Overview

The 2026 Capture of Nicolás Maduro refers to a U.S. military operation, named "Operation Absolute Resolve," in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3rd, 2026, involving the strategic bombing of several military targets in the country, as well as the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with the U.S. reportedly temporarily taking charge of the country. In the months prior, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela had been growing, with the U.S. attacking boats said to be carrying drugs from Venezuela and blockading or seizing oil tankers. Oil and assets of U.S. oil companies were also major factors in the operation.

Reportedly, the U.S. launched the operation and captured Maduro after he and his wife were indicted on major drug‑trafficking and weapons charges, including charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. Maduro pleaded "not guilty" to the charges laid out before him upon his arrival in the U.S.

Nicolás Maduro's capture inspired many reactions and memes online, with some defending U.S. President Donald Trump's actions and others condemning them. Online, many Venezuelans were noted to be celebrating Maduro's capture, while numerous leftists on the internet condemned it. The legality of the operation was also questioned by many around the world. An AI-generated image of Maduro being escorted by two DEA agents started spreading online, becoming the subject of redraws, along with a real photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, shared by Trump on Truth Social.

Background

In the last quarter of 2025, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela reportedly grew as the U.S. suspected President Nicolás Maduro of allegedly working with drug traffickers to ship drugs to the U.S.^[1] To combat this, the U.S. had set the military up around the Caribbean and launched attacks and strikes on ships reportedly trafficking drugs. This was a controversial move, with the attacks on the ships killing over 100 people and sparking controversy among many.

Operation "Absolute Resolve"

The military operation against the Venezuelan regime, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was given the green light by U.S. President Donald Trump on the night of Friday, January 2nd, 2026. The operation involved over 150 aircraft and began with the U.S. cutting Venezuela’s air defence systems and a large portion of the country's power.

In the early hours of January 3rd, the military touched down at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's compound and took Maduro and his wife into custody.^[2]

The operation was reportedly launched against President Maduro and his wife after they were charged with drug trafficking, weapons and terrorism-related charges, with the U.S. also claiming that the 2024 Venezuelan election was rigged in Maduro's favor.^[2]

In the early morning of January 3rd, 2026, President Trump made a post on Truth Social^[3] announcing the success of the military operation and the capture of President Maduro, garnering over 97,000 likes in two days. A press conference about the operation was also announced.

Later that day, President Trump made another post on Truth Social^[4] sharing a photograph of President Maduro, blindfolded, on board the USS Iwo Jima.

Developments

Mar-a-Lago Press Conference

On January 3rd, 2026, President Trump held a press conference from Mar-a-Lago about the military operation and capture of President Maduro.^[5] Trump claims that no U.S. military members were injured during the operation and that the U.S. would run the country until they can do a "judicious" transfer of power. Trump claims U.S. oil companies will go in and fix the "badly broken" oil infrastructure, saying the U.S. is ready to launch a second attack if necessary. Trump says the second launch probably won't be necessary.

Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores Plead "Not Guilty"

On January 5th, 2026, President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, notably pleaded "not guilty" to the drug and weapons charges laid before them in a U.S. court.^[6]

Online Reactions

Venezuelans Celebrating vs. Condemnations

Online reactions to the military operation in Venezuela were mixed as the news spread in early January 2026. Many Venezuelans were reported to be celebrating the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro, with the New York Post posting a video of Venezuelans celebrating on its YouTube^[7] channel that gained over 789,000 views in two days.

Meanwhile, others, including those in online leftist and anti-Trump spaces, condemned the attack, while online conservatives and Trump supporters celebrated the operation.

For example, on January 3rd, 2026, music critic Anthony Fantano (@theneedledrop), known to share progressive leftist political takes, posted on Twitter / X,^[8] "I’m just sick america is one of the most disgusting countries in all of human history," garnering over 17,000 likes in two days.

That same day, X^[9] user @mykectown posted, "The US is fucking evil and I don’t even understand how that’s up for debate anymore," garnering over 3,000 likes in two days.

Also on January 3rd, leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker quoted an X^[10] post criticizing him for condemning the attack, framing the operation as being all about oil, writing, "one more regime change for oil, I promise it'll be different this time!" garnering over 32,000 likes in two days.

On that same day, Redditor aleopop posted a meme to the /r/dankmemes^[11] subreddit making fun of "western socialists" condemning the operation, garnering over 4,500 upvotes in two days.

Nicolás Maduro Arrest Photo Memes

The photograph of President Nicolás Maduro blindfolded and under arrest on the USS Iwo Jima became the subject of memes across social media, including image macro formats and edits.

Some memes include edits that replace Maduro with another character and memes that compare Maduro's looks in the photo to disgraced streamer Dr. Disrespect.

Nicolás Maduro's Outfit Changes / Nike Tech

Surrounding President Nicolás Maduro's arrest, memes and posts documenting and poking fun at his outfits and the frequency with which he seemed to change outfits between moments went viral online.

On January 3rd, 2026, Instagram^[12] user spaceshiptiger posted a Steal His Look meme about Maduro's Nike Tech arrest outfit, garnering over 5,300 likes in two days. Reportedly, Nike sold out of Nike Tech tracksuits after the photo went viral.^[13]

On January 4th, X^[14] user @Sarges_Kid posted a compilation of Maduro's outfit changes since his arrest, writing, "More outfit changes than a Taylor Swift concert 😝," garnering around 10 likes in a day.

Nicolás Maduro AI Arrest Photo Redraws

On January 3rd, 2026, an AI-generated image of Maduro being escorted, created by the Instagram^[15] account ultravfx, started going viral online. The image and meme, known as Urgente – Cayo Maduro – Capturado, became the widespread subject of redraws, in which Maduro and the people arresting him are replaced with popular characters.

Search Interest

External References