Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (REUTERS)
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CNBC TV1803-01-2026, 20:48

Trump Ends Maduro's 12-Year Rule in Venezuela; Leader Captured

  • President Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, ending his 12-year heavy-handed rule.
  • Maduro, successor to Hugo Chavez, faced accusations of dictatorship, human rights abuses, and presiding over severe economic and social crises.
  • His rule was marked by fraudulent elections, jailing opponents, and violent suppression of protests, leading to widespread poverty and a migrant exodus.
  • The US intensified pressure with sanctions, a $50 million reward for his arrest, military buildup, and CIA operations, which Maduro called an "economic war."
  • UN missions confirmed serious human rights violations by Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard under Maduro's government.

Why It Matters: Trump's decisive action ends Maduro's oppressive 12-year reign in Venezuela, marking a major shift.

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