Utah leaders react to U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah leaders are reacting to the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.

The United States carried out a lightning military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and spiriting them out of the country. American officials say the pair will face narco-terrorism charges in U.S. courts.

The overnight operation left Venezuela reeling, with its leadership uncertain and details of casualties and the impact on its military still to emerge. Countries across the region and the wider world were absorbing the destabilizing implications of the apparently unilateral U.S. action.

Sen. Mike Lee was among the first to comment.

Sen. Lee first reacted to the news early Saturday morning, stating, “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force” on X.

Within a couple hours, Lee said that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Just got off the phone with @SecRubio,” Lee posted on X. “He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”

Lee added that Rubio anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.

Utah Sen. John Curtis also spoke on the matter.

“I’ve stood on the border between Venezuela and Colombia and witnessed the level of human suffering inflicted by the Maduro regime. I’ve seen the human cost of failed authoritarian socialism made even worse by the ties to drug cartels, terrorist groups, Russia, and Iran which threaten Americans in our own hemisphere,” Sen. Curtis posted on X. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I expect a full and timely briefing on the nature, scope, and impact of these actions.”

Utah Rep. Burgess Owens also commented, praising Trump’s decision and the “courage, discipline, and precision” of American military forces.

“American forces acted with courage, discipline, and precision to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, a narco-terrorist responsible for the deaths of over 300,000 innocent Americans. Indicted and criminally charged in U.S. federal court in 2020 he was never a legitimate head of Venezuela,” Owens posted on X. “I am deeply grateful to those who executed this action and thankful that no American lives were lost. I am praying for the full recovery of those injured. Justice is finally being served, and Venezuela now has a real chance at a future free from criminal rule and rooted in law, stability, and freedom. God bless America and the Venezuelan people.”

Rep. Mike Kennedy said he is “closely monitoring” the situation in Venezuela.

“The Nicolás Maduro regime has long operated as narco-terrorists and a serious driver of drug cartel activity in the United States,” Rep. Kennedy said on X. “I await President Trump’s further clarity regarding the scope and strategic intent of these actions.”

Sen. Nate Blouin denounced the attack, calling for Trump’s impeachment.

“We cannot let this happen. Trump is dragging us into another conflict and Congress is enabling him. Stop playing along,” Blouin posted on X.

After President Trump’s press conference, Blouin posted again on X saying, “Trump just made clear this attack was not about democracy, but about oil. He will be handing the Venezuelan oil industry to American oligarchs who support corporate-backed politicians on both sides of the aisle.”

He went on to say, “It will be abundantly clear who was serious when they called for an end to American imperialism and who was merely bowing to Trump. I am committed to opposing unchecked US military interventions, whether in Gaza or in Caracas.”

Salt Lake City Councilman, Carlos Moreno posted his statement on X stating, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the calls, texts, and messages from hundreds of friends today. My family and I are deeply moved by the outpouring of love we’ve received regarding the fall of the Venezuelan regime. This moment is incredibly personal to me. Just a few years ago, I was a political asylee who had lost his country and today, I share this statement as a Salt Lake County Councilman and a proud American citizen. America is not a dream; America is a miracle!”

Other Utah leaders are expected to react to the news of Maduro’s capture on Saturday.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

Latest headlines:

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.