NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Saturday, January 3, 2026
19 snips
Jan 4, 2026 Nicolás Maduro has been captured in a high-stakes U.S. military operation, raising questions about Venezuela's future. President Trump has declared U.S. oversight during the country's transition. The operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, involved meticulous planning and extensive resources. Legal experts dissect the narco-terrorism charges against Maduro. Reactions from neighboring countries prompt security alerts, while travel chaos unfolds in the Caribbean. Amid celebrations and fears, the region grapples with what lies ahead for its citizens.
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Daring Nighttime Raid In Caracas
- Explosions lit up Caracas as U.S. forces struck military targets and captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife inside their compound.
- President Trump later posted a photo of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima and his plane landed in New York.
Operation Was Highly Controlled And Publicly Assertive
- The White House publicly framed the mission as precise and rehearsed, with the president watching operations in real time from Mar-a-Lago.
- President Trump declared the U.S. will run Venezuela temporarily and spoke of taking back nationalized oil facilities.
Extensive Planning Underpinned The Raid
- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said Operation Absolute Resolve involved months of planning, 150 aircraft and launch from 20 bases.
- Officials tracked Maduro's habits closely to execute a four-and-a-half-hour operation with no American fatalities.