President Donald Trump gave Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro one final chance to step aside.
In a private phone call a week earlier, Trump told Nicolás Maduro plainly that his time was up.
Nicolas Maduro Now Sitting in Prison
By then, U.S. warships were already positioned off Venezuela’s coast. A covert CIA team was operating inside the country, quietly tracking Maduro’s routines — where he slept, what he ate, and how he moved.
“You’ve got to surrender,” Trump said, recounting the conversation during a news conference Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Maduro hesitated. Trump said he “came close” to giving in but ultimately chose to stay put.
That decision triggered the final phase of a secretive and high-risk plan to remove him by force. At 10:46 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, Trump gave the order to proceed.
The operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, marked the most audacious military action of either Trump presidency. This account is based on interviews with more than a dozen White House, administration, and congressional officials, along with public statements.
As early as August, the CIA had quietly deployed a small unit into Venezuela to gain what one official described as “extraordinary insight” into Maduro’s movements. According to Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan “Raizin” Caine, U.S. intelligence had even cataloged details about Maduro’s pets.
Elite troops trained for months, rehearsing inside a replica of the presidential compound built from intelligence gathered on the ground. Trump later compared the preparation to the training conducted ahead of the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The teams even practiced using industrial cutting tools in case they needed to breach steel-reinforced safe rooms.
Behind the scenes, a tight-knit group of senior officials worked quietly on the plan, holding regular meetings and briefings with Trump. That group included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller — figures Trump later said would help oversee Venezuela’s transition.
Pressure increased on Maduro Amid Intercepting Drug Trafficking Boats
Throughout the fall, pressure on Maduro steadily increased. In September, U.S. forces began intercepting and sinking vessels in the Caribbean that the administration claimed were tied to drug trafficking. Experts noted many of those shipments were bound for Europe, not the United States. By December, at least 35 vessels had been struck, leaving more than 100 people dead.
The justification for the strikes evolved over time. In a November interview, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said the goal was to hit the regime until Maduro “cries uncle.” She also acknowledged that a direct ground attack on Venezuelan territory would normally require congressional approval.
That same month, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, entered the Caribbean — a move Trump believed sent a clear signal.
“A lot of ships out there,” he said.
Trump left Washington for the holidays on December 19, relocating final planning to Mar-a-Lago. He approved the operation before Christmas, though the exact launch date remained uncertain.
The Venezuela operation unfolded amid other global concerns. On Christmas Day, Trump announced airstrikes against militants in Nigeria following reports of violence against Christians.
White House Managed to Keep the Operation Under Wraps
By Friday night, even senior Pentagon officials were unaware of the precise timing — an unusual level of secrecy. Vice President JD Vance met with Trump earlier that day but departed before the operation began to avoid drawing attention.
Weather delays had pushed the mission back several days. On Friday, conditions finally aligned: clear skies, a full moon, and acceptable visibility.
The mission began.
“Good luck and Godspeed,” Trump told military leaders.
More than 150 aircraft launched toward Caracas from 20 bases across land and sea, including bombers, fighters, and surveillance platforms. Helicopters skimmed just above the water, carrying special forces tasked with capturing Maduro. Other aircraft neutralized air defenses and cut off escape routes.
Explosions lit up Fort Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex. By 1 a.m. Eastern time, U.S. forces had reached the heavily fortified compound where Maduro was staying.
When Delta Force breached the residence, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were caught off guard. Maduro attempted to reach a reinforced safe room but failed. Both were taken into custody.
Former Venezuela President Arrived in New York
A brief firefight followed, during which a U.S. helicopter was hit. No American personnel were killed, though several were injured and later reported stable.
By 3:30 a.m., U.S. forces had exited Venezuela. Less than an hour later, Trump announced the operation publicly.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” he wrote, confirming Maduro’s capture.
Photos released later showed Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima, handcuffed and blindfolded. By late afternoon, he had arrived in New York, escorted by federal agents. He is expected to face charges tied to alleged narcotics trafficking and corruption.
Trump made clear the operation was not a one-time action. He framed it as part of a broader effort to reshape U.S. influence in the hemisphere — a hard-power interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.
“The Donroe Doctrine,” he called it.
The United States, Trump said, would remain involved in Venezuela until a transition was complete.
Reflecting on his phone call with Maduro, Trump offered a final assessment.
“Now,” he said, “he wishes he listened.”
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