President Donald Trump praised the US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, calling it a highly complex and tactically precise mission. Speaking at the House GOP Members’ Retreat, Trump commended American forces for executing the operation brilliantly under dangerous conditions. He highlighted the risks involved, including heavy fire directed at US helicopters, but noted that the mission was successful without any US fatalities.
The operation, according to Trump, was a remarkable military feat that involved extensive coordination and surprise tactics. Trump emphasized the strategic importance of Maduro’s capture, stating that it marked a significant moment after years of US frustration with Venezuela’s leadership. Accusing Maduro of violence and repression, Trump claimed that millions had suffered under his rule.
Trump described the operation as part of a broader effort to address narco-terror states in the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on Venezuela as a source of drugs, crime, and instability affecting the United States. He highlighted the reduction in maritime drug trafficking linked to Venezuela, stating that drug trafficking by sea had decreased by 97 percent and enforcement efforts would expand to land routes.
Rejecting claims that the operation was solely driven by oil interests or regime-change ideology, Trump framed it as a security imperative consistent with long-standing US doctrine. He emphasized US military superiority and the significance of the Venezuela operation in reshaping the balance of power in the region. Trump asserted that the operation sent a clear signal to adversaries and demonstrated the quality of US weapons.
