In a dramatic news conference on Saturday, United States President Donald Trump announced the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a covert overnight military operation. Trump asserted that Venezuelan forces, though in a "ready position" with many ships deployed, were "completely overwhelmed and very quickly incapacitated" by American forces.
The Night Raid and Claims of Total Dominance
Trump painted a vivid picture of the operation, stating it was conducted "in the dead of night" when the lights in Caracas were largely turned off. He attributed this blackout to a "certain expertise" possessed by the US. "It was dark and it was deadly," the President remarked, praising US military and law enforcement personnel for executing the mission. He boldly claimed that no other nation could have achieved such an outcome, rendering all Venezuelan military capacities powerless in a short period.
Threat of Larger Attack and Drug Interdiction Claims
The US President issued a stark warning, stating that Washington was "ready" to stage a second and "much larger" attack on Venezuela if necessary. He revealed that planners had initially assumed a "second wave" of assault would be needed. However, given the overwhelming success of the initial night attack, he indicated it "probably would now not be" required.
Shifting focus to the broader regional campaign, Trump made a significant claim about drug interdiction, stating the US has "knocked out 97 per cent of drugs coming in by sea." He further escalated his rhetoric by asserting that each boat intercepted was carrying narcotics that would have killed, on average, 25,000 people.
Social Media Reveal and Maduro's Appearance
Minutes before addressing the press, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share visual evidence of the operation's success. He posted a photograph with the caption, "Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima." The image showed the captured Venezuelan leader on a US naval vessel. Maduro was depicted wearing a blindfold and handcuffs, along with what appeared to be noise-cancelling ear muffs. He was dressed in grey Nike-branded sweatpants and a jacket, highlighting the sudden and clandestine nature of his capture.
The announcement marks a significant escalation in US involvement in Venezuela, following years of political tension and American recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president. The details provided by Trump outline a rapid military action with profound implications for the geopolitical landscape of Latin America.
