Behind the scenes: White House releases images of Donald Trump monitoring Nicolás Maduro's capture; see pics

The White House has released images showing US President Donald Trump and his national security team monitoring Operation Absolute Resolve, the US military mission in Venezuela that culminated in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

The photographs, taken at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, show the president seated with senior officials as live updates from the operation streamed in overnight.



Trump was seen alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine, according to NBC News. US media reported that Trump closely followed the mission as American forces carried out coordinated strikes and extracted Maduro from Caracas.




Trump later confirmed that he watched the operation unfold in real time. “I watched it, literally, like I was watching a television show,” he told Fox News, describing the raid as fast-moving and highly precise.

Months of planning behind Operation Absolute Resolve

According to US officials, Operation Absolute Resolve was the result of months of covert military and intelligence planning. During this period, US forces increased their presence near Venezuela, targeted alleged drug-trafficking routes and gathered detailed intelligence on Maduro’s movements, security arrangements and daily routine.

Special forces rehearsed the mission multiple times, including training on a replica of Maduro’s compound. Gen. Caine said troops studied every aspect of the target environment to avoid errors during execution. “We rehearse not to get it right, but to make sure we cannot get it wrong,” he said.

Trump said the final go-ahead was given only after weather conditions improved, allowing helicopters to enter Venezuelan airspace under cover of darkness.

Overnight raid in Caracas

The operation was carried out early Saturday, with parts of Caracas plunged into darkness. Trump said US forces used advanced capabilities to disrupt infrastructure, though he declined to provide specifics. Multiple explosions were reported across the capital, with US officials later confirming that the raid lasted under 30 minutes.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth described it as a “massive joint military and law enforcement operation.” While Trump said no American troops were killed, a few were injured. Gen. Caine confirmed one helicopter sustained fire but returned safely.

Transfer to US custody

Following his capture, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown by helicopter to a US Navy vessel in the Caribbean before being transported to New York. Images later posted by Trump showed Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, wearing protective headphones and a blindfold.

Maduro was flown to Stewart Air Force Base in New York state and then transferred by helicopter and convoy to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Videos released by the White House and the DEA showed him being escorted and processed by US agents.

US authorities said Maduro has been indicted in Manhattan on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons offences. He is expected to make his first court appearance early next week.

Maduro has now been transferred to a detention facility in New York, where he is being held ahead of court proceedings. The MDC is the only federal jail in New York City and is known for housing high-profile inmates, including Ghislaine Maxwell, R Kelly and most recently, Sean “Diddy” Combs, according to the BBC.