In a bold military operation early Saturday morning, the Trump administration captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, labelling him a narco-terrorist accused of corruption, election theft, and destroying his nation.

Maduro, who “ruled Venezuela illegally after stealing the last election,” now faces serious criminal charges in the U.S. for starving his people, imprisoning opponents, and killing millions. As one exile put it: “He is a violent man... And he killed millions of people.”

“If Trump needs that oil to give us freedom, then that’s the price we’re willing to pay.”

A Venezuelan exile explains to me in Florida that everyone is in Venezuela for the oil — China, Russia — but if it’s about restoring freedom, she prefers Trump over everyone else. pic.twitter.com/wR8cxot4ex

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) January 5, 2026

In Doral, Florida — home to the largest Venezuelan exile community in the U.S. — the news sparked jubilant celebrations. Streets filled with chants of “Libertad!” as families danced and waved flags. “People are so happy with what we've done,” President Trump said after approving the military operation in Venezuela.

This sentiment was echoed from Miami to Caracas.

One woman shared, “We are happy for what is happening. To see my family again. To be back in my country.” Another, born in Venezuela but raised in Miami, said, “This just really fills my heart to know that Maduro was able to be captured after so many years. It honestly felt so unreal.”

🇻🇪 Former Venezuelan journalist now exiled in Florida says Trump "did what he had to do" by capturing dictator Maduro.

The woman says she was targeted by the regime for raising her voice while working, having to flee as a single mother to the US. pic.twitter.com/KHxZRW873r

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) January 6, 2026

Exiles recounted harrowing escapes from persecution. A journalist fled as a single mother with just $100 after being attacked by regime gangs: “I am a journalist. I came as a single mother with my daughter with one hundred dollars fleeing... the colectivos (far-left Venezuelan armed paramilitary groups) pulled me and there I said I have to go now.”

A military wife explained, “My husband is a major in the Venezuelan army, we have been here for 12 years in this country because we fled the persecution against him... we came out in December 2013 and well we were persecuted because my husband thought differently.”

"You're our Simon Bolivar reincarnated in you... you have my support. I thank you for everything... You're the best president on a global level."

Venezuelan exile I spoke to in Florida gives her message to President Trump after his capture of dictator Maduro. pic.twitter.com/oSPCnFuRfH

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) January 7, 2026

Gratitude poured toward President Trump, hailed as a liberator: “Thank you for having freed us, you are our Simon Bolivar, reincarnated in you.”

One admitted, “I may not agree with him in everything... but he had the balls to do that.”

Despite family separations, hope reigns: “This is the beginning of that liberty, because this is a spiritual war... we have faith.”

For these exiles, Maduro's fall ends decades of slavery to injustice: “We've been for many years, more than 30 years, a slave to the unjust and that, finally, we're free.”

As one celebrated, “It's about time that somebody did something... I'm happy for the Venezuelan people.”

Help Fund Our Reporting on the Liberation of Venezuela

Rebel News is sending two journalists to fly down to cover this story from the point of view of the Venezuelan exiles living in Miami. They were surprised by this miraculous removal of the tyrant, someone who had haunted them and until now seemed impossible to remove. But after this morning’s surgical strike, everything feels possible again to them.

If you think it’s important to hear the other side of the story — directly from the mouths of people who had to flee Maduro’s atrocities — please consider chipping in a few dollars to cover the costs of our economy-class airfare to Miami, and our modest hotel.

Between the two of us, we expect our expenses to be $3,000. Unlike the CBC — who loved Maduro, and hate Trump — we get no government money; we’re 100% viewer-supported!

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