U.S. Launches “Absolute Resolve,” Topples Venezuelan President Maduro in Rapid Caracas Assault

Early in the morning on January 3, the United States, led by Donald Trump, invaded the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, to carry out a long-in-the-making plan to forcibly remove the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. Maduro, who has been the authoritarian president of Venezuela since 2013, was seen entering the United States later the same day in a post shared by Trump on Truth Social with a black blindfold over his face. 

The operation, which was titled “Absolute Resolve” included extensive planning for multiple months and numerous replicated practices of the attack. This attack lasted less than 30 minutes, according to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, reported that Venezuelan citizens and military personnel were killed during the attack, and also reported at least seven explosions being heard around Caracas. It is reported that at least 40 Venezuelans were killed.

Following a series of strikes carried out by the United States military, on what Trump described as drug-carrying boats off the coast of Venezuela, the operation has been described as a “dramatic escalation” by the Associated Press and “highly dangerous” by the New York Times. Trump plans to put Maduro on trial for drug trafficking and corruption. The Trump administration described Maduro as a cartel leader and will be charging him with narco-terrorism and trafficking. 

The United States will “run the country for the foreseeable future”, according to an article published by Adam B. Kushner of the New York Times. Trump also claims that the United States will soon rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector, which is one of the largest reserves in the world, next to Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

In August of 2025, members of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. entered Venezuela to study Maduro’s movements within the country. In an interview for the New York Times with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA. spies studied where Maduro studied, travelled, ate, wore, and what pets he owned. The CIA received help from a source within the Venezuelan government. 

Rodríguez, as vice president, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president, and on January 3, made a televised address to Venezuela in which she made it clear that she viewed the United States as an illegal invader that the citizens of Venezuela must reject. Rodríguez said in this address, “We are determined to be free; what is being done to Venezuela is barbarity.” She also said, “We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses and false pretences, and that the masks had fallen off, revealing only one objective: regime change in Venezuela. This regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy, mineral and natural resources. This is the true objective, and the world and the international community must know it.”

As the United States and the Trump Administration move forward with Maduro’s trials and the overthrow of Venezuela, many questions are being raised concerning the legality of Trump’s move and whether Congress should have had a part in the decision. Countries that Venezuela exports oil to, such as China, which are also raising questions about whether or not they will get involved as well.