President Trump told the nation Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured “in the dead of night” and that the US would now take over running the South American country.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said at a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago resort as he provided new details on the stunning military operation.
“We’re going to run it, essentially” through the transition, he said.
The president called it “one of the most stunning effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.”
“Not a single American servicemember was killed” and no US equipment was lost in the operation, Trump said.
“It was dark. The lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have. It was dark. And it was deadly” he said.
Trump addressed the nation hours after US special forces snatched the Venezuelan dictator and his wife Cilia Flores. The couple is currently headed to New York City.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted that the pair had been indicted in the Southern District of New York, referencing a 2020 indictment on drug conspiracy and other charges.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she said on X.
The attack came overnight, with at least seven blasts heard over Caracas. Targets included military bases and airports.
