Sat Jan 03 18:12:48 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

In a stunning turn of events, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured and removed from power following a U.S. operation. President Donald Trump announced the capture at a press conference, declaring that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela and exploit its oil reserves. He justified the action by citing Maduro’s indictment for narco-terrorism and framed the intervention as a law enforcement action, while simultaneously highlighting regime change and oil access as primary goals. U.S. military force was used to achieve this goal with a blackout and overwhelming force against the fortified military fortress in Caracas. Maduro and his wife are being taken to New York to face charges. The operation, authorized by Trump, involved significant military assets and was launched without Congressional notification.

News Article:

U.S. Forces Capture Maduro, Trump Declares U.S. Control Over Venezuela

Palm Beach, Florida – January 3, 2026 – In a dramatic escalation of tensions, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas late Friday, and swiftly transported him out of the country. Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday, President Donald Trump declared that the United States would now “run” Venezuela, citing the country’s vast oil reserves as a key motivating factor.

“We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump stated, adding that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges of narco-terrorism. A photo released by the White House showed Maduro in custody, blindfolded and handcuffed, aboard a U.S. naval vessel.

Trump described the operation as “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American might and confidence in American history.” He stated the assault began with a partial blackout and used overwhelming American military power, rendering Venezuelan military capacities powerless as Maduro was successfully captured.

The U.S. President made it clear that regime change and access to Venezuelan oil were central to the operation. “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies…go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,” he said, adding that the U.S. will be “selling large amounts of oil.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to oversee the transition. Trump indicated that U.S. troops could be deployed to Venezuela and that the U.S. “is not afraid of boots on the ground.”

The Trump administration reportedly notified members of Congress about the operation, but notably bypassed the standard Congressional notification process prior to the mission’s execution, citing security concerns and the potential for leaks. General Dan Caine said more than 150 aircraft were part of the U.S. mission ordered by President Trump.

The future of Venezuela remains uncertain as the U.S. prepares to assert control over the nation’s government and resources.

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