Trump Celebrates Special Forces Who Ousted Venezuela's Maduro

President to visit Fort Bragg to praise military members involved in dramatic capture of former Venezuelan leader.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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President Donald Trump is traveling to Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Friday to celebrate members of the special forces who were involved in the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. First Lady Melania Trump will also be making the trip to spend time with military families. Trump has been visiting key swing states ahead of the midterm elections, and this visit is meant to highlight his administration's efforts to remove Maduro from power.

Why it matters

The capture of Maduro was a major foreign policy victory for the Trump administration, which has taken an aggressive stance against the Venezuelan regime. This visit allows Trump to tout his administration's actions and appeal to military voters ahead of the midterm elections.

The details

In early January, special forces stormed into Venezuela and whisked away Maduro to face U.S. smuggling charges. Trump has described the operation as requiring bravery and advanced weapons. The administration has since pushed for broader oversight of Venezuela's oil industry, and plans to convene a meeting of Latin American leaders in Florida next month to spotlight Chinese influence in the region.

  • On January 3, 2026, special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
  • President Trump is visiting Fort Bragg on February 13, 2026 to celebrate the special forces members involved.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who ordered the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.

Nicolás Maduro

The former leader of Venezuela who was captured by U.S. special forces and faces smuggling charges.

Melania Trump

The First Lady of the United States who is accompanying the President on his visit to Fort Bragg.

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What’s next

Next month, the Trump administration plans to convene a gathering of leaders from a number of Latin American countries in Florida to spotlight what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.

The takeaway

This visit allows Trump to tout his administration's actions against the Maduro regime and appeal to military voters ahead of the midterm elections, underscoring the political implications of the operation to capture the former Venezuelan leader.