US President Donald Trump claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured and are being transported to New York, telling Fox News they are 'on a ship,' the USS Iwo Jima, after being extracted by helicopter.
Trump’s comments, delivered in a phone interview and on 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' come as CNN reported the administration began preparing in mid-December for a 'secretive operation' to strike Venezuela and capture Maduro, citing sources.
Venezuela’s foreign minister, according to CNN’s live updates included in the material provided, has insisted Maduro remains the country’s leader and demanded his return, setting up a legitimacy fight even as Washington talks about a US court date.
Top quotes: Trump’s play-by-play, in his words
On where Maduro is now: “Yes, the Iwo Jima, they’re on a ship. They’ll be heading into New York.”
On how the extraction happened: “The helicopters took them out.”
On watching it live: “I watched it literally, like I was watching a television show. We watched every aspect of it… it was very complex, extremely complex.”
On the breach: “They… broke into steel doors… and they got taken out in a matter of seconds. It had steel doors… a safety space… solid steel all around.”
On casualties and damage: “I think we had nobody killed… a couple of guys were hit. We lost no aircraft… a helicopter… we got it back.”
On timing: “We were going to do this four days ago, but the weather was not perfect.”
On the message he says he gave Maduro: “You have to give up. You have to surrender.”
On what happens next in Venezuela: “We’re making that decision now… We’ll be involved in it very much.”
On backing María Corina Machado: “We’re going to have to look at it.”
On critics: He dismissed them as “weak, stupid people.”
How Trump describes the operation
Trump said he monitored the raid from Mar-a-Lago “alongside… generals,” casting the capture as a technically demanding mission executed at speed.
He emphasized force and surprise, 'speed' and violence,' in his phrasing, and suggested the US kept extensive airpower available, including helicopters and fighter jets.
He also offered a tactical detail meant to underline how close Maduro allegedly was to reaching a secure room: Trump said Maduro was inside a residence 'like a fortress,' tried to reach a 'safety space,' but was 'bum rushed so fast' he couldn’t.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
