Podcast Summary: “Designed To Hurt Trump” – Jordan Goudreau & Operation Gideon: The Plot To Take Out Maduro

PBD Podcast | Ep. 677 | November 1, 2025
Host: Patrick Bet-David
Guest: Jordan Goudreau

Overview

This episode dives into the controversial Operation Gideon, the failed plot to oust Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, through an exclusive and raw interview with former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau. Goudreau, labeled in media as the “mercenary master mind”, discusses the origins, motives, and fallout of the operation, his ties with U.S. and Venezuelan officials, and his current legal plight—filmed from a homeless shelter’s parking lot before a court hearing. Host Patrick Bet-David presses on the truths and conspiracies surrounding U.S. involvement in Venezuela, CIA interference, and the deeper political agenda that, as Goudreau alleges, was "designed to hurt Trump."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Political Intrigue in the Trump White House

• Goudreau’s Opening Claim: Frames the context as a “civil war” within the White House over how to handle Venezuela. (00:00)
• Venezuela’s Geopolitical Value: “Venezuela is to the United States what Ukraine is to Russia. Let’s cut through all the narrative. He’s trying to secure it for a possible escalation of war with Russia, China.” — Jordan Goudreau (00:04)

2. How Operation Gideon Began

• Goudreau, after a special forces and intelligence career, is approached by Trump administration insiders and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
• Misconceptions Addressed: “I’m not a mercenary, right? Everybody wants to say I’m a mercenary. I’m a strategist.” — Goudreau (08:19)
• Recruiters Named: Drew Horn and Jason Beardsley (Trump-linked operatives, both Green Berets), and Keith Schiller (Trump head of security). (13:24)
• Due Diligence: Goudreau claims full U.S. administration awareness, with multiple illustrious contacts involved, and insists on presidential deniability: “They wanted me to meet with the President, and I refused... I denied their request to meet with the President. I don’t meet with generals when I do operations.” (08:19–11:30)

3. Mission Structure & Money Trail

• Signed Contract: Goudreau says an agreement for $212.9 million with Guaidó's opposition was public and documents exist showing a room with “two presidents”—allegedly Guaidó and Colombia’s Iván Duque. (14:27)
• Phased Operation:
  • Stage 1: Catalyze Venezuelan military to remove Maduro.
  • Stage 2: Counter-coup and stabilize power, requiring major funding.
  • Stage 3: Reconstruction and elections.
• Who Was Paying? “It was told to me the United States. This would come from the U.S. Once this is done, the money will flow.” — Goudreau (19:47 onwards)
• Contradictory documentation: Patrick Bet-David points to the contract, specifying Venezuelan oil as collateral, but Goudreau says U.S. funds were ultimately expected through back channels. (29:14–29:52)

4. The Operation’s Failure and Interference

• Reduction in Forces: From the planned 300–800 men, the operation dwindled to 60 on fishing boats—eight killed, several imprisoned. (25:45)
• Sabotage Claims: Goudreau alleges CIA, Colombian intelligence, and opposition sabotage: “Venezuelan opposition gives the coordinates to the regime and the regime does what they do. So...the heavy lifting...was done by the CIA, Colombian intelligence, Venezuelan opposition.” (25:45–27:35)
• Was It a Setup? He believes the CIA created a trap to undermine Trump and shift South America leftward: “This entire operation was designed to embarrass the president.” — Goudreau (36:04)
• No Appetite for the Story: Media and even Hollywood suppressed his story; latest documentary (Men of War, by Adam McKay) allegedly “CIA funded” and not widely released. (39:50–41:17)

5. Trump & Establishment Dynamics

• Trump’s Style: The operation’s covert approach didn’t match Trump’s public, force-based actions (e.g., killing Soleimani). Bet-David wonders if it fits Trump’s method. (41:17)
• Bloodless Regime Change: Goudreau: “If I come to [Trump] with the choice...we can lose a lot of American lives...or I say...let’s make it bloodless...I’ll take the other option where it’s bloodless.” (42:20)

6. Proximity to Maduro & Mission Ethos

• How Close Did He Get? “I was getting reports on the type of soap that he used. That’s how close I was.” — Goudreau (43:13)
• Did He Have an Assassination Shot? Yes, but claims his mission was not assassination but “capture or put pressure on” to force a flight or removal. (44:05–45:04)

7. Legal & Personal Fallout

• Current Charges: Facing 14 federal counts (arms, smuggling, etc.), living in a VA homeless shelter, fighting to stay out of jail pre-trial. (47:13–47:53)
• Allegation of 'Lawfare': Prosecutors, he says, are using the courts to target Green Berets and suppress his story: “I am essentially a Trojan horse for the Trump administration.” (04:54)
• Support: Only a few, notably Colonel D.J. Reyes, have vouched for his integrity. (50:33)

8. Accountability and Regret

• Goudreau’s Stance: Accepts responsibility and would attempt liberation again for “30 million people” but wishes he had anticipated CIA betrayal. (63:54–65:44)
• Reflection: “When the highest office asks you to do something, you do it. Just like when my commanders tell me to do, I do it. That’s what being a soldier is.” (57:00+)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the mission’s genesis and government intrigue:
  “Bottom line is there was a civil war going on in the White House.” — Goudreau (00:00)
• On why Venezuela matters:
  “Venezuela is to the United States what Ukraine is to Russia.” — Goudreau (00:04)
• On what was promised:
  “It was told to me the United States. This would come from the U.S. Once this is done, the money will flow.” — Goudreau (19:47)
• On being set up:
  “This entire operation was designed to embarrass the president.” — Goudreau (36:04)
• On operational details:
  “I was getting reports on, on, on the type of soap that he used. That’s how close I was.” — Goudreau (43:13)
• On avoiding assassination:
  “Did you ever have a chance where if you wanted to take him out, you could?”
  “Yeah, sure, probably. But...that’s assassination, right? I’m a strategist. I want to do the simplest.” — Goudreau (44:05)
• On regret and soldier’s ethos:
  “I made that determination because I’m a soldier. When the highest office asks you to do something, you do it.” — Goudreau (57:00)
• On responsibility:
  “I take 100% responsibility for it...I should have known that the CIA would have moved against us.” — Goudreau (64:03)
• On America’s treatment of soldiers:
  “I fought for the Constitution… I understand how I’ve been framed in the media...But nobody’s willing to stand next to me.” — Goudreau (55:14)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:00: Setting context; civil war in the White House.
• 08:19–13:30: Goudreau’s background and recruitment.
• 14:15–17:02: Contract details, how he was cleared to operate.
• 19:47–22:17: Money trail and government authorization.
• 25:45–27:35: How the mission unfolded and claim of CIA sabotage.
• 36:00–38:25: Allegations it was designed to frame/trap Trump.
• 47:00–52:51: Legal predicament, charges, and isolation.
• 63:54–65:44: Would he do it again, sense of duty, lessons learned.

Final Thoughts & Tone

This episode offers a gripping and controversial “insider” account of the covert world of regime change and U.S. politics. Goudreau positions himself as a loyal strategist caught in an internal war between U.S. agencies, used as “a Trojan horse” against Trump, and now left to fend for himself. The tone oscillates between combative, reflective, and at times sentimental, underscored by Goudreau’s declared patriotism and sense of betrayal.

Host Patrick Bet-David balances skepticism with empathy, repeatedly pressing for accountability while offering Goudreau a rare platform to explain his side—a side the mainstream, he argues, is determined to silence.

For listeners interested in international covert ops, U.S. political intrigue, or the untold pitfalls of private military work, this episode is both eye-opening and unsettling, leaving open the question of where justice and truth really lie.