Evidence from credible sources supports the statement as accurate. Learn more in Methodology.
A public announcement by the President stating that Nicolás Maduro has been captured.
Multiple reputable outlets report that on January 3, 2026, President Donald J. Trump publicly stated that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. CNN quotes Trump’s Truth Social post saying the U.S. carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, Maduro, "who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," and notes he later discussed the capture in a press conference. NPR’s coverage of that Mar-a-Lago press conference states that Trump said the United States had conducted a strike in Venezuela and "captured that country's president, Nicolás Maduro along with his wife." ABC News likewise reports Trump said the U.S. had "successfully carried out a large scale strike" and that Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the Country."
The verdict is True because consistent reports from multiple major, independent news organizations show that President Trump did in fact announce the capture of Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026.