Trump praises 'brilliant' Venezuela attack at House Republicans retreat

At a House Republicans retreat, President Trump praised a recent US operation that captured Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro and received warm applause; he also addressed the midterm elections and repeated other political claims.

President Donald Trump used a near 90-minute speech to House Republicans to praise a recent US operation in Venezuela and to press his political themes ahead of the midterm elections. He described the operation as a complex, "brilliant" feat and received sustained applause from the audience. The event took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which the article says was recently renamed the "Trump-Kennedy Center" by its board. Trump also touched on several domestic political topics during the speech. Key facts: - Trump praised the Venezuela operation and called it "brilliant," saying it involved complex planning and that US special forces returned without reported deaths among US troops. - He acknowledged that people guarding Nicolás Maduro died in the assault and described heavy casualties among those defenders, saying many were Cuban, as reported in the article. - The president repeatedly described Maduro as a "violent guy," accused his government of torture in Caracas, and said Maduro had mocked US threats, according to his remarks. - He made claims, described in the report as unsupported, that the "radical left" paid protesters to carry "Free Maduro" signs. - The speech was delivered as a rallying address for House Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections; Trump warned Republicans they must win to avoid what he called another impeachment. - Trump also repeated false claims that the 2020 election was rigged, said he had pardoned nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters earlier this year, and mentioned ideas including a possible third-term movement and references to cognitive tests for political rivals. Summary: The speech reinforced Trump’s standing with the House Republican audience and framed the Venezuela operation as a political and military success. The remarks also focused attention on the coming midterm elections and the role Republican lawmakers will play in supporting his agenda and responses to potential legal or political challenges.