US President Donald Trump said the United States carried out an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, in what he described as a historic display of American military power.
Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said the operation was launched late at night on his direct orders. He claimed air, land, and sea forces were used in what he called a “spectacular assault” that the world had not witnessed since World War II.
Trump said the attack overwhelmed Venezuelan defenses and rendered all military capabilities “completely powerless,” comparing the operation to previous US strikes on Iran, including attacks on nuclear facilities.
Moments before the conference, Trump also shared a photo of Maduro on his Truth Social account, underscoring the significance of the operation.
Operation Hammer, regional comparisons
Trump said the US also targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities in a separate campaign and claimed Iran’s nuclear capability was eliminated through Operation Hammer. He added that “no nation in the world” could have achieved what the US military accomplished in Venezuela.
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He described the Caracas operation as dark and deadly, saying the city’s lights were largely switched off due to American technical expertise.
Maduro arrested in night raid, faces US justice
Trump said Maduro and his wife were captured “in the dead of night” during the assault on a heavily fortified military complex in the heart of Caracas. He said both are now in US custody and will face criminal charges in American courts.
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According to Trump, Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for what he called a campaign of “deadly narco-terrorism” against the United States. He said they are currently on a ship heading toward New York, with Miami also being considered.
Trump accused Maduro of being responsible for a criminal network that exported drugs to the US and alleged links to the Cartel de los Soles. He claimed Venezuela was the source of most drugs entering the US by sea and said drug boats kill an average of 25,000 people each.
Maduro has previously denied all allegations of leading or supporting a drug cartel. The BBC has not independently verified Trump’s claims.
US to run Venezuela during transition
Trump announced that the United States will take charge of Venezuela’s administrative affairs until what he called a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” is possible. He said Washington could not risk another leader taking power without the interests of the Venezuelan people in mind.
“The people of Venezuela have been suffering for decades,” Trump said, adding that Venezuelans living in the US want to return to their homeland.
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Trump described Venezuela’s oil industry as a “total bust,” saying the country exported only a fraction of its potential output. He announced that major American oil companies will enter Venezuela, invest billions of dollars, repair damaged infrastructure, and generate revenue for the country.
He said the US partnership would make Venezuela “rich, independent, and safe.”
Military success, readiness for further action
Trump thanked the US military, National Guard, and law enforcement agencies for what he called breathtaking speed, precision, and competence. He said not a single US serviceman was killed and no equipment was lost.
He added that Venezuelan forces were in a ready position but were quickly overwhelmed. Trump warned that the US is ready to launch another, even larger attack on Venezuela if necessary, though he said a second wave now appears unlikely.
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Trump called Maduro an “illegitimate dictator” who arrested and killed his opponents and said he would never be a threat to the United States again. He said Washington, DC, has been safe for eight months and credited law enforcement agencies for the improvement.
He further said the successful operation in Caracas is a message to those who threaten the US, adding that the country will secure its borders and destroy drug cartels.
