U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday lauded the special operations forces responsible for the January 3 capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, delivering remarks at this major military installation in eastern North Carolina ahead of engagements with troops and their families.
Speaking before a contingent of service members at Fort Bragg, one of the U.S. Army’s largest bases, Trump described the mission in Caracas as a demonstration of American military strength and effectiveness. He characterized the assault as decisive and rapid, emphasizing that it unfolded with minimal U.S. casualties and little resistance from Venezuelan forces.
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“What we did recently in Venezuela, nobody had seen anything like it,” Trump stated, according to excerpts of his speech. He highlighted the use of advanced tactics and equipment, asserting that the operation concluded “literally in a minute” once U.S. forces penetrated the Venezuelan capital.
In his remarks, Trump reiterated his administration’s portrayal of the United States as possessing unparalleled defensive and offensive capabilities. He described specialized weaponry — which he referred to as the “discombobulator” — claiming it disoriented opposing forces and rendered foreign defensive systems ineffective during the assault.
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Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in Caracas and transported to the United States, where they are awaiting trial in a federal court in New York on charges including narcoterrorism and conspiracy. The president underscored that no U.S. fatalities occurred in the operation, though several service members suffered injuries.
Trump also responded to questions about future diplomatic engagements, confirming his intention to visit Venezuela but saying that dates had not yet been set. He is scheduled to meet with service members and their families involved in the mission later Friday, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump.
