‘Nicolas Maduro had his chance — until he didn’t’: White House mocks Venezuelan President’s fiery ‘come and get me’ speech

The White House has taken a dig at Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by the US special forces in a midnight operation, sharing an old video of the Venezuelan leader.

“Nicolas Maduro had his chance — until he didn’t. The Trump Admin will always defend American citizens against all threats, foreign and domestic,” White House wrote in a post on X.

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The video that accompanied the post shows Maduro daring Trump. “Come and get me,” he says in the video.

“I will wait for him here in Miraflores. Don’t be late, coward,” Maduro added in a fiery speech he delivered in August after the US increased the bounty on his head.

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Less than five months after his daring speech, the United States on Saturday attacked Venezuela, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence. The duo was reportedly dragged out of the bedroom and taken to the US.

The Venezuelan leader is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. He is expected to face serious drug trafficking and weapons charges in a Manhattan federal court.

Nicolas Maduro had his chance — until he didn’t.

The Trump Admin will always defend American citizens against all threats, forehttps://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2007603407235006793ign and domestic. pic.x.com/eov3GbBXf4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 4, 2026

Addressing a briefing after the US actions, Senior US military officials said the mission, codenamed ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’, was the result of months of planning and coordination.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Razin Caine described the operation as “discreet and precise,” stating that President Donald Trump authorised the mission at 10:46 pm Eastern Time on Friday night.

More than 150 US aircraft, including bombers, fighter jets, surveillance planes and helicopters, were deployed. One aircraft sustained damage but remained operational, and all US assets returned safely.

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Some reports suggested that Maduro had a mole inside his inner circle, who kept leaking information about his whereabouts to the US special forces.

Briefing mediapersons on the operation, Trump last night announced that the US will “run” Venezuela until a safe transition of power takes place.