Trump posts images of himself monitoring Venezuela operation and Nicolas Maduro’s capture

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump released photographs showing him observing a United States operation in Venezuela in real time, as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured.

The images show the president watching live developments from Florida and indicate that the operation was nearing completion when the photographs were taken. Hours earlier, residents of Caracas were awakened by a series of explosions.

The photographs also show Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth present with the president. The images were released on Sunday, January 4. 

Trump posts Truth Social photos watching Venezuela operation

Trump shared the photos on Truth Social. One black-and-white photograph shows Trump seated with Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, with all three focused on a screen displaying live updates from the operation.

Another image shows Trump speaking with Rubio while Hegseth looks on at a computer monitor. A separate photograph shows Trump alone, watching the operation unfold on a television.

In total, Trump uploaded 17 images to his social media account. The photos document where he was and what he was doing on Saturday as the operation took place.

Trump later spoke about the raid during a telephone interview with 'Fox & Friends.' He said he watched the operation as it happened. “I mean, I watched it literally like I was watching a television show,” Trump said. “If you would have seen the speed and the violence, it was an amazing thing.”

Why did Washington move against Venezuela now?

On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The move followed months of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

The question remains: why did the strike happen at this moment? US officials have cited several key reasons.

D**g trafficking and narco-t*rrorists:

US officials have repeatedly accused Maduro’s government of being deeply involved in international d**g trafficking. The administration argued that criminal networks tied to Venezuela contribute to the flow of c****** and other narcotics into the United States, according to Al Jazeera. 

Regional security and migration:

The Trump administration linked Venezuela’s political and economic instability to rising migration across the region. US leaders said conditions in Venezuela have pushed large numbers of people north toward the US southern border, as reported by the Tribune.

Designation of c***** groups:

The government designated groups such as Tren de Aragua and, more recently, Cartel de los Soles as Foreign militant organizations. US officials alleged these groups are connected to criminal networks tied to Maduro’s regime, claims that Venezuelan authorities strongly deny, according to a White House press release.

- Designation of c******* groups. The government designated groups such as Tren de Aragua and, more recently, Cartel de los Soles as Foreign militant organizations. The US tied these groups to criminal organizations allegedly connected to Maduro’s regime, though Venezuelan authorities strongly reject these claims, as per The White House press release.