In a dramatic revelation, the White House has released photographs showing former US President Donald Trump and his top national security advisors intently monitoring the high-stakes military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The images, captured at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, offer a rare glimpse into the command centre as live updates from Operation Absolute Resolve streamed in overnight.
The Command Centre at Mar-a-Lago
The photographs show President Trump seated with key members of his cabinet and security team. According to reports from NBC News, he was flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine. US media outlets described Trump as being deeply engaged, following the mission's progress closely as American forces executed coordinated strikes and extracted Maduro from his stronghold in Caracas.
Trump later confirmed his direct involvement in overseeing the raid. In an interview with Fox News, he stated, "I watched it, literally, like I was watching a television show," characterising the operation as both fast-moving and executed with high precision.
Months of Covert Planning Culminate in Overnight Raid
Operation Absolute Resolve was not a spontaneous action but the result of extensive, months-long planning by US military and intelligence agencies. Officials revealed that during this period, the US increased its military presence near Venezuela, targeted suspected drug-trafficking corridors, and gathered exhaustive intelligence on Maduro's movements, security protocols, and daily habits.
Special forces units conducted multiple rehearsals for the mission, even training on a detailed replica of Maduro's compound. General Caine emphasised the thorough preparation, noting, "We rehearse not to get it right, but to make sure we cannot get it wrong." Trump added that the final green light was only given after weather conditions improved, allowing helicopters to infiltrate Venezuelan airspace under the cover of darkness.
The operation was launched in the early hours of Saturday, with parts of Caracas experiencing blackouts. Trump mentioned that US forces employed advanced capabilities to disrupt local infrastructure, though he withheld specifics. Residents reported multiple explosions across the capital. The entire incursion, described by Defence Secretary Hegseth as a "massive joint military and law enforcement operation," was completed in under 30 minutes. While no American troops were killed, a few sustained injuries. One helicopter came under fire but managed to return safely.
From Caracas to a Brooklyn Cell: Maduro's Journey to US Custody
Following his capture, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were swiftly transported by helicopter to a US Navy vessel stationed in the Caribbean Sea. Images later shared by Trump showed the deposed leader aboard the USS Iwo Jima, wearing protective headphones and a blindfold.
Maduro was then flown to Stewart Air Force Base in New York state. From there, he was moved via helicopter and a secure convoy to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. Videos released by the White House and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) showed him being escorted and processed by US federal agents.
US authorities have confirmed that Maduro faces a federal indictment in Manhattan on serious charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking, and weapons offences. His first court appearance is scheduled for early next week. The MDC, New York City's sole federal jail, is known for housing high-profile inmates such as Ghislaine Maxwell, R. Kelly, and, most recently, Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The successful execution of Operation Absolute Resolve marks a significant moment in US foreign policy, demonstrating a direct intervention in the political crisis of a South American nation. The event sets the stage for a landmark legal proceeding that will be closely watched around the globe.
