Senior editors at both The New York Times and The Washingthon Post reportedly received sensitive operational details shortly before the mission and decided to temporarily withhold the information after internal deliberations.
BY PC Bureau
January 4, 2026: The New York Times and The Washington Post were informed of a secret US military operation targeting Venezuela shortly before it was launched but deliberately chose not to publish the information, citing concerns that disclosure could endanger American troops, according to reports.
American news outlet Semafor, quoting sources familiar with communications between the US administration and the media organisations, said senior editors at both newspapers were briefed on highly sensitive operational details in advance of the mission. After internal discussions, the newsrooms agreed to temporarily withhold publication in the interest of troop safety.
The decision reflects a longstanding practice in American journalism of exercising restraint on matters of national security when lives are at stake. The move is particularly notable given the strained relationship between US President Donald Trump and legacy media organisations in recent years.\READ:
🚨Breaking— Plans for secret U.S. raid to capture Maduro leaked to the Washington Post and New York Times before it happened, but both decided not to publish to protect U.S. troops. (Unlike desi media that tells terrorists LIVE about military operations). pic.twitter.com/d3c7DI6cNi
— Rohit Sharma 🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@DcWalaDesi) January 4, 2026
The restraint came against the backdrop of a dramatic and unprecedented escalation on Saturday, when the United States carried out military strikes on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and captured the country’s sitting President, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation sent shockwaves across the world.
President Trump said the action was aimed at dismantling what he described as a narco-terror network led by Maduro. Venezuelan authorities, however, condemned the operation as an illegal act of war and a blatant violation of international law.
READ:Â Trump Faces Backlash Over Venezuela Action and Oil Takeover Claims
For months, the US administration had accused Maduro of playing a central role in drug trafficking to the United States, alleging the activity was intended to “destroy American lives.” Pressure on Caracas had steadily intensified through a major US military build-up in the Caribbean and a series of missile strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling.
Following the operation, Trump announced that the 63-year-old leader had been removed from power, stating, “We will run the country until such time as we can carry out a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
An indictment made public on Saturday charged Maduro alongside his wife, his son, and three others. The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
Venezuela strongly rejected the allegations, accusing Washington of violating international law and claiming the true motive behind the action was to seize control of the country’s vast oil reserves and other natural resources.
