Maduro abduction coincides with anniversary of Noriega raid in Panama

Published January 3, 2026 11:59am ET



President Donald Trump‘s administration apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of another U.S. raid against a South American strongman with striking parallels.

Trump announced Saturday morning that a special forces military operation “successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela […] done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement” — culminating in the arrest of the dictator.

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