Networks provided early morning special reports on Saturday as explosions were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, what President Donald Trump later confirmed was a “large scale strike” in the country and that it’s leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country.
Trump, in Mar-a-Lago for the holiday break, posted at 4:21 a.m. ET, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
NBC News’ Peter Alexander anchored an NBC News special report from 4 a.m. ET to 6:45 a.m. ET, before anchoring Saturday Today with Laura Jarrett.
ABC News’ Alison Kosik provided a special report, noting that “there have been scenes of multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft,” starting about 2 a.m. local time.
CBS News’ Jennifer Jacobs reported that Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the elite special mission unit. The network also was up with an early morning special report, with images of explosions in Caracas.
Fox News’ Chanley Painter anchored coverage starting in the 1 a.m. ET hour, along with Eric Shawn through the early morning. Griff Jenkins took over coverage at 5 a.m. ET, leading up to Fox & Friends Weekend at 6 a.m. ET. Trump later talked on the phone to the network. “I watched it literally like I was watching a TV show,” Trump said of the U.S. operation. “The speed, the violence … it was an amazing thing. It was amazing job that these people did.”
On CNN, anchor Elex Michaelson, who hosts a nightly show from Los Angeles, reported at about 1:42 a.m. on the explosions heard in Caracas. He eported that CNN’s own teams “personally witnessed explosions” starting at around 1:15 a.m. in the morning local time. He then went to a phone interview with journalist Mary Mena.
The strikes may have been a surprise in timing, but not that they were carried out, as media attention has focused on the increased U.S. military pressure campaign against Maduro. But it also raises questions of Trump’s authority to carry out the strikes without congressional authorization.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) wrote on X, “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.” He later wrote that he had a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “He informed me that Nicolás 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. This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) wrote on X, “Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress. Trump rejected our Constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the Administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi later said that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi wrote.
Trump is scheduled to have a news conference at 11 a.m. ET.
More to come.
