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Trump Says Maduro Mocked His Dance as He Touts Venezuela Raid to House Republicans

His comments reinforce reports that Maduro’s public taunts shaped the decision to act.

Overview

  • Speaking at the Trump-Kennedy Center, Trump said Nicolás Maduro "tries to imitate my dance" and praised the operation that seized him as a "brilliant" military feat.
  • Trump said no U.S. special forces were killed while "a lot of people" on the other side died, as independent reporting described dozens of casualties from the weekend assault.
  • The president also claimed Maduro has "killed millions" and referenced a "torture chamber" in Caracas, presenting assertions he did not substantiate.
  • Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty in Manhattan to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges and remain in U.S. custody following their capture in Caracas.
  • Trump’s remarks mirror New York Times reporting that Maduro’s public dancing was interpreted inside the administration as mocking, which officials considered in authorizing the raid.