On January 3, 2026, President Donald Trump used this phrase to describe a “spectacular assault” by United States armed forces in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Details of the Statement
- The Comparison: Trump characterized the operation as “an assault like people have not seen since World War II,” emphasizing it as one of the most powerful displays of military competence in American history.
- The Operation: Conducted “in the dead of night,” the mission reportedly utilized overwhelming air, land, and sea power to breach Maduro’s “fortress-like” residence. Trump noted that the U.S. “turned off almost all of the lights in Caracas” to facilitate the capture.
- Outcome: Both Maduro and Flores were taken into custody and transported to the USS Iwo Jima; they are now en route to New York to face federal charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine importation.
- Casualties: Trump stated that no American service members were killed in the operation, though “a couple of guys were hit” but are in good condition.
Context and Aftermath
Following the raid, President Trump announced that the United States would “run the country” of Venezuela temporarily until a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” of power could occur. He also mentioned plans for U.S. oil companies to invest billions to fix Venezuela’s broken infrastructure.
While the administration framed the action as bringing an “outlaw dictator” to justice, the operation has sparked intense domestic and international debate regarding its legality, as it was conducted without a formal declaration of war or specific congressional authorization.
