Key moments in the US arrest of and case against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

After apparent months of planning, the U.S. strike that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro unfolded swiftly over the weekend, with American forces converging on Caracas to arrest Maduro and his wife.

In subsequent days, Maduro would be spirited from a U.S. warship to a plane and ultimately a downtown Manhattan courthouse, where he would enter a not guilty plea on narco-terrorism charges.

Trump and U.S. military leaders gave details of the operation, and Venezuelan officials spoke out against it. Global leaders considered the situation in venues including the United Nations, and Venezuelans living in the U.S. celebrated the news of Maduro’s capture.

This is how the operation unfolded:

10:46 p.m. EST: Trump gives go-ahead for U.S. strikes in Venezuela.

1:01 a.m. EST: U.S. forces arrive at Maduro compound in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

3:29 a.m. EST: U.S. forces are “over the water” — meaning beyond the coastline — on their way from Venezuela back to American ships stationed in the Caribbean Sea.

4:21 a.m. EST: Trump announces on Truth Social that the U.S. has carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela and captured Maduro. The U.S. president says he will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. EST.

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Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.”

She added, “We demand proof of life.” ————————- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York, vowing in a social media post that the couple will “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” —————————— In South Florida, Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro’s capture at a rally held outside a South American eatery. —————— Trump told Fox News that the couple were aboard the U.S. warship Iwo Jima and headed to New York, where they would face prosecution. ————————— The Justice Department released a new indictment accusing Maduro and his wife for their alleged roles in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. ———————— Trump posted a photo on social media showing Maduro wearing a sweatsuit and a blindfold with the caption “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.” —————————- Accompanying Trump at a press conference — which got underway nearly 40 minutes after its scheduled 11 a.m. EST start time — were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Stephen Miller, a top White House aide overseeing homeland security matters. ——————— Trump said the U.S. was “ going to run” Venezuela until a “judicious” transition of power. At that moment, there were no visible signs the U.S. was controlling the country. ———————— In a televised address to the nation lasting less than 15 minutes, Rodríguez left open the door for dialogue with the U.S. while also seeking to calm ruling party supporters.

“Here, we have a government with clarity, and I repeat and repeat again … we are willing to have respectful relations,” she said, referring to the Trump administration. “It is the only thing we will accept for a type of relationship after having attacked (Venezuela).”

Venezuela’s high court ordered Rodriguez to assume the role of interim president, and the leader was backed by Venezuela’s military. ——————- A plane carrying Maduro arrived in New York following his capture by the U.S., an AP source said.

In a statement read on Cuban state TV, the Cuban government announced that the American military strikes in Venezuela had killed 32 Cuban military and police officers who had been on a mission at the request of Venezuela’s government.

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In comments aboard Air Force One flying from Florida to Washington, Trump said Venezuela was sick and needed U.S. support, adding: “Colombia’s very sick, too. Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he’s not going to be doing it very long.”

Asked if that might mean a U.S. operation that could target Colombia President Gustavo Petro, Trump responded, “Sounds good to me.”

Saying he had repeatedly offered U.S. troops to Mexico, which he said “has to get their act together” on drug trafficking, Trump said President Claudia Sheinbaum is “concerned, she’s a little afraid.”

Questioned about U.S. military force in Cuba, however, Trump said: “I think it’s just going to fall. ... I don’t think we need any action.”

Maduro arrives at the federal courthouse in New York City. ————— The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting, where both allies and adversaries of the United States voiced opposition to the U.S. raid.

Maduro's son appeared in Venezuela’s National Assembly, where the country’s lawmakers elected in parliamentary elections last May were set to be sworn in. Maduro Guerra, also known as “Nicolásito,” demanded that his parents be returned by American authorities and called on international support.

———————— Maduro made his first appearance in a U.S. courtroom following his capture. —————————- Maduro pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court, telling a judge, “I am a decent man, the president of my country.”

Maduro’s next court date is set for March 17.

In this courtroom sketch, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, left, and his wife, Cilia Flores, second from right, appear in Manhattan federal court with their defense attorneys Mark Donnelly, second from left, and Andres Sanchez, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

United States' Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz addresses the Security Council Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada speaks during a meeting of the Security Council Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Workers fly the Cuban flag at half-mast at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune near the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in memory of Cubans who died two days before in Caracas, Venezuela during the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

An airplane carrying captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lands at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

President Donald Trump listens to a question during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla., as Secretary of State Marco Rubio watches. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Maribel Gonzalez celebrates outside Versailles Cuban Cuisine after President Donald Trump announced President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of Venezuela, in Miami, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)

Pedestrians run after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon voters on Tuesday rejected a gas tax increase passed last year by Democratic lawmakers, a victory for Republicans who put the issue to voters just as the war with Iran was causing prices at the pump to soar.

Democrats had raised the state gas tax by 6 cents a gallon and increased a series of fees to help pay for road improvements and plug a hole in the state’s transportation budget. Republicans responded by launching a successful referendum campaign to refer the tax and fee increases to voters.

The failure of the gas tax was no surprise to Democrats, who acknowledged the timing of the vote was against them. The tax increase also ran counter to national Democrats’ strategy of focusing on affordability concerns in the hopes of winning back control of Congress in this year’s midterm elections.

Republicans sought to counter Democrats’ affordability messaging by portraying the tax and fee increases as further fueling the high cost of living. Democrats, meanwhile, said the root cause of the spike in gas prices was President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) —

Oregon voters faced a familiar theme on their primary ballot Tuesday — well-financed Democratic incumbents looking to slide past little-known challengers while Republicans attempted to nominate candidates who could put up a fight in November in a heavily blue state.

As Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley easily won their primaries, much of the Election Day drama centered less on candidate races and more on a referendum seeking to repeal a bill passed last fall by the Democratic-controlled Legislature that raised the state gas tax and hiked a series of fees.

The legislation was Democrats' answer to help Oregon's transportation budget as the state projects a decline in gas tax revenue from the shift to more fuel-efficient, electric and hybrid vehicles. The gas tax is the largest funding source for fixing roads and upgrading highways.

The referendum, known as Measure 120, lands on the ballot as the cost of gas is spiking nationwide from the war in Iran. Kotek and other lawmakers from her party have acknowledged it will be tough for the ballot measure to pass. A yes vote means voters approve of the gas tax increase while a no vote means they reject it.

“It’s going to lose, so we might as well get on to the work of finding alternatives,” said Democratic state Rep. Paul Evans, anticipating that voters will reject the gas tax increase. “It has been a frustrating year.”

Republicans began circulating a petition to repeal the tax and fee increases soon after Kotek signed the legislation. It didn’t take them long to gather more than three times the number of signatures required to place the measure on the ballot.

With the referendum going before voters at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, Republicans are trying to turn the tables on national Democrats’ messaging about affordability and lowering the cost of living during this year’s midterm elections.

“Oregonians are paying more today and not getting more in return,” said Republican state Sen. Bruce Starr, who helped lead the referendum campaign. “So are they going to, at the polls, vote to increase the price of gas another six cents? I doubt it.”

The Democrats' transportation funding bill raised the state gas tax from 40 cents a gallon to 46 cents a gallon while also boosting a payroll tax for transit projects and vehicle registration and title fees. At a Portland gas station recently, some voters said they were sympathetic to the need to raise money for road upkeep while others said a tax increase was just too much to swallow.

“At a time when everything is more costly ... nobody wants to pay more for anything,” said Josh Hansen, 39.

Kotek and other Democrats have linked the rise in gas prices to President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, yet the party has not organized efforts to support the gas tax increase on the ballot. If the tax and fee increases pass, they would take effect 30 days after approval by voters.

Trump, for his part, recently said he will move to suspend the federal gas tax of 18 cents a gallon, which would need to be approved by Congress.

Late Tuesday afternoon, a steady stream of voters arrived at a Portland library serving as a ballot drop site. Even in the progressive hub, Democratic voters were divided on the measure asking whether to approve the gas tax increase.

“I feel like the roads need to be repaired as a bicyclist, so I voted yes,” said Gail Watnick, a 56-year-old who arrived by bike wearing a bright yellow helmet.

David Trujillo, 25, said he voted for Kotek in the primary but voted against the gas tax increase.

“I think at the moment, with the gas prices being up and with the war that is occurring, it’s very difficult for folks to get around,” he said. “If the gas prices were to rise, I think that would be a huge barrier for more of our community members.”

Kotek, who is seeking reelection, faced nine primary opponents who reported raising little to no money and don't have experience in elected office.

Republicans have a crowded primary field of 14 candidates vying to run against her in November. They include state Sen. Christine Drazan, who lost to Kotek in the 2022 general election, and state Rep. Ed Diehl, who helped lead the gas tax referendum campaign.

The primary also includes Chris Dudley, a former NBA player whose career included time with the Portland Trail Blazers and who narrowly lost a previous bid for governor in 2010, and David Medina, a conservative influencer who was among those charged after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and pardoned by President Donald Trump last year. Medina faced charges that included obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and several misdemeanors that included destruction of government property and disorderly and disruptive conduct.

So far, Drazan and Dudley have reported raising the most money. Dudley notably received a $1 million contribution from Phil Knight, the billionaire co-founder of Nike, which is based in Oregon.

Whoever emerges faces a difficult path to the governor's office. Democrats appear energized around the country this year, and Oregon hasn't elected a Republican governor in over 40 years.

Voters also are casting ballots in primaries for U.S. Senate and the state's six U.S. House seats, five of which are held by Democrats.

Oregon's 5th Congressional District, considered its most competitive, was flipped by Republicans for the first time in decades in 2022 but reclaimed by Democrats in 2024. The district stretches from southern Portland across the Cascade Range to Bend.

The incumbent, Democratic Rep. Janelle Bynum, has more than $2 million on hand and is running against a primary opponent who has not reported raising any money.

Two candidates, a county commissioner and a political consultant, are running in the district’s Republican primary.

The other U.S. House seats are considered largely safe for the current incumbents.

Seven Republicans are running in the primary to challenge Merkley in the fall.

A voter drops off their ballot at a library in Portland, Ore. serving as a ballot dropbox site as Oregon held primary elections on May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Claire Rush)

An American flag flies near a sign for fuel prices at a gas station on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

People fill up fuel tanks at a gas station on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

A person walks across the street as a sign for fuel prices is displayed at a gas station on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

A person fills a tank with fuel at a gas station on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)