US arrests Venezuelan president to stand trial, Rubio says

The US arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to stand trial in the US, according to a Republican senator who says he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Utah Senator Mike Lee said in a post on X early on January 3 that Rubio informed him of the arrest and explained the purpose of the US military action seen earlier, Caliber.Az reports via CNN.

“He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant,” Lee wrote.

Just got off the phone with @SecRubio

He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant… https://t.co/lXCxhPoKSZ

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026

Lee added that the operation was likely legally justified under presidential authority.

“This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,” he said.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced that the US has carried out "large scale strike against Venezuela" and "captured its leader, President Nicolas Maduro" and his wife.

The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of criminal activity and has sought to prosecute him through the US legal system. In 2020, during President Donald Trump’s first term, Maduro was charged in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York with “narco-terrorism,” conspiracy to import cocaine, and related offenses.

By Sabina Mammadli