President Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to depose and arrest Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro as a “brilliant” operation that took a “violent guy” out of South America.
Mr. Trump, speaking to the House GOP retreat in Washington, said the raid on Mr. Maduro’s Caracas compound was one of the most complicated military operations of all time.
“It was so complex,” Mr. Trump said at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“Think of it, no one was killed, and on the other side, a lot of people were killed, unfortunately,” Mr. Trump said. “Soldiers, Cubans – mostly Cubans – but many, many killed.”
At least 32 Cubans who were part of Mr. Maduro’s security detail were reportedly killed.
The president said Mr. Maduro’s security forces “knew we were coming,” but U.S. forces overran them.
Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face an indictment in New York that accuses them of leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy that hurt Americans.
Mr. Trump also said Mr. Maduro was a scourge to his own people.
“He’s a violent guy. He gets up there, and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit,” Mr. Trump said to laughter. “But he’s a violent guy.”
Mr. Trump marveled at the details of the raid, including a shutdown of electricity in the capital.
“The only people with lights were the people who had candles,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday in Manhattan. He told the judge he had been kidnapped by the U.S.
Mr. Trump says the U.S. will watch the newly installed leader, Delcy Rodriguez, closely and work to rebuild the oil infrastructure in the country.
His focus on oil will likely fuel skepticism about U.S. motives. Some Venezuelans cheered the ouster of Mr. Maduro, who is viewed by many in the West as illegitimate, while others denounced American interference as an ugly throwback to an imperialist era.
Venezuela is home to the world’s largest known crude oil reserves.
Mr. Trump late Sunday said he spoke to oil companies before and after the military operation.
“They want to go in,” Mr. Trump said, “and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela.”
