BREAKING: U.S. Captures Venezuelan Dictator Maduro | 1.3.26

Summary

Morning Wire – BREAKING: U.S. Captures Venezuelan Dictator Maduro | 1.3.26

Date: January 3, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Mary Margaret Olihan
Special Guest Speakers: President Donald Trump (recorded statements)

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Episode Overview

This special breaking news episode of Morning Wire covers a dramatic turn in international relations: the United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, in a surprise military operation. The episode details the lead-up to this action, the operation itself, its immediate aftermath, and early global reactions. The stakes are high as the US indicates it will oversee Venezuela’s transition to a new government.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Overview of the Operation

• Timestamp: 00:33 – 01:34
  • President Trump announces that US armed forces conducted a military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
  • Several explosions were heard across Caracas as multiple military and civilian sites were targeted.
  • Key targets included Venezuela’s largest military base, air base, a port, and an airport near Caracas.
  • The operation involved no reported US casualties.

Notable Quote

"Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela."
— President Donald Trump [00:33]

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2. Details of the Charges Against Maduro & Flores

• Timestamp: 01:34 – 02:56
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi indicted Maduro and Flores in the Southern District of New York.
  • Charges: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States.
  • This follows weeks of escalating tension over drug smuggling (especially "drug boats") and oil shipments.
  • The US had seized oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast, heightening the crisis.

"Too little, too late from Maduro, apparently."
— Mary Margaret Olihan [02:56]

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3. President Trump’s Address to the Nation

• Timestamp: 03:03 – 04:45
  • Trump emphasized the operation’s success, the lack of US casualties, and that no further strikes are currently planned.
  • Stressed the military’s competence and described this as one of the most effective operations in US history.
  • Framed action as a direct response to narco-terrorism impacting US security.

Notable Quotes

"This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history. It was dark and it was deadly. The first attack was so successful, we probably don't have to do a second, but we're prepared."
— President Donald Trump [03:21]

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. And it has to be judicious because that's what we're all about..."
— President Donald Trump [04:10]

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4. Implications for Venezuela and US Policy in the Americas

• Timestamp: 04:10 – 05:07
  • The US will oversee Venezuela until it can transition to a new government considered legitimate by Washington.
  • Trump referenced the Monroe Doctrine—a cornerstone of US policy in Latin America—and asserted stronger US dominance in the hemisphere.

Notable Quote

"The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot. By a real lot. They now call it the Don Road Document. ... Under our new national security strategy, American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again."
— President Donald Trump [04:45]

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5. International and Regional Reactions

• Timestamp: 05:07 – 06:06
  • Brazil: President Lula da Silva condemned the US action, calling for a strong UN response.
  • China: Officials had met with Maduro hours before the strike; they issued a severe condemnation of US “hegemonic acts.”
  • UN: Initial response labeled the operation a “dangerous precedent,” but stopped short of concrete action.
  • Argentina: Conservative president Javier Milei praised the operation as a victory against narco-terrorism.
  • Venezuelan Opposition: Maria Carino Machado, in exile, released a celebratory statement:

    "The hour of liberty has arrived."

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Trump on US Military Power:
  “...one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.” [03:21]
• Monroe Doctrine Reimagined:
  “They now call it the Don Road Document. ...American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.” [04:45]
• Venezuelan Opposition Celebrates:
  “The hour of liberty has arrived.” — Maria Carino Machado [approx. 06:00]

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Important Timestamps

• US Strikes Announced: 00:33 – 01:34
• Indictment Charges Explained: 01:34 – 02:56
• Trump Press Conference: 03:03 – 04:45
• Reassertion of Monroe Doctrine: 04:45 – 05:07
• Global Reactions: 05:07 – 06:06

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Tone & Style

The hosts deliver the news with urgency and gravity, underscoring both the surprise and importance of the US action. The episode is fact-driven, highlighting official statements and developments, while also noting potential consequences and evolving reactions in the region and beyond.

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Conclusion

This historic episode covers the US capture of Nicolás Maduro, presenting a landmark shift in US-Latin American relations and the US fight against narco-terrorism. The international community appears deeply divided on the operation, with some hailing it and others warning of precedent and overreach. Morning Wire promises continued coverage as the situation develops.

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For further updates, listeners are directed to DailyWire.com.

Transcript

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[President Donald Trump]

Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

The United States carried out a large scale military strike on Venezuela early Saturday morning, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Both of them now face serious charges, including narco terrorism conspiracy. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. This is a special breaking news edition of MORNING wire. Early Saturday morning, President Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured by US Forces and flown out of the country. Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olihan joins us now with the latest. Hey, Mary Margaret. So a dramatic turn of events here in some ways not surprising because of the escalation over the last few weeks between Venezuela and us. But overall, all of us woke up this morning with this remarkable news. So what is the latest?

[John Bickley]

Yeah, John, like you said, not entirely shocking, but still takes a breath away. Early this morning, several explosions could be heard in Venezuela's capital city of Caracas. Venezuelan officials soon confirmed that they'd been hit with strikes, saying civilian and military localities of the capital and three states were hit in the attack. At least four locations appear to have been targeted, Venezuela's largest military base and air base, a port north of Caracas and an airport east of Caracas. Now, President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes around 3am and also announced a press conference that we'll hear from in a second. Then by about 6am Attorney General Pam Bondi issued her own statement detailing charges against Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores. The two have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for narco terrorism, conspiracy, cocaine importation, conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. Now, as we've been documenting on this show, there has been a rapid escalation of tensions between the US And Venezuela over first drug boats and then oil shipments. The US had seized two oil takers off the coast of Venezuela. And Trump had repeatedly demanded that Maduro step down or face more consequences. The last we heard from Maduro, he was desperately trying to claim that he was, quote, ready to talk about an agreement to combat drug trafficking, but clearly.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Too little, too late from Maduro, apparently. And this brings us to Trump's press conference. What did we hear from him?

[John Bickley]

Right. So just before noon, President Trump addressed the nation from Mar a Lago. First, he stressed that we lost no soldiers in the operation. And he touted the United States military expertise in carrying it out. In fact, he said the mission was so successful that while they'd planned for a second set of even stronger strikes, it doesn't appear to be necessary.

[President Donald Trump]

This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history. It was dark and it was deadly. The first attack was so successful, we probably don't have to do a second, but we're prepared.

[John Bickley]

He forcefully made the case for the strikes, blaming Maduro for trend Aragua flooding into the United States. That group's been designated a foreign terrorist organization by his administration. And as the indictment against Maduro lays out, the administration sees him as the key player in narco terrorism operations from Venezuela into the United States. As for what will happen in the coming days in Venezuela, the President said the US Is going to effectively run the country as it transitions to a new government that will be legitimate, unlike Maduro's.

[President Donald Trump]

We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. And it has to be judicious because that's what we're all about. We can't take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn't have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind. We're not going to let that happen.

[John Bickley]

The President wrapped up his remarks by really hammering home the message to the rest of the Western Hemisphere that the US Is going to reassert the Monroe Doctrine, stating that we won't passively stand by if our citizens or our interests are threatened by other countries.

[President Donald Trump]

The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot of. By a real lot. They now call it the Don Road Document. We sort of forgot about it. We don't forget about it anymore. Under our new national security Strategy, American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Now we're starting to see some of the fallout from this. What are we hearing from other countries?

[John Bickley]

Yes. So we've already gotten some responses from other world leaders. Brazil's left wing president, Lula da Silva slammed the US Saying the operation crossed an unacceptable line. He's calling for the UN to respond vigorously. And on that note, the UN's initial response has been rather tepid. It's called this a dangerous precedent, but nothing much else yet from them. Then there's China. Chinese officials were in Venezuela meeting with Maduro just hours before the attack. They said they are, quote, deeply shocked and strongly condemned the United States for, quote, hegemonic acts. But on the other side, you have those who are very happy with it, including Argentina's conservative president, Javier Milei. He praised Trump's actions and called this a, quote, decisive advance against narco terrorism. And then there's Maria Carino Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who recently fled the country. She posted a statement celebrating the capture of Maduro, saying to her fellow Venezuelans that, quote, the hour of liberty has arrived.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

A massive development here that really changes the equation in the Western Hemisphere, particularly when it comes to drug trafficking from our southern neighbors. We'll have much more on this on Monday. In the meantime, Mary Margaret, thank you so much for reporting.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for having me.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

And as always, for the latest on this developing story, go to dailywire.com for updates. This has been a special breaking news edition of Morning Wire.