2026-01-03
Trump Press Conference
---START TRUMP---
1: Maduro and wife captured and will be brought to trial.
2: No US servicemembers or equipment were lost.
3: US will run the country for now. Doesn't want similar regime to take over.
4: US will repair Venezuelan oil pumping infrastructure.
5: Prepared to send in a second, bigger wave of force if needed.
6: Venezuelan people suffered.
7: Maduro personally oversaw
Cartel de Los Soles drug cartel.
8: Hundreds of thousands of Americans died because of these drugs.
9: Maduro is a terrorist who sent and supported the
Tren de Aragua cartel in the US. Trump gave examples of the atrocities.
10: US National Guard deployments in cities has been successful at reducing crime. Can't imagine why governors wouldn't want this help.
11. Crime in US cities that the US National Guard helped to clear out was from this source in many cases.
12. US oil and oil infrastructure was stolen by force from the US, but no US President every did anything about it. Never again.
13. Venezuela hosting adversaries against US in the region, operating cartels along our border, even last night. No more.
14. Extending on Monroe doctrine.
15. Reasserting American power in our hemisphere.
16. Protecting commerce, like tarifs, are critical to US security.
17. Secure borders, stop terrorists, crash cartels, protect out citizens, defend America.
18. Criminals will no longer be able to act with impunity against the US.
19. Embargo against Venezuela remains in full effect.
20. US retains all options until demands are fully satisfied.
21. Put other countries on watch, what happened to Venezuela can happen to them if they do what Venezuela did.
22. Venezuelans are now free.
23. Western Hemisphere is now a much safer place to be.
24. It was an attack for justice.
---END TRUMP---
---START HEGSETH---
1. America can project our will anywhere, anytime.
2. Maduro had his chance, like Iran had their chance.
3. Serious about protecting country, stopping drugs, protecting oil.
4. America first. Peace through strength.
---END HEGSETH---
---START CAINE---
1. Culmination of months of planning - interagency coordination (intelligence[CIA/NSA/NGA] and law enforcement).
2. Weather a factor in timing.
3. President authorized mission at 10:46 PM EST saying, "Good luck and Godspeed."
4. Spacecom, Cybercom, USAF, USN, ANG, F22, F35, bombers, drones, and more...
5. Dismantled Venezuelan air defences with goal of protecting ground force, get them to the target, and get them home.
6. Arrived at 1:01 AM EST
7. One aircraft hit, but remained flyable and made it home.
8. Intelligence provided real-time updates to the ground force, who were also protected by air.
9. Maduro and wife gave up when approached.
10. Multiple engagements with hostile fire as exfiltrating.
11. Back over the water at 3:29 AM EST, and delivered Maduro to the USS Iwo Jima.
12. Forces remain in the region on high readiness to operate.
13. Unwavering commitment to justice, and hold accountable those bringing unstability.
---END CAINE---
---START RUBIO---
1. Maduro indicted in US in 2020
2. Obama, Biden, and Trump all recognize Maduro was NOT a legitimate president.
3. Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid, but chose to act like wild man and play around.
4. Maduro invited Iran into Venezuela.
5. Maduro confiscated US oil infrastructure.
6. Maduro invaded US.
7. Trump does what he says he will do. He means what he says.
8. Trump will meet with anybody; but don't play games. Lesson was learned last night.
---END RUBIO---
---START PRESS Q&A---
Q: Who is in power now? A: (Trump) Will be run by a group. Will run it properly. Will take care of people of Venezuela, even those forced out.
Q: Troops on the ground? A: (Trump) Not afraid of boots on the ground. Will run properly. We are there now, and we will be again if we have to.
Q: Will US person run the country? A: (Trump) Will designate someone.
Q: Who will run the country? A: (Trump) Many of the people standing behind me. Won't take a chance on a bad person taking over. A group of people, including people in the military. Make a lot of money, and reimburse people, including those force out of Venezuela.
Q: Will you work with VP of Venezuela? A: (Trump) She was just sworn in, but was picked by Maduro, she wants to work with US, so we will work with her.
Q: Congress notified in advance? A: (Rubio) Notified immediately AFTER the mission. Not mission that congress could be briefed on as timing was up in the air and would endanger the mission. Was law enforcement mission. (Trump) Congress leaks, and we don't want leakers.
Q: What was Maduro doing when US entered, and could Maduro have been killed? A: (Trump) It could have happened. Maduro was at the door trying to get to safe place when troops entered. Would have blown the door if needed.
Q: Where will Maduro be held? A: (Trump) New York.
Q: Is there a plan? A: (Trump) Other presidents didn't have plans.
Q: How long will US run Venezuela. A: (Trump) Would like to be quick, but rebuilding takes time. Infrastructure is old, rotting, and will be replaced.
Q: How China/Russia/Iran relationships be affected? A: (Trump) We will sell oil to them, probably a lot more now.
Q: What is message to people of Venezuela? A: (Trump) Peace, justice, riches, justice, great country. If Trump lost last election, US would have been Venezuela on steroids.
Q: Are Hegseth/Rubio going to run Venezuela? A: (Trump) It is a team that will run. Venezuela VP Delcy Rodriguez sworn in now and says will do whatever US needs, but cartels are still running the country. US not just leaving. Investing millions.
Q: Americans in the country? A: (Trump) They are protected.
Q: Will bad elements remain in place? A: (Trump) We know who they are and they better behave.
Q: How is this America First? A: (Trump) Stability and energy is important to US.
Q: What about Cuba? A: (Trump) Cuba is failing, US wants to help its people, including those forced out. (Rubio) Cuba is a disaster, run by incompetent, senile men. Economy in collapse. Cuba infiltrated and heavility influenced Venezuela.
Q: Where is opposition leader Maria Corina Machado? A: (Trump) Not in contact with her, but she doesn't have the support or respect of the country.
(Trump) US must be surrounded by safe, secure countries.
Q: What did you speak about with Maduro. A: (Trump) You must surrender.
Q: Recently pardoned Honduras president for drug trafficking. A: He was treated like Biden treated Trump - persecuted unfairly. Trump studied situation, determined persecution, and gave pardon.
Q: Will US Military have presence in Venezuela? A: (Trump) As necessary to protect US people rebuilding oil.
Q: Call with Putin, was Maduro discussed? Mad at Putin? A: (Trump) Maduro not discussed. Not happy with Putin. Too many people getting killed. Settled 8 1/4 wars. Though Russia/Ukraine resolution would be easy - has not been. It is Biden's war, but wants to stop the (loss of) life. 30,000 killed this past month. Ukraine selling munitions at 5% interest, but not of interest - just want to stop the 25-30K deaths each month, plus others being killed in various cities. The war should have never happened, and would not have happened had Trump been president.
---END PRESS Q&A---
From President Donald J. Trump
From Vice President JD Vance
In Minneapolis, MN: Interesting Observation
