Trump’s Maduro Capture Left 24 Venezuelan Officers Dead, Sparked Backlash/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during a U.S. military raid that captured Nicolás Maduro. Trump defends the mission amid international backlash, with global leaders warning of increased U.S. expansionism. The raid, followed by threats to Colombia and Greenland, stokes fears of a more aggressive Trump foreign policy.
Trump’s Venezuela Raid Fallout: Quick Looks
- At least 24 Venezuelan officers killed during U.S. raid
- Trump defends operation, blames critics for lack of credit
- Cuba also lost 32 personnel, declared national mourning
- Maduro captured and extradited to U.S. on drug charges
- Trump says mission proves he acts on threats
- House leaders briefed; Democrats say plans lack clarity
- Poll: Americans divided on raid, oppose regime control
- Trump threatens Colombia, renews calls to take Greenland
- International allies condemn possible expansionist U.S. policy
- Trump eyes Venezuela oil for U.S. energy interests
Trump’s Maduro Capture Left 24 Venezuelan Security Officers Dead, Sparked Backlash
Deep Look
A U.S. military raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has sparked international outcry and left at least 24 Venezuelan security officers dead, according to Caracas officials. The mission, executed under cover of night, marks one of the most high-profile and lethal U.S. operations in Latin America in recent decades.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab denounced the raid as a “war crime,” confirming that both Venezuelan military personnel and civilians were among the dead. Although the Biden administration had previously placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro, President Donald Trump took the credit for the capture during remarks in Washington, saying critics should “just say thank you” instead of politicizing the success.
The Venezuelan military posted a black-and-white video tribute to the fallen on Instagram, featuring slow-motion footage of destroyed armored vehicles and low-flying U.S. aircraft over Caracas.
“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice,” the statement read, vowing to fight for Maduro’s release and root out foreign terrorist operatives.
Cuba’s government also announced a separate death toll: 32 Cuban military and police officers stationed in Venezuela died in the raid, prompting two days of national mourning on the island.
Despite the gravity of the event, Trump used the opportunity to claim a political victory before a group of House Republicans, lamenting that Democrats wouldn’t applaud his leadership. He pointed out that even former President Joe Biden had supported efforts to apprehend Maduro on federal drug trafficking charges dating back to a 2020 indictment.
“You know, they’ve been after this guy for years,” Trump said. “They should be thanking me. I got it done.”
Yet the path forward remains murky.
Top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, briefed congressional leaders Monday night. But the session reportedly raised more questions than it answered. House Speaker Mike Johnson tried to calm concerns, insisting the raid did not mark the beginning of a regime change mission and that no U.S. troops would remain in Venezuela. Democratic leaders, however, said the administration failed to present a coherent long-term strategy.
Meanwhile, polling conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS showed Americans are sharply divided. Roughly 40% approved of the U.S. military raid, while a similar percentage disapproved. Only 20% remained undecided. More notably, nearly 90% of respondents said the Venezuelan people — not the U.S. — should determine their country’s future leadership.
After being apprehended during the raid on a compound protected by Cuban guards, Maduro and his wife were swiftly flown to the U.S., where the former president pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in federal court Monday. Delcy Rodríguez has since been sworn in as Venezuela’s acting leader, though her legitimacy is being challenged.
In the days following the raid, Trump’s foreign policy rhetoric has grown more aggressive. He’s renewed calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, sparking international condemnation, and hinted at military action against Colombia, accusing its president of fueling the global cocaine trade.
Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said she would file a formal diplomatic complaint after Trump called the Colombian president a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.” Still, she expressed hope for strengthened cooperation on anti-drug efforts and urged the U.S. to recognize Colombia’s progress in combating trafficking.
“I hope the Trump administration can see what we’ve accomplished,” she said.
The militarized approach and Trump’s provocative comments have caused unease across Europe. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the U.K., and Denmark issued a joint statement on Tuesday defending Greenland’s sovereignty and warning the U.S. against violating international norms.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement read. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Trump’s former ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, warned that these moves could destabilize the Western alliance.
“This is not just about Venezuela or Greenland,” Gifford said. “It’s about an entire worldview that disregards law, alliances, and diplomacy. And every member of Congress who stays silent is enabling it.”
Inside the White House, sources suggest that no imminent military operation is planned for Greenland, unlike the surprise raid in Venezuela. But officials are exploring a multi-pronged pressure campaign on Denmark — using diplomatic, economic, and rhetorical levers to shift control or influence over Greenland’s strategic assets.
Greenland, which is rich in oil, natural gas, and rare minerals like uranium and graphite, also holds immense geopolitical value as the Arctic becomes a new frontier for global power.
As Trump’s administration signals its willingness to challenge long-standing global norms, allies remain on edge, trying to decode how far the president is willing to go — and at what cost.
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