In a dramatic pre-dawn announcement that sent shockwaves through international circles, former US President Donald Trump declared the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The event, which unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, was marked by a rare and direct line of communication between the ex-president and the press.
The Dawn Announcement and a Direct Call
At precisely 4:21 am on Saturday, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to make a stunning declaration. He announced that the United States had successfully captured Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, and that they had been flown out of Venezuela. This post confirmed the suspicions that had begun brewing hours earlier when reports of explosions and airstrikes emerged from Caracas.
Just ten minutes after the social media post, at around 4:31 am, Trump's personal cellphone rang. On the line was Tyler Pager, a White House correspondent for The New York Times. Pager, who had been alerted by a colleague in Caracas about the explosions shortly after 1 a.m., made the decision to call the former president directly after consulting with senior editors. Trump answered the call after three rings.
The 50-Second Exchange and Rush to Mar-a-Lago
The historic phone call lasted a mere 50 seconds. In that brief window, Pager managed to ask four critical questions. He inquired whether Trump had sought congressional authorisation for the military operation and what Washington's next steps would be in Venezuela following the capture. Trump, however, did not delve into specifics. Instead, he urged the reporter to watch the news conference he planned to hold later that morning.
This direct engagement highlighted Trump's well-known, hands-on approach with the media. Pager noted this was a sharp contrast to the communication style of President Joe Biden, whom he was never able to interview during his White House coverage. By 9:45 am, Pager had travelled to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club and residence in Florida, where the former president was preparing to address reporters.
Context and Confirmation of a Major Operation
The events of that morning were the culmination of a months-long pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Maduro government. Internal discussions about potentially capturing the Venezuelan leader had been reported previously, making U.S. involvement the immediate suspicion when news of the explosions broke. For hours, U.S. officials had been reluctant to comment, citing concerns about compromising an ongoing mission.
Trump's subsequent press conference at Mar-a-Lago formally outlined what he described as a large-scale US military operation in Venezuela. The operation had already decisively reshaped the South American nation's political landscape. The episode offered a fresh glimpse into a presidency that frequently unfolded in real-time, driven by direct announcements and personal phone calls, continuing a pattern from Trump's time in office.
The swift capture and announcement underscore the volatile nature of international diplomacy and the enduring impact of Trump's unconventional approach to statecraft and media relations.
