On Saturday, President Donald Trump unveiled never-before-seen photographs of the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, directed from his Mar-a-Lago estate, via his social media channels.
Trump took to Truth Social to share these images from "Operation Absolute Resolution" after declaring at a press conference that Maduro was being transported on that vessel "to face charges."
In the photos, Trump is seen alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and General Dan Caine. They appear in a room equipped with screens and computers, showing live footage of the events unfolding in Venezuela.
The former president highlighted the extraordinary nature of the operation and hinted that the public had not yet seen the full picture. "If you had seen what I saw last night... I'm not sure you'll ever get to see it," he remarked, emphasizing that there were no American casualties or equipment losses during the mission.
President Trump claimed to have witnessed the military operation in Venezuela "in real-time," describing it as "extremely complex." He elaborated that the attack involved the deployment of numerous aircraft, helicopters, and jets, highlighting the team's alleged ability to infiltrate "impenetrable" areas with "steel doors," which he claimed were subdued "in seconds."
According to Trump's account, the operation—monitored from Mar-a-Lago, "surrounded by generals and experts"—featured communications between "Florida and the ground in Venezuela" and was postponed several days due to weather conditions. "The operation was planned four days ago, but the weather wasn't perfect. We waited for the exact moment," he noted.
In the same briefing, Trump asserted that Nicolás Maduro was in "a fortress" and attempted to take shelter but was "captured in seconds." He also mentioned that there were no fatalities among the participating forces: "We didn't lose anyone. There were some injuries, but no deaths. We didn't lose any aircraft. Everything returned home."
Trump depicted the operation as unprecedented in his experience. "I've overseen many major operations in other parts of the world, but nothing like this," he stated, comparing the mission to another action he referred to as "the elimination of the Iranian nuclear threat," yet emphasizing that what transpired in Venezuela was "even more complex" in several respects.
Insights on Operation Absolute Resolution
What was "Operation Absolute Resolution"?
"Operation Absolute Resolution" was a military operation directed by President Donald Trump to capture Nicolás Maduro, reportedly executed from Mar-a-Lago with live communications between Florida and Venezuela.
Who accompanied Trump during the operation?
During the operation, Trump was accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and General Dan Caine.
Were there any casualties during the operation?
According to Trump's account, there were no American casualties or losses of equipment during the operation, although some injuries were reported.