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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, Senator Mike Lee said Saturday, citing a phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"He informed me that Nicolas Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant," Lee said on X.
Lee said Secretary Rubio "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody."
Maduro was captured by the U.S. Army's Delta Force, officials told CBS News. Delta Force is the U.S. military's top counterterrorism unit.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, telling the New York Times: "It was a brilliant operation, actually. A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people."
Trump said he would address questions about congressional approval and what's next for Venezuela during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
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Lee said the action "likely" falls within Trump's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.
Lee had earlier questioned what "might constitutionally justify" military action without declaring war or congressional approval.
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee was not notified ahead of time of any potential military action in Venezuela, a source told CNN.
The U.S. charged Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking and other criminal charges in 2020 during the first Trump administration.
"For more than 20 years," Maduro and high-ranking colleagues allegedly conspired with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, "causing tons of cocaine to enter and devastate American communities," then-Attorney General William Barr said at the time.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Maduro will "finally face justice for his crimes."
Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said the government does not know the whereabouts of President Maduro or First Lady Cilia Flores.
"In the face of this brutal situation and in the face of this brutal attack, we do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. We demand from the government of President Donald Trump immediate proof of life of President Maduro and of the First Lady," Rodriguez said via phone call on state television.
Rodriguez condemned the "savage" attack on Venezuela and said officials, soldiers, and civilians had been killed. An official tally of casualties has not been released.
Maduro had received Chinese government representative Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative on Latin American affairs, at the Miraflores Palace on Friday, hours before Trump claimed he had been captured.
"I had a pleasant meeting with Qiu Xiaoqi, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping," Maduro said on Telegram. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the strategic relationship that is progressing and strengthening in various areas for building a multipolar world of development and peace."
Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced an immediate deployment of military forces across the country.
"They've attacked us, but they will not subdue us," Padrino Lopez said, calling the bombing "the worst aggression" ever against Venezuela.
"Far from a supposed fight against narco-terrorism, this deplorable action seeks to definitively force a regime change and subject us to the spurious designs of North American imperialism," Padrino Lopez said.
"United, soldier and civilian, we will form an indestructible wall of resistance," he added.
Senator Ruben Gallego said there was "no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela."
"This war is illegal; it's embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year," he said.
"I fought in some of the hardest battles of the Iraq War. Saw my brothers die, saw civilians being caught in the crossfire, all for an unjustified war. No matter the outcome, we are in the wrong for starting this war in Venezuela," he added.
Senator Brian Schatz said, "We should have learned not to stumble into another stupid adventure by now. And he's not even bothering to tell the American public what the hell is going on."
Rep. Carlos Gimenez praised Trump "for your leadership and resolve and to our brave service members who have conducted a stellar military operation," he said, adding that, "Jan. 3, 2026. A day we will never forget."
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart praised Trump for his "decisive leadership," saying the U.S. "has faced an unprecedented national security threat from the illegitimate Maduro regime."
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