2:20 AM on the 4th 

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference at the White House in Washington on the 3rd (local time). / Photo courtesy of White House YouTube video

U.S. President Donald Trump declared, "I will bring the Maduros to justice under U.S. law." 

President Trump stated at a press conference held at the White House in Washington on the 3rd (local time), "We plan to provisionally govern Venezuela until a safe, orderly, and peaceful transition can occur." 

He announced, "Both Maduro and his wife are now facing American justice. They will be indicted in New York on charges of deadly drug trafficking terrorism against the United States and Americans." 

Comparing this operation to a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, he emphasized, "No country in the world could have achieved what the United States accomplished yesterday." 

He stated, "The Venezuelan military was quickly overwhelmed and neutralized. We succeeded in a marvelous attack with overwhelming military power, and it is one of the most amazing, effective, and powerful displays of U.S. military might and capability in American history." 

He added, "No U.S. soldiers were killed and no U.S. equipment was damaged during this operation. We are prepared for a 'much larger' second strike if necessary and have all military options available."

Meanwhile, María Corina Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her dedication to the struggle against electoral fraud in Venezuela, strongly supported the U.S. move to arrest Maduro, stating, "The time for freedom has come for Venezuela." 

U.S. President Donald Trump released a photo of Nicolás Maduro being escorted via social media on the 3rd (local time). Maduro, in handcuffs, holds a bottle of water and wears sunglasses and headphones. Maduro is strongly suspected of involvement in electoral fraud worldwide, and significant attention is focused on his potential testimony in U.S. court. [Photo: Trump Truth Social account]

By Heo Gyeom

[Comprehensive Report 2] Trump Conducts All-Night Interview with New York Post After Arresting Venezuela's Maduro 

10:30 PM on the 3rd 

Delta Force Operation Realized... Venezuelan President Maduro Arrested

Venezuela Also Designated as a Source of Electoral Fraud, Beyond Drug Crimes

Machado: "Ready to Inherit the Venezuelan Government"

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. [AFP=Yonhap News]

President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that early on the 3rd, the United States arrested Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Venezuela through a "large-scale operation." 

In an overnight phone interview with the New York Post, he stated, "This secret operation was brilliant. There was thorough planning, excellent soldiers, and excellent people. It was a truly magnificent operation."

Currently, it is reported that Delcy Rodríguez, the first in line for presidential succession in Venezuela, is demanding "proof of Maduro's survival."

Vice President Rodríguez conveyed through X (formerly Twitter), "The homeland of the Liberator has been attacked. In this situation, we do not know the whereabouts of President Maduro. We demand proof of President Maduro's survival from Donald Trump. People, take to the streets!"

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reposted a tweet he made in July after news of Maduro's arrest broke.

Secretary Rubio stated, "Maduro is not a legitimate president but the head of the drug trafficking terrorist organization 'Cartel of the Sun.' He has been indicted for smuggling drugs into the United States."

In a phone call with Senator Mike Lee (Republican, Utah), Secretary Rubio said, "Maduro will face judicial proceedings in the United States."

Senator Lee stated on X, "Just finished a call with Rubio (@SecRubio). He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial for criminal charges in the United States, and that the military action witnessed tonight was deployed to protect and defend the personnel executing the arrest warrant."

Lee added, "This action likely falls within the President's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect Americans from actual or imminent attack," and thanked Secretary Rubio for the information.

"Given that Maduro is now in U.S. custody, we do not anticipate any further actions in Venezuela," he concluded.

This arrest is an extension of the indictment of Maduro by the U.S. Department of Justice in March 2020 (during Trump's first term).

International law includes a provision for Head of State Immunity, which grants absolute immunity (Immunity Ratione Personae) from foreign criminal jurisdiction to the head of state of a country.

Therefore, the second Trump administration did not recognize Maduro as the president of Venezuela, and even the State Department reportedly referred to him simply as a "strongman." This would have satisfied the legal requirements under U.S. law. 

President Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort residence at 11:00 AM local time (1:00 AM KST on the 4th) to discuss the details of this operation.

Additionally, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado has reportedly stated, "I am prepared to take over the Venezuelan government," separately from Vice President Rodríguez.

By Im Yo-hee

U.S. Government Abruptly Arrests Venezuela's Maduro... Being Transported Abroad 

[Report 1: 7:53 PM on the 3rd] 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 3rd (local time) that he had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife alive and was transporting them abroad.

President Trump stated via his social media platform Truth Social that U.S. military and judicial authorities had jointly captured President and Mrs. Maduro alive and transported them out of Venezuela.

According to foreign media, early on the 3rd, U.S. forces conducted a surprise air raid on key facilities in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, and other locations. It is reported that Delta Force, an elite special operations unit of the U.S. Army, was deployed for this arrest operation. 

Live broadcast of Maduro's escort via a local YouTube channel. [Photo: YouTube capture]

Just three hours before the outbreak of hostilities, Maduro was meeting with a special envoy from Xi Jinping who was visiting Caracas. China is reportedly taken aback by this unexpected development. For reference, approximately 60% of Venezuela's daily crude oil production of 1.2 million barrels is exported to China. [Photo: X]

Local media reported that simultaneously with the air raid, fighter jets were observed flying at low altitudes over Caracas, and multiple explosions were heard, along with a widespread power outage across the city.

The Maduro government immediately declared a state of national emergency and strongly protested, labeling the action as a "serious military invasion" by the United States. 

The Trump administration had been continuously pressuring President Maduro, indicting him on charges of involvement in drug trafficking and criminal organizations, and even offering a $15 million reward.

Furthermore, Venezuela is known to have been deeply involved in interfering with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, in addition to drug-related crimes. 

Meanwhile, just three hours before the outbreak of hostilities, Maduro was meeting with a special envoy from Xi Jinping who was visiting Caracas. China is reportedly taken aback by this unexpected development. For reference, approximately 60% of Venezuela's daily crude oil production of 1.2 million barrels is exported to China. 

President Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort residence at 11:00 AM local time (1:00 AM KST on the 4th) to discuss the details of this operation. 

By Im Yo-hee