Maduro and wife held on U.S. warship, Trump warns loyalists

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Trinidad Express

Jan 3, 2026 Updated 16 mins ago


U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro attempted to negotiate in the final days before U.S. forces captured him, but Trump refused the offer. “I didn’t want to negotiate,” the American president told Fox News. “I said, ‘Nope, we got to do it.’”

Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima, one of several U.S. warships deployed in the Caribbean. Survivors from prior U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking were also brought aboard the ship. Trump suggested that other Venezuelan officials who remain loyal to Maduro could face further U.S. action. “If they stay loyal, the future is really bad, really bad for them,” he said. “I’d say most of them have converted.”

The USS Iwo Jima is the lead ship of her class, the first amphibious assault ship designed from the keel up as a dedicated helicopter carrier. She typically carries helicopters and U.S. Marine Corps elements to conduct heliborne operations in support of amphibious missions.

Just days before his capture, Maduro had publicly stated his willingness to negotiate with the United States. In a pre-taped interview aired on Venezuelan state television, he told Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that Venezuela was “ready” to discuss a drug-trafficking agreement and called for serious discussions “with data in hand.”

Read more: https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/maduro-and-wife-held-on-u-s-warship-trump-warns-loyalists/article_6cf28bb9-e41c-4f35-9e69-ef4e34cfd44c.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. A true candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize

would have at least tried negotiation before abduction of a foreign leader.

I suppose that TSF had to be talked out of assassination.

[underpants]

5. Let's not miss that by not winning it he went into revenge mode

Oh yeah? I’ll show you!!

[Ritabert]

2. Let the looting of oil begin

[EX500rider]

3. Since Maduro lost the last election by 70% he was not the Venezuelan's choice but a dictator

I had read he had a Cuban security team, if so they didn't do so well.....wonder if it was Delta or SEAL Team 6....or both?

[paleotn]

7. From initial reports it was quite small and easy. Real easy.

And also highly illegal.

[EX500rider]

8. Makes me wonder if the Cuban team sold him down the river for the bounty & green cards....nt

[paleotn]

16. If they did, I bet they were bought cheap.

[mahina]

10. And we are not the election avengers of the world. This is insane.

Imagine if another country swept in and did the same thing to us?

[EX500rider]

11. If Trump lost the election by 70% but stayed in power I'd hope they do. YMMV nt

[Polybius]

18. It was the Delta Force for sure

Not sure who else, but it was reported as it being them.

[EX500rider]

22. Yeah I figured, bigger team size then ST-6 I think

[Polybius]

23. And arguably better

ST6 gets all the media hype, but I actually knew someone who was closely connected to the military during the Iraq War. He mentioned that Seals are best at being top-notch athletes, but they have the support of reinforcements. With the Green Berets and The Delta Force, they go in and are just expected to execute their mission and find their way back. He also claimed that in one-on-one, hand-to-hand (or knife) combat, Seals would lose every time.

By the way, the person who shared this with me is a Marine. He was also talking about regular Seals, not ST6, fwiw.

[CanonRay]

4. Did we have any casualties?I've seen nothing either way.

[ChicagoTeamster]

6. What is his wife charged with? Why did they take her? Just because she's his wife?

[oasis]

12. Shoulda married better?

[C_U_L8R]

9. In a Kafkaesque judicial void

I’ll be surprised if he ever appears in a US court, unless he’s express-shipped to salaried cronies like Judge Cannon.

(Btw… I’m no Maduro fan but we’re no better if we don’t stand by our principles)

[Bayard]

13. Will this act be ignored, or finally get him impeached?

Now he's going to just kidnap heads of state he doesn't like, or that he wants what they have. Who's next? What U.S. law will Maduro's wife be charged with?

I think the rest of the world should step in and kidnap trump! He's completely insane, and carrying the nuclear football.

[Sweet Rosie Red]

14. I wish....

And hope….And pray…..O Canada…….Bueller?……..Anyone?

[dameatball]

15. Doubt it. How many "This time he's gone too far" moments have there been since 2016?

[Polybius]

19. No way

Some Democrats are already praising it.

Numerous House Democrats Praise Trump’s Capture of Maduro: ‘Venezuelans Deserve the Promise of Democracy’

[Bayard]

17. Didn't President Obama have to get Congressional approval to take out Saddam Housein?

[Polybius]

20. Bush took him out, not Obama

Saddam was hung on December 30, 2006, over two years before Obama took office.

[Bayard]

21. You are quite correct

I was thinking of Osama bin Laden.

[LudwigPastorius]

24. "...Trump said...that...Maduro attempted to negotiate in the final days before U.S. forces captured him..."

Let me guess.

Maduro came to him with tears in his eyes, saying "Sir, you are the most merciful president in history, Please, sir, allow me to flee to Russia".