U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emerged as the decisive force behind the planning, execution, and aftermath of the military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, marking a defining moment for his tenure.
The successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, was the direct result of a meticulously orchestrated campaign spearheaded by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. As the lead architect and operational director of Operation Absolute Resolve, Hegseth’s personal oversight spanned from long-term strategy and live-fire rehearsals to the final authorization of lethal force, culminating in the raid in Caracas. His central role was further cemented when President Trump tasked him with overseeing Venezuela’s temporary administration post-capture.
Hegseth’s Strategic Command: Launching Operation Southern Spear
The groundwork for the capture was laid by Pete Hegseth’s strategic military expansion in the region. On November 13, 2025, he formally named and escalated Operation Southern Spear, a massive buildup deploying over 15,000 U.S. troops and advanced robotic systems to the Caribbean. This campaign, under his command, established the overwhelming presence necessary to enable the subsequent direct action against the Maduro regime.
Hands-On Planning: Designing the Raid
Pete Hegseth’s involvement was intensely hands-on. He led the exclusive core planning team with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, personally overseeing the operation’s design for months. His attention to detail was exemplified by the construction of a full-scale replica of Maduro’s fortress-like residence, a project he supervised to ensure Delta Force units could rehearse the raid to perfection.
Authorizing the Use of Force
In the critical weeks preceding the capture, Pete Hegseth exercised his authority to clear the path to Caracas. He personally authorized more than twenty lethal strikes on ships alleged to be Venezuelan drug vessels. His most controversial order came in December 2025, when he commanded forces to “kill everybody” on a boat after an initial strike, a decision that underscored his aggressive and uncompromising approach to the mission’s objectives.
The Capture and Hegseth’s Defining Statement
Following the flawlessly executed raid, Pete Hegseth’s role transitioned from military commander to civilian administrator. President Trump immediately announced that Hegseth would co-lead the temporary U.S. administration of Venezuela alongside Secretary Rubio, charged with managing the country until a stable transition.
It was Pete Hegseth who delivered the mission’s public epitaph. At a Mar-a-Lago press conference, he declared the operation a triumph of joint military and law enforcement effort. In a moment that captured his direct and uncompromising style, Secretary Hegsethstated that Nicolás Maduro had “f’d around and he found out,” a phrase that came to symbolize the decisive outcome of the operation he built from the ground up.
