Elon Musk has spoken out to back President Donald Trump despite the pair’s tumultuous history after American special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a dramatic military operation in Caracas.
President Donald Trump described watching the raid unfold as akin to viewing a television programme, praising the speed and intensity of the assault.
The Venezuelan leader was apprehended inside what Trump characterised as a heavily fortified residence surrounded by solid steel. “If you would’ve seen the speed, the violence, it was an amazing thing,” the US President told Fox News.
Trump revealed the operation had been postponed by four days while awaiting optimal weather conditions. He indicated that a small number of American personnel sustained injuries but were expected to recover fully.
The President declared no other nation possessed the capability to execute such a manoeuvre.
The US President announced Washington would administer Venezuela until a secure and orderly handover to new leadership could be arranged. Trump made clear he wished to avoid a repeat of the instability that had plagued the country for years.
American energy giants are set to enter Venezuela imminently, according to Trump’s statement.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he declared.
The President framed the intervention as part of a broader strategy to reassert American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
He insisted that US supremacy in the region would never again be called into question.
Following the Venezuelan leader’s capture, the White House posted a screenshot of President Trump’s Truth Social update in which he confirmed that Maduro was in the hands of US forces.
The image depicted the former Venezuelan president standing in a grey tracksuit, wearing darkened goggles and ear protection whilst holding a water bottle. He appeared to be restrained in handcuffs.
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The accompanying caption simply read: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”
Mr Musk threw his support behind the move, reposting The White House’s update with a message of his own.
The X owner wrote on the social media platform: “Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere.”
The US administration has long maintained that Maduro won office illegitimately and bears personal responsibility for drug trafficking through Venezuelan territory.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated Britain was “not involved in any way” in the American-led assault on Venezuela.
The Prime Minister confirmed he had not yet spoken with President Trump regarding the seizure of Maduro in Caracas.
When asked whether he condemned Washington’s actions, as several other British politicians have done, Starmer said he wished to “establish facts” and consult with Trump before commenting on what he described as a “fast-moving situation”.
Downing Street is coordinating with the British embassy in Venezuela to ensure the safety of roughly 500 UK nationals currently in the South American nation.
Starmer indicated these citizens would receive appropriate guidance and safeguarding measures.
The Venezuelan government had previously accused Washington of attempting to oust Maduro and seize control of the country’s petroleum reserves.
Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado urged citizens who had voted for democracy to rally behind Edmundo Gonzalez, whom she and international observers maintain won the 2024 presidential election.
She called for Gonzalez to immediately take up his constitutional role and be recognised as commander-in-chief by the armed forces.
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