President Donald Trump praised the January 3, 2026, U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, calling it one of the most powerful and effective assaults in American history. In a video statement, Trump described the Delta Force raid in Caracas as unmatched since World War II, emphasizing its precision, speed, and complete success without a single American casualty.

“This was an assault like people have not seen since World War II,” Trump said, highlighting what he characterized as an extraordinary display of American military competence. He underscored that the mission achieved its objective decisively, with Maduro taken into custody on narcoterrorism charges following years of U.S. accusations that the Venezuelan regime functioned as a criminal enterprise.

Trump placed the Caracas operation within the broader context of his administration’s national security record, drawing direct comparisons to previous high-profile actions carried out under his leadership. He cited the 2020 drone strike that eliminated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the 2019 special operations raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the more recent bombing campaign that crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

According to Trump, these operations reflect a consistent strategy focused on decisive, targeted action rather than prolonged military occupations. He argued that the Maduro raid demonstrated how American forces can neutralize high-level threats swiftly while avoiding drawn-out conflicts and minimizing risk to U.S. personnel.

The president’s remarks framed the operation as both a military and strategic success, reinforcing his long-standing position that strength, clarity of purpose, and overwhelming capability serve as the most effective deterrents. Supporters view the raid as further evidence of a doctrine that prioritizes results, accountability, and the projection of U.S. power when national security interests are at stake.

The capture of Maduro and Trump’s forceful response mark a defining moment in U.S. foreign policy, signaling that leaders accused of narcoterrorism and regional destabilization are no longer shielded by political status or geographic distance.