Trump Defends Venezuela Strike After Maduro Capture

President Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, defended a U.S. military strike in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Trump labeled Maduro an illegitimate dictator and a criminal kingpin tied to drug trafficking into the United States. Trump said U.S. forces will temporarily oversee Venezuela until a transition is possible and vowed to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure with private companies.

On Capitol Hill, Republican leaders praised the operation, while some conservatives raised legal concerns. Democrats condemned the strike as unauthorized and potentially illegal, calling for immediate briefings and congressional oversight. International reaction has been sharply divided, with many countries condemning the use of force and urging United Nations involvement.