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President Trump Honors Special Forces at Fort Bragg for Venezuela Operation
President Donald Trump visited Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Friday to honor U.S. special forces and their families for their roles in the January operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
“We have an amazing group of people before me, very proud of you,” the president told military personnel and families gathered at the base. “I have no higher honor in life than to be your commander in chief.”
First Lady Melania Trump accompanied the president and spent time with military families during the visit to one of the largest home stations for U.S. Army special operations forces.
Nearly 200 U.S. troops participated in the high-profile military mission known as Operation Absolute Resolve, with seven service members sustaining injuries. According to Venezuela’s defense ministry, 83 people were killed on their side, including Venezuelan security forces and 32 Cuban security personnel. The Pentagon has not disclosed which specific military units were involved in the operation.
During his address, Trump highlighted what he described as “extraordinary” relations between the United States and Venezuela’s interim leadership. Following Maduro’s capture, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed leadership of Venezuela, though she has publicly maintained that both Maduro and Flores are “innocent” of any wrongdoing. Despite Rodriguez’s alignment with Maduro, the U.S. has indicated it maintains influence over her government.
The operation has yielded significant economic benefits for the United States. In late January, the U.S. and the interim Rodriguez government signed a major energy pact. The U.S. has already begun marketing Venezuelan crude oil, with proceeds flowing into U.S.-controlled accounts to be disbursed at American discretion.
Trump has repeatedly characterized the Maduro capture as “spectacular,” demonstrating America’s ability to “assert dominance in its own backyard.” He praised the special operators involved as “a group of unbelievable talented patriotic people that love our country. You couldn’t hold them back.”
The president also referenced what he calls a “discombobulator” – a secret weapon reportedly used during the operation to disable Venezuelan communications and equipment. “I’m not allowed to talk about it,” Trump told NBC News. “But let me just tell you, you know what it does? None of their equipment works, that’s what it does. Everything was discombobulated.”
During his Fort Bragg visit, Trump veered into political territory, praising Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee who is running for Senate in North Carolina. “If he gets in, you’re going to be taken care of. If he doesn’t get in, we’re going to be stripped in the military like they always do, the Democrats,” Trump claimed.
He also touched on the base’s name, which had been changed to Fort Liberty during the Biden administration before Trump restored the Fort Bragg designation. “We got it back very quickly, but they took it off. And if we don’t win the midterms, they’ll take it off again and take it off again. You can’t let that happen,” he warned.
Fort Bragg’s strategic significance extends beyond the Venezuela operation. The base houses units that could potentially be deployed if diplomatic efforts in the Middle East deteriorate, including in relation to Trump’s push for an agreement with Iran. The president has warned of a “very traumatic” outcome should Iran fail to reach a deal. This visit comes as the U.S. deployed a second aircraft carrier, the USS Ford, to the region while negotiations continue.
Maduro currently faces federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, and money laundering in New York City.
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14 Comments
The rising global tensions mentioned are concerning. Hopefully this operation can help bring more stability to the region, but it’s a delicate situation.
I agree, the global tensions are worrying. Resolving the Venezuela crisis is key, but it will require a careful diplomatic approach.
Interesting to see the US special forces honored for the Venezuela operation. Capturing Maduro must have been a challenging mission, I wonder what the full details are.
Yes, the capture of Maduro is a big geopolitical event. It will be important to see how this impacts the situation in Venezuela going forward.
I hope this operation doesn’t escalate tensions with Russia or Cuba, who reportedly had personnel involved on the Venezuelan side. Careful diplomacy will be essential.
Absolutely, the geopolitical fallout from this needs to be managed very delicately. Avoiding further conflict should be a top priority.
The casualties on the Venezuelan side are quite high. This was clearly a complex and dangerous mission. I hope the injured US troops make a full recovery.
Agreed, any loss of life is regrettable. The safety of our special forces has to be the top priority in these types of operations.
It’s good to see the President honoring the special forces and their families. Their service and sacrifice deserve recognition, even in controversial missions like this.
Yes, the President is right to highlight the extraordinary work of these elite troops. Their skills and bravery are invaluable assets for the country.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific military units involved in this operation. Special forces likely played a critical role in the success of this mission.
Yes, the Pentagon’s discretion around the units involved suggests this was a highly sensitive operation. Their expertise was clearly essential.
This seems like a high-stakes mission that required exceptional planning and execution. The special forces deserve credit for pulling it off successfully.
Indeed, the level of skill and coordination needed for an operation like this is remarkable. It’s no easy feat to capture a head of state.