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The president Donald Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that he observed “in real-time” a military operation carried out in Venezuela, which he described as “extremely complex.”
In his intervention, he detailed that the attack consisted of the deployment of dozens of planes, helicopters, and fighters, and emphasized the supposed capability of the equipment to enter "impenetrable" areas with "steel doors," which —he said— were neutralized "in seconds."
According to his account, the operation —which he said he monitored from Mar-a-Lago, “surrounded by generals and experts”— included communications between “Florida and the ground in Venezuela” and took place after being postponed for several days due to weather conditions.
"The operation was scheduled four days ago, but the weather was not perfect. We waited for the exact moment," he noted.
In the same exchange, Trump stated that Nicolás Maduro was "in a stronghold" and that he attempted to take refuge but was "captured in seconds."
He also stated that there were no casualties among the participating forces: “We didn't lose anyone. There were some injuries, but no fatalities. We didn't lose any aircraft. Everything returned home.”
Trump described the operation as unprecedented in his experience.
“I have supervised many important operations in other parts of the world, but nothing like this,” he said, comparing the mission to another action he referred to as “the elimination of the Iranian nuclear threat,” although he emphasized that what happened in Venezuela was “even more complex” in several aspects.
In response to the question about potential escalation risks, the former president defended the action with the argument that “weakness breeds chaos” and framed the operation as a message to “China, Iran, Russia.”
At that point, he attacked President Joe Biden and spoke of "four years" of weakness and tolerance towards "narcoterrorism," as well as criticizing the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During the interview, Trump also suggested that the message was not "intentionally" directed at Mexico, but he stated that "the cartels control Mexico" and referred to President Claudia Sheinbaum as "a good person," although—according to him—"she doesn't have control" and "is afraid."
He added that he would have asked him “several times” if he wanted help to “eliminate the cartels,” and maintained that the United States would be losing “around 300,000 people a year” due to drugs that enter “mainly through the southern border.”
When asked what would come next for Venezuela, Trump replied that his team was "evaluating" the situation and that, in his opinion, they could not allow "someone worse to take power".
He expressed a desire for "freedom for the Venezuelan people" and "a good relationship with the United States," describing Venezuela as a "brutal dictatorship."
In that segment, he stated that from that country "criminals, prisoners, and people from psychiatric hospitals" were sent to the United States, and claimed that Maduro "tried to negotiate in the end," but that he refused.
The interview included questions about legislative authorization. When mentioning that “some Democrats” said there was no approval from Congress, Trump labeled them as “weak and incompetent” and defended the operation as “a brilliant operation”, claiming that “they should be grateful” that, according to him, lives were being “saved and drugs were being stopped.”
In terms of energy, Trump stated that the United States "is going to be very involved" in the Venezuelan oil industry and that they had "the best oil companies in the world."
He added that, if necessary, they were ready for "a second military wave," although he insisted it was not needed.
Finally, when asked about the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, Trump stated that “they are heading to New York” because “they were accused there,” and described a transfer “by helicopter and then to a boat.”
He concluded the interview with a message of internal strength and resilience in the United States, assuring that the country would be “stronger than ever.”
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