Venezuelans are responding with mixed emotions following the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces, expressing relief, anxiety and uncertainty about the country’s future.
Residents cautiously emerged onto the streets of Caracas on Saturday after a night of explosions, with reactions ranging from celebration to anger. Some citizens said Maduro’s removal offered hope after years of political repression and economic hardship, though many feared instabilities in the days ahead.
Several people who spoke anonymously said they were grateful to the United States but uncertain about what would follow. While some welcomed promises of international support and investment, others questioned US President Donald Trump’s long-term intentions.
At the same time, Maduro loyalists staged protests in Caracas, demanding his release. Mayor Carmen Meléndez denounced the arrest as a “kidnapping,” while government supporters rallied in defense of the ruling party.
Maduro, who has ruled since 2013 and is accused by Washington of drug trafficking and weapons charges, is being extradited to New York along with his wife. The US says it will temporarily oversee Venezuela’s administration and oil resources until a new leadership is established.
Fear remains widespread as pro-government armed groups patrol neighborhoods and laws criminalize support for US actions. With nearly eight million Venezuelans living in exile, many say Maduro’s arrest marks only the beginning of a long and uncertain transition.
Earlier on Saturday, after months of growing military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump ordered a brazen operation into the South American country to capture its leader and whisk him to the United States where his administration planned to put him on trial.
In a Saturday morning interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend,” Trump laid out the details of the overnight strike, after which he said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown by helicopter to a U.S. warship.
