Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made waves Saturday by declaring that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “f’d around and found out.” Hegseth’s comments came during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago following the dramatic capture of the dictator during U.S. strikes on Caracas.
The Secretary echoed a warning previously issued by President Trump, emphasizing that the era of American passivity is over. “Nicolás Maduro had his chance,” Hegseth told reporters. “Just like Iran had their chance until they didn’t and until he didn’t.”
Hegseth added that President Trump is “deadly serious” about stopping the flow of gangs and drugs into the United States. He noted the administration is committed to “reestablishing American deterrence and dominance in the Western Hemisphere.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, stating that Maduro had been given "very, very, very generous offers" to step down peacefully. Rubio warned other world leaders not to "play games" with the current administration, noting that such actions will not turn out well.
During the briefing, President Trump touted a new era of foreign policy he jokingly called the “Don-roe Doctrine.” He asserted that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela and its oil production until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition" can be arranged.
The high-stakes mission involved U.S. airstrikes and an elite Delta Force team that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported to the USS Iwo Jima before being sent to New York to face major criminal charges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the pair has been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and the possession of destructive devices against the United States.
While Republicans largely praised the mission, some Democrats and a few libertarians questioned the legality of the operation.