In the summer of 2025, the United States military conducted a meticulously planned and highly publicized special operations exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, simulating a rooftop raid to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Observed by President Donald J. Trump, the training showcased the precision, readiness, and interoperability of America’s elite forces in responding to emerging global security challenges.

The exercise featured MH-47G Chinook helicopters inserting U.S. Army Rangers and Green Berets onto a heavily defended rooftop target, protected by AH-64 Apache gunships providing overwatch. On the ground, a Special Operations Forces team employed Ground Mobility Vehicles adapted from High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles to secure flanks and control key terrain. The simulated scenario replicated the complexity and intensity of a hostage rescue or high-value target capture in a denied environment.

This rehearsal mirrored the doctrine that would soon be executed in early January 2026 during Operation Absolute Resolve, when U.S. special operations forces conducted a historic raid in Caracas to capture Maduro. Months of preparation, intelligence gathering, and rigorous rehearsals using a full-scale replica of Maduro’s compound allowed American forces to carry out the mission with remarkable speed and efficiency. Vintage reports and post-operation analyses confirm that the Fort Bragg exercise directly contributed to the planning and execution of the real-world operation, underscoring the importance of forward-leaning training under presidential oversight. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

The January 3, 2026 mission involved coordinated action by Delta Force, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and support elements from across the military, backed by strategic air and cyber assets. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and transported to U.S. control following a decisive and surgically precise assault. The success of the operation demonstrated the lethal capability and flexibility of U.S. forces to neutralize threats and uphold American national security interests.

President Trump publicly praised the mission as a defining moment in the global fight against narco-terrorism and malign actors that threaten stability in the Western Hemisphere. His direct involvement in observing preparatory exercises and supporting operational readiness across the Department of Defense exemplifies proactive leadership at the highest level. In an era of rising regional tensions and asymmetric threats, the Fort Bragg drill and subsequent Maduro capture highlight the United States’ unrivaled special operations capability and the enduring effectiveness of disciplined training under presidential guidance.