Pete Hegseth says Nicolas Maduro and wife were unaware of raid until the last-minute arrest

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were completely caught off guard by the US military raid that led to Maduro’s arrest. According to Hegseth, the couple had no warning until the final minutes before American forces arrived.

Pete Hegseth says Nicolas Maduro had no warning before raid

Speaking to sailors aboard the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier in Virginia, Hegseth said Maduro had no knowledge of the operation until moments before American forces reached him.

"Nicolas Maduro got to meet some great Americans wearing night vision goggles three nights ago," Hegseth said.

"He didn't know they were coming until three minutes before they arrived. In fact, his wife said, 'I think I hear aircraft outside.' They didn't know. You know why? Because every single part of that chain did their job."

Trump says the raid was delayed for several days

According to President Donald Trump, the operation had been postponed multiple times as forces waited for ideal conditions. The original plan was to capture Maduro earlier in the week, but weather and tactical considerations forced a delay.

“We waited four days. We were going to do this four days ago, three days ago, two days ago. And then all of a sudden it opened up, and we said, ‘Go,’” Trump explained.

Trump added that he observed the operation from a secure room at Mar-a-Lago alongside generals, monitoring “every aspect” of what he described as an “extremely complex” military mission.

Nicolas Maduro captured despite fortress-like hideout

Trump described Maduro’s hideout as a structure designed to withstand a siege, with reinforced steel doors and a specially built safe room. Despite these defenses, Maduro was captured before reaching safety.

“He was in a house that was more like a fortress than a house,” Trump said. “It had steel doors. It had what they call a safety space, where it’s solid steel all around.”

Trump explained that Maduro attempted to flee into the secure area but failed.

“He didn’t get that space closed. He was trying to get into it, but he got bum rushed so fast that he didn’t make it,” Trump said.

He emphasized that forces had prepared for every scenario, including breaching reinforced steel barriers if necessary. “We were prepared. We had massive blowtorches and everything else that you need to get through that steel. But we didn’t need it. He didn’t make it to that area of the house,” Trump added.