During a Saturday press conference, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Hegseth followed President Donald J. Trump at the podium, taking over to comment on the military effort and the U.S. military’s resolve.
He started by praising Trump for his decisive and courageous leadership.
“President Trump has your back,” he said. “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.”
He also said Maduro was given the opportunity to do things differently, but he found out how serious the U.S. was when he was captured.
“Nicholas 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,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth put the world on notice that Trump follows through.
“Finally, a commander-in-chief the world respects and the American people deserve,” he said. “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.”
“Trump is deadly serious about stopping the flow of gangs and violence to our country,” Hegseth added. “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 reestablishing 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 war secretary praised the U.S military, saying, “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,” Hegseth said. “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 [John Daniel “Raizin” Caine] and all those Americans who stood watch last night. Our warriors are the elite of America.”
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