In full: Donald Trump holds news conference after US captured Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro

Key Concepts

• US Military Intervention in Venezuela: A large-scale US military operation (“Operation Absolute Resolve”) successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, justified by claims of naroterrorism and regional destabilization.
• US Control & Reconstruction of Venezuela: The US intends to oversee a transition government in Venezuela, focusing on rebuilding the oil infrastructure with US investment and securing the country.
• Demonstration of US Military Power: The operation is presented as a showcase of American military dominance, referencing past successes and highlighting interagency coordination.
• Venezuela-Cuba Relationship: The President views Venezuela as being under Cuban control and is implementing policies to prevent sanctioned Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba.
• Skepticism Towards Venezuelan Opposition: The President expresses doubts about the leadership potential of Venezuelan opposition leader Machado.
• Distancing from Russia-Ukraine War: The President repeatedly refers to the conflict as “Biden’s war” and claims he could have prevented it, emphasizing the high human cost and his past success in increasing NATO financial contributions.
• Pardon of Honduran President: The President justified pardoning a convicted Honduran president by drawing parallels to the perceived politically motivated prosecution of Donald Trump.

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US Military Operation in Venezuela & Justification

The US military successfully executed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores in a “spectacular assault” on a heavily fortified location in Caracas. The operation, involving over 150 aircraft across all branches of the US military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force) and intelligence agencies (CIA, NSA, NGA), is described as comparable to WWII-era offensives in its scale and precision. Venezuelan air defenses were disabled, and a low-level helicopter insertion was used for the apprehension, resulting in no US casualties.

The intervention is justified as a response to Maduro’s “campaign of deadly naroterrorism” against the US, his alleged leadership of the “Cartel de las Soles,” and his destabilizing influence in the region. The administration claims Maduro emptied Venezuelan prisons and sent violent criminals to terrorize American communities, citing the tragic case of 12-year-old Joselyn Nungarry, allegedly murdered by members of the Trend Aaragua gang. Data presented claims a 97% reduction in drug shipments by sea, with an estimated 25,000 deaths per boat carrying drugs. Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for naroterrorism.

Post-Intervention Plans for Venezuela

The US intends to “run the country” until a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” can occur, preventing another undesirable leader from taking power. This involves rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, largely destroyed under Maduro, with investment from US oil companies. The President stated the US will be “reimbursed” for past damages via oil revenue, ensuring “it won’t cost us anything because the…money coming out of the ground is very substantial.” He believes Maduro was urged to “surrender” and now regrets not doing so. A new foreign policy document, the “Donro Document,” has superseded the Monroe Doctrine.

Perspectives on Venezuela & US Foreign Policy

The President frames Venezuela as being “in total collapse” and under Cuban control, describing it as “colonized from a security standpoint.” He announced a policy of preventing sanctioned Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba, stating it “is not going to be allowed to get there.” He expressed skepticism about the leadership potential of Venezuelan opposition leader Machado, stating she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.” He also envisions a US presence in Venezuela tied to oil investment, not military occupation.

Russia-Ukraine War & NATO

The President repeatedly distanced himself from the Russia-Ukraine war, calling it “Biden’s war” and asserting it “would have never happened” if he were president. He cited figures of “27,000” to “30,000” soldiers killed in the last month alone, describing the conflict as a “bloodbath.” He highlighted his success in getting NATO members to increase their financial contributions from 2% to 5%, framing this as a financial benefit for the US (“We’re probably making money on that”). He also alluded to a recent, precise military operation (implying US involvement) that could have swiftly ended the war. He admitted he is “not thrilled” with Putin due to the high death toll in Ukraine, recounting a phone call where Maduro was not discussed.

Other Matters & Concluding Remarks

The President also addressed his pardon of a former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking, drawing a parallel to the perceived politically motivated prosecution of Donald Trump, stating the Honduran president “was treated like the Biden administration treated a man named Trump.” He justified the pardon by claiming the individual was “persecuted very unfairly” and had the support of the winning party in Honduras.

The overall tone of the statements emphasizes American exceptionalism, national security imperatives, and a return to perceived American strength and competence. The intervention in Venezuela is presented as a decisive victory and a demonstration of US military power, while the President actively distances himself from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and frames it as a consequence of the current administration’s policies.