Capture and detention of Nicolás Maduro

On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump directed the United States Military to capture and detain Nicolás Maduro, who was President of Venezuala.

Trump asserted Maduro, who had been indicted by US courts, would face charges, and be tried, in US civilian courts. He also said the USA would "run", Venezuala, until it was ready to conduct fair election.

This capture stunned commentators. It stunned commmentators for multiple reasons:

• According the United States Constitution, the power to decide to go to war lies with the United States Congress. However, Trump did not keep Congress informed, did not seek Congressional aproval, before launching the attack required to seize Maduro
• The International community sees the attack required to seize Maduro as an act of war that violates international conventions.
• Maduro's treatment has violated the Geneva Conventions

Maduro's capture

According to Christiane Amanpour Cuba held a memorial for 32 Cubans, killed during Maduro's capture.

Maduro's detention

The Geneva Conventions offers protections to those captured in wartime. They must be fed; they must be given medical care; they must not be tortured; and they must be protected from humiliation. When Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq, was captured, the first video footage the US Military released of him showed a medic checking his hair for lice. His clothes were dirty. His hair and beard were unkempt; Being checked for lice is inherently humiliating. The US deliberately chose footage intended to humiliate him, in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

By January 4th reports emerged of off-duty US officials taking the opportunity to record souvenir footage of Maduro, which, like Saddam's humiliation, is a violation of the Geneva Conventions prohibition against humiliation.

Media coverage

India Today reported that both The Washington Post and The New York Times had advance knowledge of the capture opeation, but chose not to publish.