Trump Sparks Global Outcry After Posting Image of Captured, Blindfolded Maduro
PALM BEACH, FL — President Donald Trump has drawn intense international condemnation after sharing a photograph of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro bound, handcuffed, and blindfolded following a dramatic U.S. military raid.
The image, posted to Truth Social on Saturday, January 3, 2026, shows Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima shortly after his capture by U.S. special forces. In the photo, Maduro is seen wearing a grey Nike sweatsuit, noise-canceling headphones, and a blindfold—a sight that has stunned world leaders and human rights advocates alike.
The Capture and the Image
The photograph serves as the first visual confirmation of Maduro’s custody following a high-stakes “snatch-and-grab” operation in Caracas. Trump captioned the post simply: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”
- The Raid: U.S. Delta Force units executed a midnight strike on Maduro’s fortified residence, reportedly using blowtorches to breach reinforced steel doors.
- The Charges: Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York to face federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges dating back to a 2020 indictment.
- Current Status: Maduro is currently being held in a federal detention center in Manhattan, with an initial court appearance expected as early as Monday.
“State Terrorism” or “Brilliant Operation”?
The release of the image has polarized the international community, triggering a wave of diplomatic protests.
| Party | Position | Key Statement |
| U.S. Administration | Supportive | Trump described the raid as a “brilliant operation” and “like a television show.” |
| Venezuela (Interim) | Outraged | Vice President Delcy Rodríguez called the capture a “kidnapping” and “imperialist aggression.” |
| Russia & Iran | Condemnation | Both nations condemned the move as a flagrant violation of international law and sovereignty. |
| United Nations | Critical | The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights suggested Trump should be investigated for “illegal abduction.” |
| Brazil & Mexico | Concerned | President Lula da Silva stated the U.S. had crossed “an unacceptable line.” |
“We’re Going to Run It”
In a subsequent press conference at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump suggested a direct role for the United States in the aftermath of the collapse of the Maduro regime. “We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be,” Trump told reporters, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “We’re going to run it properly.”
Critics in Congress, including Senator Ruben Gallego, have slammed the intervention as “illegal,” while supporters hail it as the end of a “narco-state” that has caused years of regional instability.
Note: Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was also captured in the raid, though her image has not been released by the White House.
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