Summary
Highlights
President Trump announces an extraordinary military operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores. He states that overwhelming American military power was used in a spectacular assault on a heavily fortified fortress in Caracas, likening it to operations not seen since World War II. The operation aimed to bring Maduro to justice for narco-terrorism and was executed with breathtaking speed, power, precision, and competence, suffering no American casualties or equipment loss. Maduro and Flores are indicted in the Southern District of New York and will face American justice.
The U.S. will 'run the country' of Venezuela until a safe, proper, and judicious transition can take place, prioritizing peace, liberty, and justice for the Venezuelan people. The President emphasizes that the U.S. cannot risk someone taking over who does not have the Venezuelan people's best interests in mind. He highlights the plan to involve large U.S. oil companies to rebuild Venezuela's broken oil infrastructure and restore its economy, ensuring the country's wealth benefits its citizens.
Maduro is described as the kingpin of a criminal network responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S., overseeing the 'Cartel Del Soles' which caused countless American deaths. In addition, Maduro is accused of sending murderous gangs like 'Tren de Aragua' to terrorize American communities nationwide. The President claims that these gangs, comprised of individuals released from Venezuelan prisons and mental institutions, have perpetrated horrific crimes in the U.S. and that Maduro will no longer be able to threaten American citizens. Venezuela also unilaterally seized American oil assets, costing billions, a move the current administration aims to rectify.
The President asserts that America will no longer permit foreign powers to exploit its people or interfere in its hemisphere. He states that under Maduro, Venezuela hosted foreign adversaries and acquired offensive weapons, violating core principles of American foreign policy, including the Monroe Doctrine. Trump declares that American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again, pledging to secure borders, stop terrorists, crash cartels, and defend citizens against all threats. He warns that what happened to Maduro can happen to any political or military figure in Venezuela who is not fair to their people.
Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, praises President Trump's leadership and the military's bravery, power, and precision in the historic operation. He emphasizes that no other country could execute such an operation and that Trump's leadership demonstrates courage and resolve. Chairman Raisin' Kaine provides details about the 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' describing it as a discreet and precise apprehension mission executed by all components of the joint force. He highlights the meticulous planning, intelligence gathering, and the use of over 150 aircraft to ensure the success of the mission and the safe apprehension of Maduro and his wife without U.S. casualties. He also speaks on the use of air power to dismantle Venezuela's air defense systems to protect the ground forces, ensuring tactical surprise and safe exfiltration.
The President reiterates that the U.S. will manage Venezuela for a period, with appointed American officials and experts, to ensure proper governance and rebuild the oil infrastructure. He states that the process will be funded by oil companies, with profits benefiting the Venezuelan people and reimbursing the U.S. for damages. He addresses concerns about U.S. troops on the ground, confirming their presence during the operation and readiness for future actions if needed, emphasizing that this intervention is to prevent Venezuela from falling into further chaos. The President also warns other nations like Colombia and Cuba that interfering with U.S. interests will have consequences.
Responding to questions about congressional notification, President Trump's team explains that the mission was too sensitive for pre-notification due to potential leaks. Trump describes Maduro's capture, noting that Maduro was unable to reach a safe room due to the speed of U.S. forces. He dismisses concerns about the U.S. track record of nation-building, citing successful past operations and stating that Venezuela will not cost the U.S. anything due to its oil wealth. He also addresses concerns about Cuba, stating that the U.S. desires to help its people and that nations like Cuba, which supported Maduro, should heed the message from the Venezuelan operation. Finally, he briefly comments on his phone call with Putin, stating that Maduro was not discussed and expressing dissatisfaction with Putin's actions in the Ukraine war.