In a phone interview, Trump celebrated the capture of Venezuela’s Maduro
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US President Donald Trump celebrated the mission’s success.
PHOTO: AFP
Tyler Pager
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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – US President Donald Trump sounded tired.
It was just after 4.30am on the morning of Jan 3 and 10 minutes after he announced on social media that the United States had captured Mr Nicolas Maduro
I had called the president to try to better understand what happened and what comes next.
He picked up after three rings and answered a few questions.
Mr Trump first celebrated the mission’s success.
“A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people,” he told me. “It was a brilliant operation, actually.”
I then asked if he had sought congressional authority before the US military, along with law enforcement personnel, engaged in a “large-scale strike,” as he put in on social media.
“We’ll discuss that,” he said. “We’re going to have a news conference.”
In his social media announcement, Mr Trump said he would speak at 11am from Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence where he has spent the past two weeks.
I tried to ask what he envisions next for Venezuela and why the high-risk mission was worth it.
“You’re going to hear all about it at 11 o’clock,” he said before hanging up.
The call had lasted 50 seconds. NYTIMES
