Trump Hails Delta Force Bravery After Venezuela Mission

By Eric Mack | Sunday, 04 January 2026 10:39 PM EST

President Donald Trump praised U.S. soldiers who were shot at during a Delta Force operation to exfiltrate Nicolás Maduro from his military compound in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday.

“It was a very dangerous operation,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington, D.C., from the Christmas and New Year’s break at Mar-a-Lago. “It was amazing.”

Trump stated that while a few U.S. service members were injured during the mission, all are now “in good shape.” The president emphasized the exceptional bravery and patriotism displayed by the soldiers who took fire when landing at Maduro’s compound, describing it as “amazing” and highlighting their “tremendous patriotism and bravery.”

He added: “We got off the helicopter. The helicopters were being shot at. They got on the ground.”

Trump noted that American forces encountered significant resistance as they landed at Maduro’s compound, which was guarded by Cuban troops. Cuba reported Sunday that 32 of its citizens died in the operation. The president confirmed there were no U.S. fatalities and only minor injuries for American personnel.