Trump Fort Bragg Speech Blasts Biden’s Afghanistan Exit While Detailing Maduro Capture Raid
Speaking at Fort Bragg, Trump blasted President Biden’s 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal as an “embarrassment,” insisting “we don’t run from anybody,” saying his administration would not have left equipment behind and criticizing the decision to abandon aircraft. He also recounted vivid new details of the U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro—saying troops “blasted through steel doors” like papier‑mâché, reached Maduro within minutes, were prepared to breach a safe but didn’t need to, and suffered no U.S. casualties or equipment damage—while Maduro is being held in New York on narco‑terrorism and related charges and the Trumps used the visit to celebrate the operation before a military audience.
📌 Key Facts
- At Fort Bragg on Feb. 13, Trump gave vivid new details of the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, saying U.S. troops "blasted through steel doors" that were "like papier-mâché" and reached Maduro within minutes.
- He said special operations forces were prepared to breach a "big safe" with additional equipment if necessary, but captured Maduro before he reached it.
- Trump emphasized the raid — conducted at a heavily militarized, protected military base where Maduro lived — caused no U.S. casualties and inflicted no damage to U.S. military equipment.
- Maduro is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York on narco-terrorism, cocaine‑trafficking and weapons charges.
- Trump and Melania used the Fort Bragg visit to celebrate the raid and court a military-heavy audience.
- At the same appearance Trump blasted President Biden’s 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal as an "embarrassment," declaring "We don't run from anybody."
- He claimed his administration "wouldn't have left anything" behind in Afghanistan, criticized the decision to leave aircraft as being done because it was "cheaper to leave it behind," and said his own Taliban deal was "conditions-based," arguing Biden was not bound to complete the withdrawal as it occurred.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The piece interprets how charismatic leaders (chiefly exemplified by President Trump’s Fort Bragg theatrics around the Maduro raid) use spectacle to 'roll' their base—prioritizing performance over policy, eroding institutional constraints, and mobilizing supporters through emotional, identity‑driven narratives."
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Trump used his Fort Bragg appearance to call Biden’s 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal an 'embarrassment' and said, 'We don't run from anybody.'
- He claimed his administration 'wouldn't have left anything' behind in Afghanistan and criticized the decision to leave aircraft, saying he was told it was 'cheaper to leave it behind.'
- Trump reiterated that he believes his own Taliban deal was 'conditions-based' and argued Biden was not bound to complete the withdrawal as it occurred.
- Trump, speaking at Fort Bragg on Feb. 13, gave vivid new details of the Maduro capture operation, saying U.S. troops 'blasted through steel doors' that 'were like papier‑mâché' and reached Maduro within minutes.
- He said special operations forces were prepared to breach a 'big safe' with additional equipment if necessary, but captured Maduro before he reached it.
- Trump emphasized that the mission caused no U.S. casualties and no damage to U.S. military equipment despite striking a heavily militarized site where Maduro lived on a protected military base.
- The article confirms Maduro is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City on narco‑terrorism, cocaine‑trafficking and weapons charges, and notes Trump and Melania used the Fort Bragg visit to celebrate the raid and court a military‑heavy audience.