Senior Trump allies reshared a profanity-laced warning from Donald Trump after the U.S. announced airstrikes and claimed to have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The administration has not disclosed key details or the operation's legal basis. Venezuelan officials demanded "proof of life," and Sen. Mike Lee said Sen. Marco Rubio described a legal rationale and said Maduro would face trial in the U.S. Trump plans a Mar-a-Lago press conference at 11 a.m. ET.
Trump’s Profanity-Laced Warning Amplified After U.S. Airstrikes and Claim of Maduro ‘Capture’
Karoline Leavitt reshared the clip to her 1.7 million X followers. / X/Karoline Leavitt
Senior allies of former President Donald Trump reshared a profanity-laced warning he previously issued to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after the United States announced it had carried out airstrikes and claimed to have "captured" Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Key details about the operation — including its legal justification and independent verification of the claim — remain undisclosed.
Fire is seen at Venezuela's largest military complex after the U.S. launched a military attack on the country. / STR/AFP via Getty Images
What Happened
Early Saturday on Truth Social, Trump posted that the U.S. had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela,” and claimed Maduro and his wife had been removed from the country. In response, Trump allies including Pete Hegseth and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reshared an October clip in which Trump warned he did not want to “f--- around” with the United States as tensions with Caracas rose.
The whereabouts of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is currently unknown. / JUAN BARRETO / Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images
Context And Continued Operations
The resurfaced expletive came as U.S. forces were reported to be conducting airstrikes against suspected Venezuelan drug boats in the Caribbean and increasing their military presence near Venezuela. Administration actions that have heightened pressure on Caracas include ongoing strikes on vessels alleged to be linked to "narcoterrorism," the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuelan waters, and blockades of other ships.
Official Responses And Legal Questions
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded “proof of life” for Maduro and his wife in a public statement. Meanwhile, Utah Sen. Mike Lee posted on X that he had spoken with Sen. Marco Rubio, who, according to Lee, outlined a legal rationale for the operation and said Maduro would face trial in the United States. Lee also noted concerns about what could constitutionally justify the action given that Congress has not authorized the use of force in Venezuela.
Trump said he would provide more details about the operation and the alleged detention of Venezuela’s president at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday.
At this stage, several core facts — including independent confirmation of Maduro’s capture, the operation’s legal basis, and on-the-ground details — remain unverified. Reporting is ongoing and official statements from U.S. and Venezuelan authorities should be monitored for updates.
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