President Donald Trump sits next to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they watch the U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3, 2026, in a photograph posted by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account. @realDonaldTrump/Handout via Reuters
WASHINGTON—On the morning of Jan. 3, many Americans woke up to news that U.S. special forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
A military buildup in the Caribbean had been underway for months, and many had anticipated some form of U.S. military action, but few expected an operation so ambitious and complex.
We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.