U.S. President Donald Trump told the New York Post that a secret new weapon, which he himself calls “The Discombobulator,” was decisive in the U.S. operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
According to Trump, the weapon “made the enemy’s equipment stop working” during the January 3 operation, when U.S. helicopters entered Caracas to arrest Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on charges related to drugs and weapons—without the loss of a single American life.
“The Discombobulator. I’m not allowed to talk about it,” Trump said in an exclusive interview from the Oval Office, adding that he did not want to provide further details, while confirming its use in the operation. As he stated, the forces defending Maduro were unable to use their missiles, despite the fact that, according to him, they were Russian- and Chinese-made weapons systems.
The American president referred to the secret weapon when asked about reports linking the U.S. government to the acquisition of a pulsed-energy weapon, which is reportedly connected to incidents attributed to the so-called “Havana Syndrome.”
What testimonies from Venezuela say
Although few details are known about the “Discombobulator,” testimonies from Venezuela describe armed guards protecting Maduro collapsing, showing nosebleeds and severe discomfort. One member of Maduro’s security team said that “suddenly all radar systems shut down for no apparent reason,” after which drones appeared over their positions, followed by the arrival of helicopters carrying about 20 American soldiers.
The same witness described that at some point something resembling a “very intense sound wave” was emitted, causing severe pain, bleeding, and an inability to move among those present, who, he said, could not even stand upright after its effect.
The 63-year-old Maduro is now being held in a federal prison in Brooklyn, awaiting trial on charges related to narco-terrorism. At the same time, the role of interim president of Venezuela is being carried out by his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez.
Trump also stated that the United States maintains an “excellent relationship” with the country’s new leadership, describing Rodríguez as “excellent.”
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