Trump describes Nicolas Maduro's capture from ‘fortress-like’ house during US raid

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump revealed striking new details about the US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, describing how American forces stormed a heavily guarded, “fortress-like” residence and took the longtime strongman into custody before he could escape.

Speaking on 'Fox & Friends Weekend' on Saturday, January 3, the presdient said he personally monitored the operation from his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he met with senior military leaders as the mission unfolded in real time.

Trump says US forces waited days for the right moment

According to Trump, the operation had been delayed several times as forces waited for ideal conditions before launching the raid. He said the original plan was to capture Maduro earlier in the week, but weather and tactical considerations forced a pause.

“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.

The president said he was inside a secure room at Mar-a-Lago with generals, watching “every aspect” of what he described as an “extremely complex” military operation.

Nicolas Maduro was captured before reaching safe room, Trump says

Trump described Maduro’s hideout as a structure designed to withstand a siege, complete with reinforced steel doors and a specially built safe room. Despite those defenses, the Venezuelan leader was captured before he could reach 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 added 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 get into that,” the POTUS said.

He noted 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.

Delta Force led capture as CIA provided intelligence

An official briefed on the mission told Fox News that the Army’s Delta Force physically captured Maduro during the raid. The source said the CIA provided critical intelligence that helped pinpoint the Venezuelan leader’s location, relaying that information to the Department of War.

Trump emphasized the level of preparation involved, saying the military rehearsed the operation using a replica of the building where Maduro was hiding.

“Everything was pinpoint,” he said. “They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the safes, all the steel all over the place.”

Trump says no US troops were killed during operation

Trump said he believes no American service members were killed during the operation, though he acknowledged some injuries.

“I don’t believe anybody was killed,” he said. “A couple of guys were hit, but they came back, and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape.”

He framed the mission as part of a broader effort to curb narcotics trafficking and instability in the region.

“The d**g trafficking is so bad. It’s gotten so out of control,” Trump said, adding that US military actions in Venezuela are “saving lives.”

US involvement in Venezuela’s future still being decided

When asked about what comes next for Venezuela, Trump said the US is actively weighing its options and does not want a simple power handoff that preserves the existing system.

“We can’t take a chance of letting somebody else run and just take over where he left off,” Trump said. “So we’re making that decision now.”

He added that the goal is to restore liberty and rebuild relations.

“We’ll be involved in it very much, and we want to do liberty for the people,” Trump said. “I think the people of Venezuela are very, very happy because they love the United States. They were run by essentially a dictatorship or worse.”