U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States used a secret weapon to disable Venezuelan military equipment during a dramatic operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said the weapon made Venezuelan defense systems stop working just as U.S. forces moved in. He said the device prevented rockets and other weapons from being fired during the raid.
“Their equipment just didn’t work,” Trump said. “They pressed buttons, and nothing happened.”
Trump referred to the device as “The Discombobulator” but said he was not allowed to share details about how it works or what it is made of.
U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the existence of a weapon by that name, and no technical details have been released. The White House and the Pentagon have declined to comment on Trump’s specific claims.
Power systems and weapons reportedly shut down
According to Trump, the weapon disabled Venezuelan military systems at a critical moment. He said the country’s forces were prepared to respond but were unable to do so.
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“They had rockets ready. Some were Russian. Some were Chinese,” Trump said. “They never got one off.”
Trump had earlier suggested that much of Caracas lost power during the operation. He again hinted that U.S. forces were able to shut down key systems quickly, leaving little resistance on the ground.
The operation resulted in Maduro being taken into custody and flown out of Venezuela. U.S. authorities say he now faces multiple criminal charges, including drug trafficking and weapons-related offenses.
Maduro has been a central figure in long-running tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Washington has accused his government of corruption, human rights abuses, and involvement in international drug trafficking. Caracas has repeatedly denied those claims.
US expands pressure beyond Venezuela
During the interview, Trump also spoke about broader U.S. military actions targeting drug trafficking networks. He said the United States plans to continue striking drug smuggling operations at sea and could expand actions to land targets.
“We know who they are. We know where they live. We know their routes,” Trump said, referring to drug cartels. “We’re going to hit them.”
When asked whether future strikes could take place in Mexico or Central America, Trump responded, “Could be anywhere.”
On the same day as the interview, U.S. forces carried out a strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first such strike reported since Maduro’s capture.
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Since late 2025, U.S. military forces have conducted dozens of operations against boats believed to be carrying illegal drugs. These operations have taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
U.S. military officials say the goal is to stop drugs before they reach North America. According to official estimates, at least 117 people have been killed during these maritime operations, though exact numbers remain disputed.
Seized oil tankers and regional impact
Trump also claimed that the U.S. has seized oil shipments linked to Venezuela. He said seven oil tankers connected to the country were taken but refused to say where they are now.
“They don’t have the oil anymore,” Trump said. “We take the oil.”
The United States has imposed strict sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry for years. Those sanctions have limited the country’s ability to sell oil on the global market and have been a major source of economic pressure on the Venezuelan government.
Analysts say any large-scale seizure of oil shipments could further strain Venezuela’s already fragile economy.
Nobel mention and Arctic comments
During the wide-ranging interview, Trump also mentioned a Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and later presented to him earlier this month.
He said he had not yet decided where to display the award and that it was leaning against a statue in the Oval Office at the time.
Trump also spoke about discussions with NATO officials regarding Arctic security. He said an agreement would allow the U.S. to maintain a stronger presence at Arctic bases used by American forces.
However, leaders in Denmark and Greenland later said that sovereignty over Greenland is not open for negotiation. NATO officials also stated that no agreement involving a transfer of land ownership had been proposed.
No details released on secret weapon
Despite Trump’s repeated references to the secret weapon used in Venezuela, no independent confirmation has been provided. U.S. officials have not described any system capable of remotely disabling military equipment on such a scale.
Defense experts note that modern military operations can involve cyber tools, electronic warfare, and power grid disruption. However, they caution that many such capabilities remain classified and are rarely discussed publicly.
Trump said the lack of resistance during the raid showed how effective the operation was.
“They were ready for us,” he said. “But they couldn’t do anything.”
