In a stunning revelation during a Fox News interview, former President Donald Trump disclosed details of a covert U.S. military operation designed to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transport him to American soil for prosecution. The operation, described by Trump as meticulously planned, targeted Maduro’s heavily fortified presidential palace in Caracas.
Trump characterized the Venezuelan leader’s residence as ‘a fortress’ with specialized security features, including a solid steel safe room that ultimately proved ineffective against the rapid advance of U.S. forces. American operatives came equipped with industrial-grade blowtorches capable of cutting through reinforced barriers, though these tools ultimately proved unnecessary as Maduro was apprehended before reaching his sanctuary.
The operation’s success relied on extensive preparation, including the construction of an identical replica facility for training purposes. Trump emphasized the mission’s precision timing, noting that execution required optimal weather conditions with sufficient cloud cover, resulting in a four-day delay before implementation.
Conducted under complete darkness after U.S. forces allegedly disabled most of Caracas’ electrical grid, the raid involved intense combat with machine gun fire and multiple explosions heard throughout the capital. The engagement lasted less than thirty minutes, according to eyewitness accounts.
While Trump acknowledged ‘a couple of guys were hit’ among U.S. personnel, he stated that no American fatalities occurred, though a helicopter sustained significant damage. Venezuelan officials reported civilian and military casualties but provided no specific numbers.
Following capture, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were transported via helicopter to a U.S. warship awaiting international waters. They face transfer to New York to answer charges outlined in a Justice Department indictment alleging their involvement in narco-terrorism conspiracies.
This operation represents a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Maduro’s government, following months of targeted strikes against suspected drug trafficking operations in Venezuelan waters and coastal facilities.