Former US President Donald Trump delivered a pointed address to Republican lawmakers on Tuesday, using a party gathering to champion American military power and launch a fresh political offensive against Democrats.
Trump's Address at GOP Retreat
The speech took place at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center as House Republicans convened for a party retreat, marking their return to session. Trump opened his remarks by commending the party's policy agenda before swiftly turning to foreign affairs.
He focused significantly on a recent US operation in Venezuela targeting the government of Nicolás Maduro. Trump asserted American military supremacy in unequivocal terms, stating, “The United States proved once again that we have the most powerful, most lethal, most sophisticated, and most fearsome military on planet earth – and it’s not even close... Nobody could've done that.”
Criticism of Democrats and Allegations on Maduro
Trump did not spare the opposition, suggesting Democrats were reluctant to acknowledge the operation's success. “You know, at some point they should say, you know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations. Wouldn't it be good?” he remarked. He added that he would credit political rivals if he believed their actions helped the nation.
His rhetoric intensified when discussing the Venezuelan leader. “They've been after this guy for years and years and years, and, you know, he's a violent guy… he's killed millions of people. He's tortured,” Trump alleged. He further claimed knowledge of a torture facility in Caracas and accused the “radical left” of backing pro-Maduro protests.
Claims of Paid Protests and Political Narrative
Trump also made striking claims about the nature of demonstrations calling for Maduro's release, alleging they were orchestrated. “They're all paid people. Most of these people are paid,” he said. To bolster his point, he cited a specific example: “You have a woman, Free Maduro. And the sign is before we even did the attack, Free Maduro.”
The address served multiple purposes: reinforcing Trump's stance on strong military action, framing the political narrative ahead of the session, and rallying his party base. The remarks underscore the continuing focus on Venezuela as a foreign policy issue and highlight the deep partisan divide in acknowledging governmental actions.
