Trump rejects ‘kidnapping’ accusation over Nicolas Maduro capture: ‘That’s not a bad term’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump addressed reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, January 4, responding to accusations that the US military's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro amounted to a "kidnapping."

His remarks come amid tensions following a surprise US operation that extracted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas. "Operation Absolute Resolve" involved airstrikes on multiple targets in Venezuela and the apprehension of Maduro on long-standing d*ug trafficking charges. 

Trump announced the capture in an early morning social media post, calling the move a decisive action against an "outlaw dictator."

US forces capture Nicolas Maduro in overnight Caracas raid

Explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of Saturday, as US forces conducted an operation to capture Maduro. According to reports, the mission targeted heavily guarded locations to facilitate the swift extraction of Maduro and Flores. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the couple would "face the full wrath of American justice" on US soil.

The operation follows years of US pressure on Maduro, including bounties placed on his head, which escalated from $15 million to $25 million under the previous administration, and further to $50 million under the current administration.

Trump pointed to Maduro's alleged ties to d*ug cartels, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which has been linked to several criminal activities in the US. One of them was a kidnapping in Colorado, where a victim's finger was severed.

In a full address, Trump described the raid as "one of the most stunning" displays of US military prowess.

Trump dismisses Venezuela backlash

Speaking to reporters en route from Florida to Washington, Trump addressed pushback from Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez after she labeled the capture an "atrocity that violates international law."

When informed of her use of the term "kidnapping," Trump replied, “That’s alright! That’s not a bad term!” He downplayed any resistance. “I don’t think it’s pushback,” he said, adding, “You hear a different person than I hear.”

Trump had warned that if Rodriguez does not cooperate, “she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” However, he later noted that she appeared to be "cooperating" and demanded "total access" to Venezuela's oil facilities and infrastructure for rebuilding purposes. 

“She could face a situation probably worse than Maduro” if she fails to comply, Trump said.

Delcy Rodriguez named interim president after Nicolas Maduro capture

In the wake of Maduro's capture, Venezuela's high court ordered Vice President Rodriguez to serve as interim president. Rodriguez has been a key figure in Maduro's administration since 2018, overseeing the oil-dependent economy and intelligence services.

She declared on Saturday, “The only president of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro.” She condemned the US actions. “What is being done to Venezuela is an atrocity that violates international law," she said at the time.

By Sunday, Rodriguez shifted toward diplomacy. “We consider it a priority to move toward a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela," she reportedly posted on her Telegram.

The invitation comes amid speculation that she may extend her interim role beyond the constitutional 90-day limit, potentially up to six months, without triggering elections.

Rodriguez's background includes strong leftist ties, with her father having been a socialist leader involved in a 1976 kidnapping. She has faced US sanctions for undermining democracy but avoided criminal charges.

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