Trump releases Maduro's blindfolded photo! US takes over Venezuela, oil giants enter

Trump announced on January 3rd that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Maduro, releasing photos of him with his hands cuffed and blindfolded. Trump stated that the United States would “take over and operate” Venezuela, allowing American oil companies to invest billions of dollars to repair infrastructure. This operation, involving 150 aircraft, has been called the “largest attack since World War II,” sparking intense international controversy.

Trump releases blindfolded photos shocking global opinion

(Source: Truth Social)

Photos posted by Trump on Truth Social show Maduro being transported to the amphibious assault ship “USS Sulphur Island,” with his hands cuffed and blindfolded, causing global shock. Such public humiliation of a hostile country’s leader is extremely rare; since the U.S. military captured Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 2003, this is the first time the U.S. has publicly displayed the capture of a foreign head of state in such a high-profile manner.

Trump then released a series of photos showing him and other officials watching live footage of the Venezuelan strike operation, as well as the process of Maduro and his wife being captured. This “war room” style propaganda clearly draws inspiration from the 2011 operation that killed Osama bin Laden, but is more aggressive and controversial. The photos quickly went viral on social media, with supporters praising Trump as “tough and decisive,” while critics condemned it as “imperialist ambition.”

Public information indicates that Maduro was previously indicted in 2020 by a U.S. federal court on charges including “drug trafficking and terrorism,” with prosecutors accusing him of transporting large quantities of cocaine to the U.S. via the “Sun Cartel.” Maduro has long denied these allegations. At the press conference, Trump called Maduro “a key figure in a vast criminal network” and said he would “soon face the full force of U.S. justice, to be tried on U.S. soil.” Maduro and his wife have been transported by helicopter to a naval ship anchored in the Caribbean, and will subsequently be transferred to New York for trial.

Details of the 150-aircraft raid operation revealed

Early Saturday around 2 a.m., an explosion occurred in Caracas, with signs of fire and black smoke at the scene. The Venezuelan government claimed the attack also took place in Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira states. Witnesses described the explosion as loud and continuous, with U.S. military aircraft seen in the sky. The Chavismo movement in Venezuela stated that the attack resulted in civilian and military casualties, but did not release specific figures.

Reports indicate that prior to launching this operation, Trump had pushed for a blockade of Venezuelan oil, expanded sanctions, and conducted over twenty strikes against vessels accused of drug smuggling, resulting in more than 110 deaths. This gradual escalation of military pressure paved the way for the ultimate decapitation operation.

Three key data points on the U.S. military action

Unprecedented airpower: The U.S. deployed over 150 aircraft and special operations forces, marking the largest military operation in Latin America since the 1989 overthrow of Panamanian leader Noriega.

Precision strike with zero casualties: The operation was carried out early Saturday morning without any U.S. personnel injuries or equipment losses. The assault team encountered gunfire when entering Maduro’s facility and responded with “overwhelming force.”