The White House released dramatic photos Sunday showing President Donald Trump riveted to screens in a Mar-a-Lago war room as Operation Absolute Resolve played out against the Venezuelan government. Flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Marco Rubio, Trump approved the raid at 10:46 p.m. ET Friday, according to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Delta Force operators, supported by 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment helicopters, breached Maduro’s fortified Caracas compound at 1:01 a.m. EST. The stylized black-and-white images evoked Hollywood tension, capturing the inner circle’s focus amid the real-time takedown.
No American losses marked the op as F-22s, F-35s, and B-1 bombers from 20 regional bases neutralized Venezuelan defenses. Maduro and his wife awoke to swift restraints despite steel doors and panic rooms, with CIA intel from a regime insider pinpointing the site. FBI and DEA tactical teams ensured secure transfer for narcoterrorism charges in New York. Trump later posted on Truth Social: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”
Caracas declared national emergency, slamming the strikes as aggression for regime change and resource plunder. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life as opposition leader María Corina Machado celebrated “liberty’s hour” in jubilant streets. A US carrier strike group and thousands of troops massed in the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear, heightening the spectacle.
Gen. Dan Caine lauded the joint force mastery to reporters. “This particular mission required every component of our joint force… in an unprecedented operation,” he said alongside Trump and Hegseth. Months of bunker mockups positioned troops ready since late December under clear skies.
Cinematic Strike Draws Global Backlash
Choppers hugged waves low, shrugging ground fire with Hellfire as one took hits but completed extraction in 2.5 hours. Maduro, blindfolded and sweatpants-clad, boarded USS Iwo Jima by 3:29 a.m. EST. Trump tied the raid to his Donroe Doctrine, targeting Tren de Aragua gangs and oil fields.
Venezuela accused oil-mineral seizure plots as Russia and China condemned the “aggression.” Latin American neighbors decried sovereignty violations while Europeans urged UN Charter respect. Rubio dismissed election chatter as premature amid policy shift demands.
The photos’ Hollywood flair fueled “theatre of war” critiques amid Maduro’s pre-raid talk openness. Justice weighs 2025 terror tags eyeing PDVSA riches and migrant curbs. Colombians watched border spillovers warily.
Hemisphere Power Play Unfolds
Hegseth credited rehearsals evading holiday pulls and clouds for the capstone. Caine boasted no peer matches the 150-jet overlay for surprise. Interim US “run” echoes Panama 1989 quagmire lessons sans firm timeline.
Opposition cheers contrasted regime defiance. Global voices split Yankee overreach versus cartel justice. Trump’s spectacle reshapes security under Corollary, carrier presence underscoring might.
Caribbean naval buildup intimidates as Xi’s reported $100 billion stake looms. Rubio prioritizes reforms over rushed votes. Resolve’s fallout tests Donroe’s mettle in volatile backyard.
