During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, President Trump commended both the U.S. military and government for what he described as an “extraordinary” operation in Venezuela’s capital. He stated that, subsequent to Maduro’s apprehension. Maduro now faces legal proceedings in New York. The United States intends to administer Venezuela. This will continue until such a time that we can conduct a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
"At my direction, the U.S. Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela…This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history." – PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QibvrRKsSv
Trump emphasized the objective of avoiding a leadership void or recurrence of previous instability, indicating that the U.S. will temporarily govern the country. He declared that with this action, the Venezuelan people are free once again. President Trump also cautioned Venezuelan political and military leaders. He warned that similar actions could be taken if necessary. He referenced the possibility of a larger-scale intervention.
Trump addressed the challenges faced during the Caracas operation. He highlighted the difficulties of infiltrating a heavily fortified location. He credited specific expertise within U.S. forces for neutralizing power in the city. He praised the collaborative efforts of the military and law enforcement, explaining that no U.S. personnel or equipment were lost. The mission reportedly incapacitated all Venezuelan military capabilities. It concluded with the successful extraction of Maduro.
According to General Dan Caine, the operation required several months of preparation and intelligence gathering to track Maduro’s activities. Over 150 U.S. aircraft participated in the mission. General Caine noted the exceptional complexity of the extraction. He described it as a feat of unprecedented integration. It involved substantial resources throughout the Western hemisphere, as detailed in a joint press briefing with President Trump.
