War Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at press conference following Venezuela strike and capture of Nicolas Maduro
War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday spoke at a press conference alongside President Trump, Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan “Raizin” Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following US Strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s Narco-terrorist leader.
US Aircraft executed the strikes, and US troops were deployed to the ground during the attack.
Trump announced the invasion and capture of Maduro and his wife early on Saturday morning, and the two have since been indicted in the Southern District of New York, the Gateway Pundit reported.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home, hours after the attack, Hegseth delivered remarks on the flawlessly executed ” strike, commending the US military troops as “second to none, the best in the world, and the best of our country,” and delivering an epic one-liner.
“Nicolas Maduro had his chance, just like Iran had their chance until they didn’t, and until he didn’t,” Hegseth said.
“He effed around, and he found out.”
Hegseth then closed his remarks, declaring, “Welcome to 2026 and under President Trump, America is back.”
WATCH:
Hegseth: Finally, a Commander in Chief the world respects and the American people deserve. And as the President said, words can barely capture the bravery and the power and the precision of this historic operation, a massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed by the greatest Americans our country has to offer. American warriors are second to none, the best in the world, and the best of our country. What I, what all of us, witnessed last night was sheer guts and grit, gallantry and glory of the American warrior. I’m simply humbled by such men, and I tip my hat to our chairman, Dan “Raizin” Caine, all those Americans who stood watch last night.
Our warriors are the elite of America. And again, President Trump has your back. No other country on planet Earth, and it’s not even close, could pull this kind of operation off. And no other president has ever shown this kind of leadership, courage, and resolve, the most powerful combination the world has ever seen. As the President said, our adversaries remain on notice. America can project our will anywhere, anytime The coordination, the stealth, the lethality, the precision, the very long arm of American justice, all on full display in the middle of the night.
Nicolas Maduro had his chance, just like Iran had their chance until they didn’t, and until he didn’t. He effed around and he found out. President Trump is deadly serious about stopping the flow of gangs and violence to our country, deadly serious about stopping the flow of drugs and poison to our people, deadly serious about getting back the oil that was stolen from us, and deadly serious about re-establishing American deterrence and dominance in the Western Hemisphere. This is about the safety, security, freedom, and prosperity of the American people. This is America first. This is peace through strength, and the United States War Department is proud to help deliver it. Welcome to 2026 and under President Trump, America is back.
The Gateway Pundit reported earlier that Trump told Fox that no US forces were killed in the operation, and he personally watched it in the middle of the night from Florida.
This morning, Trump also revealed how Maduro was “bum rushed” by US military forces and unable to escape, then transported via helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, where is being held en route to New York for trial.
“Armada Like Nobody’s Ever Seen Before”: Trump Says U.S. Was Prepared for Second Strike as Maduro Was “Bum Rushed” and Taken Via Helicopter onto Ship — Mexico Put on Notice (VIDEO)
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