Trump to Honor U.S. Forces Behind Maduro Capture as Venezuelan Leader Faces U.S. Justice
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet on Friday with the elite U.S. special forces responsible for capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a dramatic raid in Caracas earlier this year, the White House announced.
First Lady Melania Trump will join Trump during the visit to the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina, where he will greet troops, their families and commend their role in what his administration has called a decisive operation against narco-terrorism.
From Caracas to Fort Bragg
In a highly unusual military action on January U.S. forces executed a nighttime raid that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Venezuela’s capital. The mission publicly dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve — demonstrated the reach and capability of U.S. special operations forces and was widely promoted by Trump as an example of American strength.
U.S. officials say no American service members were killed in the raid, though Venezuelan sources reported significant casualties during the broader military strikes that paved the way for Maduro’s capture.
Maduro is currently in U.S. detention and faces federal charges in New York related to drug trafficking and related crimes, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His next court hearing is scheduled for March 17.
Trump Praises Forces and Highlights Strategic Gains
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Fort Bragg visit is intended to “meet with military families and the heroic members of our special forces who carried out the successful ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ in Venezuela and helped bring narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro to justice.”
Trump has repeatedly lauded the operation in public appearances, calling it a “spectacular” display of U.S. military prowess. He has offered praise to the forces involved and has even made colorful claims about advanced technology used during the raid.
The capture and detainment of Maduro marked a significant escalation in U.S.–Venezuela tensions and have sparked global reactions, with some critics warning about sovereignty and international law implications.
Foreign Policy
As Trump continues to spotlight the operation, this visit to Fort Bragg underscores both domestic and international political dimensions of a controversial and historic mission.
The gathering is widely expected to draw attention from military supporters and foreign policy watchers alike. Read More
