Trump posts photo of captured Venezuelan leader Maduro

US President Donald Trump shared what he described as the first photo of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following his capture on the Truth Social platform.

The American leader wrote that Maduro was aboard the USS Iwo Jima, Caliber.Az reports.

In the image, Maduro wears a gray tracksuit, a black mask, and headphones, apparently to prevent him from knowing his location.

US President Donald Trump announced earlier that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured during what he described as a large‑scale US military operation in Venezuela.

They were flown out of the country to face criminal charges, including narco‑terrorism allegations from a long‑standing US indictment.

The strike involved US forces targeting military sites in Caracas and came after months of escalating pressure, sanctions, and actions against alleged drug trafficking routes tied to Maduro’s government, though independent verification of the capture and Maduro’s current status remained limited.

Venezuelan authorities condemned the US action as a violation of national sovereignty and demanded proof of life for Maduro and his spouse, while global reactions varied, with several countries denouncing the intervention.

By Jeyhun Aghazada