Podcast Summary: Bannon’s War Room, Episode 5042

Title: “We” Will Run Venezuela
Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Steve Bannon (WarRoom.org), with guests including military experts, Latin American correspondents, and live remarks from President Trump and senior officials.

Overview of the Episode

This historic episode covers the dramatic U.S. military operation to extract Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, from Caracas for trial in the United States. The episode analyzes the operation’s military details, regional and international reactions, and President Trump’s bombshell announcement: the United States will "run Venezuela" until a stable transition is secured.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Complexity and Execution of the Military Operation

• Operational Overview:

  • Detailed description of the joint special forces and naval operation that led to the extraction of Maduro and his wife (00:55–06:22).
  • Special operations involved over 150 aircraft, integration across all military branches, and meticulous planning to avoid U.S. casualties ([63:25], [98:08]).
  • AC130 gunship and Marine cover were decisive for force protection, with lessons learned from past failures like “Black Hawk Down” ([33:03]–[35:53]).

• Key Quote:

  “...we leveraged our unmatched intelligence capabilities and our years of experience in hunting terrorists ... This was an audacious operation that only the United States could do. It required the utmost of precision and integration within our Joint Force.”
  — General Raisin Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ([63:25]–[73:00])

2. Naval Power and Force Projection

• Naval Assets:

  • The operation deployed major U.S. naval force, including the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Iwo Jima, with full air wings and Marine Expeditionary Units, ensuring rapid deployment, air cover, and extraction ([06:22]–[09:50]).

• Strategic Significance:

  • U.S. ability to project sustained power in South America highlights naval versatility and importance in rapidly changing political environments.

3. Regional and International Response

• Latin American Reactions:

  • Widespread celebration among anti-Maduro Venezuelans and supportive Latin American communities (esp. in Argentina, Chile, Spain, Mexico) ([16:46]–[19:55]).
  • Leftist leaders (e.g., Brazil’s Lula) protested the operation as a violation of international law, warning of dangerous precedents ([19:55]–[21:27]).

• U.S. Perspective:

  • Operation framed as hemispheric defense in line with the “Monroe Doctrine 2.0,” now dubbed the “DonRow Doctrine” by Trump ([39:33]–[60:46]).

• Key Quote:

  “The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line ... a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty ... Attacking countries in flagrant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos and instability.”
  — President Lula of Brazil, read by Bannon ([19:55])

4. President Trump’s Address & Policy Declaration

• Historic Speech:

  • Trump details the operation’s success, zero U.S. deaths/casualties, and the capture of Maduro “in the heart of Caracas” ([39:33]–[60:46]).

  • Announcement:

    • The U.S. will run Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can occur.
    • U.S. oil companies to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, with profits to benefit the Venezuelan people and reimburse U.S. losses.
    • U.S. reserves the right to launch a “second, much larger attack” if needed.
    • No plans for immediate, large-scale occupation, but “not afraid of boots on the ground” if necessary.

• Key Policy Quotes:

  “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
  — President Trump ([45:45], [76:44])

  “All political and military figures in Venezuela should understand what happened to Maduro can happen to them...”
  — President Trump ([56:32])

  “The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal ... we don't forget about it anymore. Under our new national security strategy, American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.”
  — President Trump ([56:57])

5. Operational & Political Challenges Ahead

• Stabilization and Governance:

  • Immediate concern over how to administer Venezuela, prevent chaos, and neutralize remnants of Maduro’s regime—including notorious cartel leaders and Cuban, Russian, and Chinese operatives ([114:47]–[118:47]).

• “Who Runs Venezuela?”

  • Trump signals that Rubio, Hegseth, and a U.S.-appointed group will oversee governance, aiding in the oil sector and security, with a transitional government until elections can be held ([76:44]–[77:26], [84:06]–[84:45]).

  • Discussion of possible parallels and pitfalls compared to previous U.S. interventions—like Iraq and Panama ([104:34]–[105:26], [115:28]–[118:01]).

• Latin American and Domestic Perspective:

  • Latin American correspondents stress the need for a “housecleaning” and support for truly representative opposition leaders, warning against co-opting elements of the existing corrupt elite.

6. Implications for U.S. Foreign and Domestic Policy

• Monroe Doctrine Revived:

  • Assertive new policy for the hemisphere, prioritizing American “energy security”, geopolitical stability, and opposition to hostile foreign actors ([56:57], [88:23]).

• No Immediate Plans for Large U.S. Military Presence:

  • Emphasis on targeted presence for oil and stability, with oil revenues to fund the operation—“it’s not going to cost us anything” ([90:36], [93:40]).

• Warning to Other Regional Actors:

  • Trump warns Colombia’s President Petro and Cuba’s Díaz-Canel; the message: Any threat to U.S. interests or harboring of hostile actors will not go unanswered ([80:41], [88:45]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On U.S. Military Might and Operation’s Success:

  “Not a single American service member was killed and not a single piece of American equipment was lost ... This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.”
  — President Trump ([45:00])

• On Taking Control of Venezuela:

  “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. So we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.”
  — President Trump ([45:45], [76:44])

• On Risks and Opposition:

  “This is a very dangerous attack ... We could have lost a lot of people last night. We could have lost a lot of dignity ... We’re not afraid of it [boots on the ground].”
  — President Trump ([77:30])

• Comparisons to Past Interventions:

  “What Clinton did in Mogadishu ... no gunships. Even though nobody would have seen them ... so that decision had catastrophic consequences ... I’m glad Trump just gave them carte blanche.”
  — Todd Wood, expert commentator ([35:53])

• Latin American Perspective:

  “God bless him, I love him. Trump press conference was impressive for me. I have never seen a president anywhere in the world with such determination ... he’s going to take control of Venezuela so it can be become a great country ... Trump is going to win a lot of votes in the Spanish community because he deserves it.”
  — Javier Negre, Latin American Correspondent ([107:30])

• On Dangers Within Venezuela Post-Operation:

  “There is a lot of uncertainty on what can happen inside Venezuela ... Maduro’s accomplices are already threatening the population to not celebrate, to not go out ... It’s going to be a battle and an enormous strategy by the Trump administration.”
  — Oscar Blue Ramirez, on-the-ground correspondent ([112:44], [113:17])

• Frank Gaffney’s Warning:

  “What you’re dealing with really is an existing array of very bad actors ... In addition ... you’ve got the Chinese and the Cubans and the Russians and the Iranians and Hezbollah ... And the rest of it has to be thought as carefully as it needs to be.”
  — Frank Gaffney, security expert ([115:28]–[118:01])

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Military Operation Detailed | 00:55–06:22 | | Naval Power / Assets | 06:22–09:50 | | Latin American Reaction | 16:46–21:27 | | President Trump’s Remarks | 39:33–60:46 | | General Cain: Op. Details | 63:25–73:00 | | Q&A: Who Runs Venezuela? | 76:44–80:45 | | Comparisons to Panama/Iraq/Iran | 104:34–105:26, 115:28–118:01 | | Analysis: Next Steps / Risks | 114:47–118:47 |

Flowing Narrative and Takeaways

• The episode delivers a vivid, front-row account of a landmark military action that signals a reassertion of U.S. authority in the Western Hemisphere.
• It balances granular military analysis with spirited political debate and emotional reactions, especially from Latin American commentators who view the operation as both liberation and a geopolitical earthquake.
• Despite the jubilant tone at moments, guests and the host underscore the complexity ahead: potential power vacuums, the risk of a botched transition, and the enduring challenge of cleaning out entrenched criminal networks and foreign influence.

Closing Thoughts

With the extraction of Maduro and the U.S. government’s promise to oversee Venezuela’s transition, this episode documents a historic turn towards direct American intervention and governance in the hemisphere, sparking hope, controversy, and uncertainty for Venezuela and the wider region.

End of Summary