Overview
- President Donald Trump confirmed U.S. forces detained Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and moved them out of Venezuela, and the White House published the first official image of the captured leader.
- Model and influencer Korina Rivadeneira cheered the capture and urged a broader takedown of regime allies, later deleting posts that featured fabricated arrest images flagged as AI-generated recreations.
- Peruvian TV host Mario Hart echoed celebrations, calling Venezuela’s fallen system deeply corrupt, while other Venezuelan performers voiced relief alongside fears of reprisals against civilians.
- Reports described overnight explosions and air operations in Caracas linked to the raid, and a claim of about 40 deaths appeared in one outlet without independent corroboration.
- Coverage noted a wave of misleading visuals on social media that contrasted with the U.S. government’s photo release, underscoring the need for verification as public reactions spread.