Trump Celebrates Special Forces Who Ousted Venezuela's Maduro

President to visit Fort Bragg to praise military members involved in dramatic operation

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 captured Venezuela's former leader, Nicolás Maduro, earlier this year. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will spend time with military families during the visit, which comes as the administration continues to push for oversight of Venezuela's oil industry and increased U.S. influence in Latin America.

Why it matters

The operation to oust Maduro was a high-profile foreign policy victory for the Trump administration, which has taken an aggressive stance toward Venezuela and sought to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. Trump's visit to Fort Bragg is part of a broader effort to rally support for his administration's policies ahead of the midterm congressional elections.

The details

In early January, U.S. special forces stormed into Venezuela and captured Maduro, who now faces smuggling charges in the U.S. 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 gathering of Latin American leaders in Florida next month to spotlight concerns about Chinese influence in the region.

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

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 is now facing smuggling charges in the U.S.

Tom Homan

The Trump administration's border czar who announced the end of operations in Minnesota that led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.

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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 further spotlight concerns about Chinese influence in the region.

The takeaway

Trump's visit to Fort Bragg is part of a broader effort by the administration to rally support for its policies toward Venezuela and Latin America ahead of the midterm congressional elections, highlighting a foreign policy victory while also seeking to counter the influence of geopolitical rivals like China in the region.