The X post from @_MAGA_NEWS_

 (dated January 3, 2026) announces the collapse of the Nicolás Maduro regime following a U.S.-led military operation, with millions of Venezuelans reportedly celebrating in the streets. The attached video shows large crowds in Caracas waving flags and cheering.This claim is confirmed by multiple major news outlets across the political spectrum:President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social and in interviews (e.g., with Fox News) that U.S. forces conducted a large-scale strike on Venezuela overnight, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were flown out of the country, reportedly to face long-standing U.S. indictment charges related to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and conspiracy (originally filed in 2020, with a $50 million bounty increased in 2025).

Sources including Reuters, AP News, NPR, ABC News, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Washington Post, Fox News, CNN (via CNBC reports), and Wikipedia (updated entry on the 2026 strikes) report explosions in Caracas, airstrikes on military sites (e.g., Fuerte Tiuna), and the capture operation involving Delta Force special operations.

The operation is described as the most direct U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion (which also captured a head of state, Manuel Noriega). No U.S. casualties were reported.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded "proof of life" and confirmed uncertainty about Maduro's whereabouts. Opposition leader María Corina Machado called for a transition to democracy.

Celebrations: Reports and videos from Caracas and other cities show massive street parties with Venezuelan flags, chanting, and joy after years of economic collapse (hyperinflation, mass emigration of over 7 million people), political repression, and allegations of ties to drug cartels, Iran, Russia, and China.


International reactions are mixed: Condemnation from China, Russia, and some left-leaning sources for violating sovereignty; support or calls for de-escalation from others, with praise from U.S. allies and Venezuelan exiles.This marks a dramatic end to Maduro's rule since 2013, amid ongoing disputes over his legitimacy following contested elections. Maduro is expected to face trial in New York.