MSM downplays the real reason Trump just attacked Venezuela

After threatening to do so for several months, the United States has launched a direct military attack on the sovereign nation of Venezuela. Images and videos show multiple explosions occurred in the capital Caracas, as well as Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. Venezuelans additionally reported the presence of low-flying aircraft.

BREAKING: Explosions are rocking Caracas, Venezuela while their citizens are sleeping, as it appears the so-called "Peace President" trump is starting a war without Congress' approval.

Those Epstein files must be really, really bad.pic.twitter.com/B3qohuQx4Z

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) January 3, 2026

While the US initially did not admit to perpetrating the attacks, it has since taken responsibility. It also claims to have captured president Nicolás Maduro and flown him out of the country.

The “Peace President” just announced a unilateral bombing & regime change in Venezuela – no Congress – then schedules a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, the same venue where Vanilla Ice recently performed with a Ninja Turtle.

America is no longer a serious country. pic.twitter.com/bSBm4IUQxY

— Canada Hates Trump (@AntiTrumpCanada) January 3, 2026

Of course, Donald Trump openly admitted in 2023 exactly why he would want to attack Venezuela: its oil:

Trump has, in recent years, been very open about why he wants to pursue regime change in Venezuela. It's about the oil, pure and simple.

And any media organisation which doesn't foreground this context is simply low-information parrot squawk. https://t.co/HzDQDkTHLq

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) January 3, 2026

Yet so far, much of the corporate media has either failed to centre the US’s potential resource grab in the story – or, like the BBC, even mention it at all. Both Sky News and the Independent mentioned Trump’s end-game over oil in passing in their live coverage. Yet the Financial Times said nothing at all.

Multiple US strikes on Venezuela

Several sources published images and videos of the US attack on Venezuela, including Mohamad Safa who works with the UN:

The United States is bombing Venezuela while the people are asleep!

Venezuela produces less than 1% of the world’s illegal drugs. But they do have the world’s largest proven oil reserve.

Still think this is really about stopping the cartels? pic.twitter.com/N1iJHzbZfz

— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) January 3, 2026

Marwa Osman of Press TV shared the following video:

This is what Caracas looks like right now… another country under attack by U.S. imperialism, without a single prior provocation. Venezuela has never killed a single American citizen.

The world's real terrorists are the imperialists, not those who resist them.#StopUSTerrorism pic.twitter.com/OuEUPSPqjv

— Marwa Osman || مروة عثمان (@Marwa__Osman) January 3, 2026

Drop Site and Hasan Piker also commented on the unfolding situation:

belligerent mad man sitting on the throne of a dying empire lashing out in every direction pulling the rest of the world into chaos and destruction. https://t.co/z6XAM82K7S

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) January 3, 2026

Reportedly, the US may have struck a graveyard:

Repugnant state terror straight from the gusano-neocon imagination of Marco Rubio https://t.co/LpTAHrCdsM

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) January 3, 2026

Kidnapped

Several hours after the attack, the US claimed to have captured Maduro and to have flown him out of the country. America had a $50m reward out for Maduro’s capture.

Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, the vice president of Venezuela, has confirmed they do not know where Maduro and his wife are. She has also demanded “immediate proof of life”.

The defence minister, meanwhile, has said Venezuela will “resist” foreign troops should the US launch a ground invasion. Since this statement, they have deployed the armed forces nationwide.

⚡️#BREAKING Venezuela's defense minister is alive and has released a video message calling for an "anti-imperialist and liberation war" against the American empire. pic.twitter.com/Wo0vjUwBd8

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) January 3, 2026

The US, meanwhile, has said there will be ‘no further action’ following the kidnapping. This information comes from a conversation between senator Mike Lee and secretary of state Marco Rubio.

Many have criticised America’s latest intervention, including Jeremy Corbyn of Your Party:

The US has launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Venezuela.

This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.

It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk — and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty…

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 3, 2026

People have also linked the aggression towards Venezuela with the country’s oil reserves, including Your Party’s Zarah Sultana:

Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves — and that’s no coincidence.

This is naked U.S. imperialism: an illegal assault on Caracas aimed at overthrowing a sovereign government and plundering its resources.

Starmer’s Labour government must condemn this unequivocally.…

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) January 3, 2026