The U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said this Saturday that the extraction of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela is a demonstration of how the "America first" doctrine works.
“This is America first, this is peace through strength,” he stated at Donald Trump's press conference from Mar-A-Lago.
"Nicolás Maduro had his opportunity, just like others did, until he no longer had it (...) this is America first, this is peace through strength. Welcome to 2026," he added.
Hegseth praised the military personnel involved in the operation: “A bombing carried out flawlessly by the best army that the U.S. has to offer (…) Our warriors are the elite of the U.S.”
Trump, for his part, stated that the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was carried out without casualties among U.S. forces and that all aircraft returned to base after a nighttime military operation in Venezuela.
Trump explained that the operation had been planned in advance but was postponed for several days due to weather conditions, until they found “the exact moment” to take action.
According to details, Maduro was in a heavily fortified structure, with steel doors and security rooms, and although he tried to take refuge, he was captured in a matter of seconds, the U.S. leader stated.
The president also clarified that there were no human casualties among the troops involved in the operation and that, while some equipment was damaged—including a helicopter—all aircraft returned without losses.
"We didn't lose anyone. There were some injuries, but no deaths. We didn't lose any aircraft. Everything came back home," declared Trump.
The operation involved a series of airstrikes and a military incursion in various locations in Caracas and other areas in northern Venezuela as part of the U.S. campaign against what Washington describes as illegal activities associated with the Maduro regime.
Trump stated that the action was "very lethal and very powerful," and that U.S. forces were ready for a second wave, although it was not needed.
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