Rubio: Maduro Not a Legitimate Leader
Rubio said Maduro is not Venezuela’s legitimate president, a position he said was shared by both Trump administrations, the Biden administration, the European Union, and multiple countries worldwide.
He described Maduro as a “fugitive of American justice” with a $50 million reward on his head. “I guess we saved ourselves $50 million,” Rubio quipped, prompting Trump to add, “Don’t let anybody claim it.”
Rubio said Maduro ignored multiple chances to avoid confrontation, accusing him of inviting Iran into Venezuela and flooding the US with gang members. Trump, he said, “is not a game player.”
Operation ‘Absolute Resolve’
Gen. Dan Caine detailed the military action, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, calling it discreet and precise. US forces, he said, dismantled Venezuelan air defenses and arrived at Maduro’s compound at 1:01 a.m. ET, isolating the area.
Helicopters came under fire and responded with “overwhelming force.” One aircraft was hit, but all US aircraft returned safely, Caine said. By 3:29 a.m. ET, Maduro and his wife were in US custody and aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
The operation involved more than 150 aircraft and months of intelligence work tracking Maduro’s habits, movements and security.
