WASHINGTON, January 7, 2026 – President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela as a "brilliant" and "complex" feat, emphasizing the superiority of American weaponry and announcing plans to accelerate domestic arms production to maintain military dominance.
Speaking to the House Republican Conference at the Kennedy Center, Trump detailed the scope of "Operation Absolute Resolve," which culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3. "It was so complex. 152 airplanes," Trump said, highlighting the mission's intricacies. “Many talk about boots on the ground. We had a lot of boots on the ground," he added, claiming no U.S. forces were killed while "a lot of people were killed" on the Venezuelan side.
Trump described how U.S. forces disrupted Venezuela's infrastructure, including shutting down electricity across much of the country. "That's when they knew there was a problem. There was no electricity,” he said. “The only people with lights were the people that had candles." He praised the operation's execution as "amazing" and "fearsome," asserting that no other nation could replicate it due to the unmatched quality of U.S. weapons. "Nobody has our weapons. Nobody has the quality of our weapons," Trump stated.
The president expressed frustration over the pace of weapons manufacturing, vowing swift reforms. "The problem is that weapons are not produced fast enough," he said. "We're going to start producing them much faster. We're going to be very tough on the companies ... We're not letting that happen anymore." This pledge comes amid broader administration efforts to bolster the U.S. defense industrial base, particularly in light of global tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during recent conflicts.
Regarding Maduro, Trump noted, "They've been after this guy for years and years and years." He accused the Venezuelan leader of extreme violence, claiming Maduro "killed millions of people" and operated "a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas." In a lighter but pointed remark, Trump added that Maduro "tries to imitate my dance a little bit, but he's a violent guy." Maduro, now in U.S. custody in New York facing federal charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on January 5.
The operation involved widespread airstrikes on Venezuelan military targets, including air defenses and communications infrastructure in the north, followed by a special operations raid on Maduro's residence in Caracas. Venezuelan officials reported at least 24 soldiers killed, though U.S. sources have not confirmed casualties. The Trump administration has justified the action under a revived Monroe Doctrine, framing it as combating narco-trafficking, corruption, and securing influence over Venezuela's massive oil reserves—the largest in the world at over 300 billion barrels.
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump's sentiments in a separate interview, calling the mission "flawless" and linking it to reducing drug flows into the U.S. and gaining leverage over global energy resources. "It's going to save lives. It's going to mean cheaper gas and energy prices for Americans," Vance said.
International reactions have been sharply divided. Allies like Colombia have expressed cautious support for Maduro's removal, citing his regime's human rights abuses and economic mismanagement that led to a humanitarian crisis displacing millions. However, Russia, China, and Cuba condemned the operation as an "illegal aggression" and violation of sovereignty. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of "consequences," while China's foreign ministry called it a "dangerous precedent" for U.S. unilateralism.
At the United Nations Security Council, members including France and the UK criticized the lack of multilateral consultation, though the U.S. vetoed a resolution demanding Maduro's release. Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez has mobilized remaining forces and demanded international intervention, vowing to resist any further U.S. incursions.
Domestically, Republicans have largely applauded the operation as a bold stroke against a long-indicted adversary. House Speaker Mike Johnson praised it as "justice served," while Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted potential economic benefits from revitalizing Venezuelan oil production with U.S. firms. Democrats, however, decried the move as reckless and unauthorized by Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it "cowboy diplomacy" that risks broader conflict, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioned the legal basis, noting the absence of an imminent threat to justify force.
Legal experts debate the operation's compliance with international law. While the U.S. cites Maduro's 2020 indictment for conspiring to flood America with cocaine and ties to terrorist groups, critics argue it sets a precedent for extrajudicial captures abroad. "This blurs the line between law enforcement and warfare," said Harold Koh, a former State Department legal adviser.
The push to accelerate weapons production aligns with Trump's "America First" agenda, including tariffs on foreign components and incentives for domestic manufacturers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already met with industry leaders from Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing to discuss streamlining production lines for missiles, aircraft, and drones—key assets in the Venezuela mission.
Analysts predict short-term oil market volatility, with prices dipping initially due to uncertainty but potentially stabilizing if U.S.-led investments restore Venezuela's output from current lows of about 1 million barrels per day to pre-sanction levels. Energy Secretary Chris Wright estimated billions in investments needed, with Trump suggesting reimbursements from future oil revenues.
This operation, the first major military action of Trump's second term, signals a more assertive U.S. posture in the Western Hemisphere. As Maduro's trial proceeds and Venezuela navigates political transition, the world watches for escalation, particularly with Trump's concurrent rhetoric on acquiring Greenland and pressuring NATO allies.
The events underscore ongoing debates over U.S. interventionism, energy security, and the balance between national interests and international norms in an increasingly multipolar world.
