Trump Praised for Bold, Unprecedented Venezuela Operation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the operation as ‘unbelievable and a tremendous success.’
President Donald Trump sits next to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they watch the U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3, 2026, in a photograph posted by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account. @realDonaldTrump/Handout via Reuters
WASHINGTON—On the morning of Jan. 3, many Americans woke up to news that U.S. special forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
A military buildup in the Caribbean had been underway for months, and many had anticipated some form of U.S. military action, but few expected an operation so ambitious and complex.
Emel Akan
Reporter
Emel Akan is a senior White House correspondent for The Epoch Times, where she covers the policies of the Trump administration. Previously, she reported on the Biden administration and the first term of President Trump. Before her journalism career, she worked in investment banking at JPMorgan. She holds an MBA from Georgetown University.
