WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The United States attacked Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, with U.S. President Donald Trump promising to put the country under American control for now, even as Venezuelan officials vowed defiance.

President Trump opened a new chapter in American nation building as he declared that the United States had toppled Venezuela’s leader and would “run” the country for an indefinite period.

United States leaders reacted early Saturday morning as President Trump confirmed overnight military strikes in Venezuela and announced the capture of the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.

The New York City mayor called Saturday's U.S. military operation in Caracas an "act of war" that violates both "federal and international law."

JD Vance was absent from Trump's briefing on Maduro capture due to security concerns. Venezuelan leader taken into U.S. custody in major operation.

President Donald Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela until it can ensure a political transition following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro in an extraordinary raid by American special forces early Saturday. Read more: Trump Says U.S. Has Captured Venezuelan President Following ‘Large-Scale’ Strike

President Trump said that Venezuela’s new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, would help the United States run Venezuela. She quickly said the opposite.

President Donald Trump revealed in a "Fox & Friends Weekend" interview that U.S. forces captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro in a "fortress"-like house.

With the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump and his allies are calling the audacious U.S. military operation an unqualified success.