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Rocky Mount Today
By the People, for the People
Trump Celebrates Special Forces Who Ousted Venezuela's Maduro
President to visit Fort Bragg to honor troops involved in dramatic operation
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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President Donald Trump is traveling to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to celebrate members of the special forces who carried out a mission to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power earlier this year. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet with the troops and military families during the visit.
Why it matters
The operation to oust Maduro was a high-profile foreign policy move by the Trump administration, which has taken an aggressive stance toward Venezuela and sought to counter growing Chinese influence in Latin America. Trump's visit to Fort Bragg is intended to showcase the administration's actions and rally support ahead of the midterm elections.
The details
In early January, U.S. special forces stormed into Venezuela and removed Maduro, who now faces smuggling charges in the United States. Trump has praised the bravery and advanced weapons used in the operation. The administration has since pushed for greater oversight of Venezuela's oil industry and plans to convene a meeting of Latin American leaders in Florida next month to address concerns over Chinese influence in the region.
- On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces carried out the operation to remove Maduro from power in Venezuela.
- President Trump is visiting Fort Bragg on February 13, 2026 to celebrate the troops involved in the Venezuela operation.
The players
Donald Trump
The President of the United States who ordered the special forces operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Nicolás Maduro
The former President of Venezuela who was removed from power by U.S. special forces and now faces smuggling charges in the United States.
Tom Homan
The Trump administration's border czar who announced the end of federal law enforcement operations in Minnesota that led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.
What’s next
Next month, President Trump plans to convene a gathering of leaders from a number of Latin American countries in Florida, as the administration spotlights what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.
The takeaway
Trump's visit to Fort Bragg is intended to showcase the administration's actions in Venezuela and rally support ahead of the midterm elections, as the president continues to take an aggressive stance toward Latin American countries and counter perceived Chinese influence in the region.
