.

What do we know about the targets that were hit? Beside the La Carloca military airport in the complex, a government statement was put out listing attacks in three other states, but it didn't go into details. And the defense minister of Vladimir Padrino put out a defiant video statement this morning describing the operation. Here's a bit of that. He describes U.S. helicopters firing missiles on what he says were not only military targets, but also civilian neighborhoods, but he did not provide any evidence from that.

And so tell us more about what reaction has been around the region in Latin America and around the world. It's been swift. Cuba's president Miguel Diaz Canal condemned the U.S. strike. He called it criminal. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro says his forces are being deployed to the border with Venezuela, and he's preparing for a potential influx of refugees from there. He's called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Trump allies in the region are praising the action. We heard from President Javier Mille of Argentina, who celebrated the capture of Nicolas Maduro. He says liberty advances. He wrote that on social media. And curiously, though, we have not heard from the leading opposition figure Maria Corina Machado. Remember, she just won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Venezuela.

She left Venezuela last month, and we're not sure where she is right now, and we're waiting to hear from her. Carrie, briefly, what are you going to be looking for as the hours unfold and the days unfold ahead? Well, it's curious because we really want to see what's going to happen, who's going to step up in place. the vice president, like I said, has been on state TV saying that there are plans in place and she will execute those plans, as Maduro has said. But we really want to see what's going to happen with the structure and the military structures, particularly in Venezuela. You know, it's not just Maduro, who's the figure ed and the power in Venezuela. His military back regime relies on a network of officials accused of corruption and drug trafficking. And the

defense minister who's been out in front of a lot of this, Vladimir Padrino, he's at top of that list. And Venezuela also has vast support from Cuba, China, and Russia. So we're going to watch all of that. And we will be coming back to you frequently. Thank you so much, NPR's Carrie Khan. You're welcome. The U.S. has long accused Venezuela's president, Nicholas Maduro, of being the leader of a violent drug cartel. And President Trump has made it a priority to oust him since he came. back to office. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Venezuelan leader and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. NPR White House correspondent Franco

Ordonez joins us now. Good morning, Franco. Good to be here, Daniel. Just bring us up to speed from your beat at the White House. Yeah, I mean, I think what we've heard so far, especially from Kerry, I mean, this really just follows such a major buildup in U.S. military power in the region as we've been reporting. The U.S. has been building them, including an aircraft carrier, other warships, thousands of troops. This buildup was first focused on alleged drug boats, but more recently, the U.S. actually seized an oil tanker, and then there was a land strike on a port in Venezuela. So the U.S. was already taken quite unprecedented in action, but this is quite a new development. I mean, for U.S. Special Forces to go into another country's capital and capture

the sitting leader taking him out and bring him to the United States, that's really quite staggering. Of course, as we just heard, the Venice government is denouncing the strikes, and it's just bringing back such memories of the capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega by the George H.W. Bush administration more than 30 years ago. So what are we hearing so far this morning from the White House? Well, the president said the military operation was carried out in conjunction with the U.S. law enforcement and that more details would be shared later at his 11 a.m. news conference, which he'll have at his Mar-a-Lago resort, his home. The White House has not responded to queries about where Maduro and his

wife are being flown to, but Trump did call the strikes a brilliant operation in a brief interview with the New York Times. Senator Mike Lee actually said he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Maduro would stand trial on criminal charges in the U.S., and that the, quote, kinetic action that we saw tonight was deployed to actually protect those executing the arrest warrant. Lee also said that Rubio told him, and he posted this on social media, that he did not anticipate further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody. What exactly are the U.S. allegations against Maduro? Well, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York

on a variety of charges, including narco-terrorism. And he was actually, Maduro, that is, was indicted first six years ago, accused of narco-terrorism and weapons trafficking. And last summer, the Trump administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture to $50 million. Okay, Maduro is known as a brutal dictator. He was alleged to have stolen the last election. Seems like a moment for many to celebrate.

There is still a lot of concern as well, though. Yeah, for sure. I mean, for many people in Venezuela, this is going to be a moment to celebrate, but there is also a lot of uncertainty. I was speaking with Mark Feirstein, who advised multiple administrations on Latin America. He said Trump can claim victory for capturing someone indicted long ago. The question, though, is how much further is he willing to go? There's a reason for caution, because it could be disappointment if the regime stays in power. And what are we hearing from authorities in Caracas? Yeah, I mean, as we just heard from Kerry, the Venezuelan vice president, Delci Rodriguez, told state TV that she didn't know where in Maduro was and was calling for a proof of life. There's a state of emergency as well that's been called. What steps is the United States outlining now?

Yeah, I mean, I'm going to be watching the president's press conference later today to see what he has to stay. Of course, what steps is the U.S. going to take to make sure the Venezuelan infrastructure doesn't crumble? I mean, it is really. really a delicate moment where we just don't know how things are going to turn out. I mean, in addition to where this leaves Venezuela, Daniel, there's also this big question about how Trump's own supporters are going to feel about this overseas act, such an aggressive act. I mean, Trump came to power with an America First agenda, and so far this term, his international focus has really alienated some of his supporters. So I expect we're going to be hearing a lot from Trump supporters, and there's going to be a new debate among them, as well as a Republican Party, as well as Congress is coming back. So there's going to be a lot of questions about that

as well. Okay, we'll leave it there. That's White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. Thank you, Franco. Thank you, Daniel. is expected to be brought to the U.S. where he will be facing charges of drug smuggling and other crimes. For more, we are joined by NPR National Security correspondent Greg Miree. Good morning, Greg. Hi, Daniel. Gosh, this happened in just a few hours, but after months of U.S. military buildup, Phyllis in on the latest. So the U.S. launched this operation in the middle of the night.

Explosions rang out in the capital Caracas. Helicopters were criss-crossing the sky. photos from a military base on the Capitol or the edge of the Capitol showed smoke rising from a hangar. Residents in that part of the city said they heard many loud explosions early in the morning. According to the Venezuela government, the U.S. military also struck in other parts of northern Venezuela near the Caribbean coast. And then a couple hours later, President Trump took to true social, and he wrote, quote, the United States has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicholas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.

Now, a U.S. official who's not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that the operation was considered successful, and there were no U.S. military casualties. The president hasn't provided additional details, but as you noted, Daniel, he is planning a press conference, or at least make additional remarks later this morning. Do we know where Maduro is right now? Well, not exactly. We know he's being flown to the U.S., but not exactly where. Attorney General Pam Bondi said he'll face charges in New York.

He was indicted on drug charges back in 2020. Utah's Republican Senator Mike Lee wrote on X that he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and was informed that Maduro will state. trial on criminal charges in the U.S. Now, it's worth noting this has not been done with any declaration of war, congressional authorization of force. And Venezuela's vice president, Delsi Rodriguez, has been on TV demanding evidence of Maduro's well-being. And she said there have been casualties in Venezuela. Greg, with Maduro gone, who is running Venezuela? Well, it appears to be the vice president. We just mentioned, Delci Rodriguez, who would become an interim president, assuming the U.S. will allow her to remain in office. Now, the country's defense minister says the country is under attack and has urged troops to defend the country. But at this point, the U.S. operation appears to be over, at least for now. But there's still the question about what will many of the Maduro loyalists do. Will they try to stay and defend the

country and the government? Will they flee? What will Venezuela's military do? We don't know. And we should also mention Maria Karina Machado. She's the Venezuelan woman who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize and has been an opposition leader. She left the country. So her exact whereabouts are not known and it's not clear what role she might play. Are we expecting the U.S. military to play a further role? Well, at this point, we don't know for sure. But the immediate action appears to be over. Of course, the U.S. still has this large force that was being built up for months, basically since around August.

We're talking about a dozen or more ships, including the USS Gerald IV, the world's largest aircraft carrier, perhaps 15,000 troops in the region. So we'll be looking to see if the U.S. continues with any action against drug smuggling boats, against oil tankers, or if, in fact, this operation may be over. And PR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg. Sure thing, Daniel. And that's up first for Saturday, January 3rd, 2026.

I'm Daniel Estrin. And I'm Ayesha Roscoe. Elena Torek produced today's podcast along with Nia Dumas, Fernando Naro, Dave Mistich, and Chad Campbell. It was edited by Hadeel Al-Souchi, Tara Neal, D. Parvas, and Andrew Susser. Danny Hensel is the director. Our technical director was David Greenberg

with engineering support from Zoe Van Genhoeven, Jay Siz, and Simon Laslo Janssen. Our senior supervising editor is Shannon Rhodes. Evie Stone is our executive producer and Jim Kane is our deputy managing editor. Tomorrow on the Sunday story, worried about political unrest, liberals in the U.S. are starting to buy guns.

We'll dive into the changing face of gun ownership. For all the breaking news like we had today and many other stories that open your mind, tune in to NPR. Find your local station at stations.npr.org.