President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to offer an unapologetic defense of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, framing the capture of Nicolás Maduro as a decisive assertion of American power in the Western Hemisphere, according to Breitbart News.
Trump described Operation Absolute Resolve, which pushed deep into Caracas on January 3, 2026, and ended with Maduro’s arrest. The former Venezuelan leader is currently awaiting trial in federal detention.
“Since that day, hundreds of political prisoners have been set free, and we’re working closely with the leaders of Venezuela to forge a much better future for the Venezuelan people,” Trump told the assembly. He went on to announce that the two countries had signed what he called the largest oil deal in history, covering 65 billion barrels of oil, a pact he said would benefit both nations enormously and help drive down energy costs worldwide.
Oil Deal Already Underway
Trump said work under the agreement had already begun, with multiple companies launching operations. Combined, he added, the United States and Venezuela account for roughly 60 percent of the world’s available oil, making the deal the biggest ever struck. He did not identify the companies involved or provide further terms.
“To the victor belong the spoils,” Trump declared, before repeating the phrase for emphasis. “You all heard that. Our actions in Venezuela are proof the United States will no longer permit threats to America to gain a foothold anywhere in the Western hemisphere and if necessary, we will use our unmatched military might to secure the vital national interests of the United States.”
The president also took a swipe at Venezuela’s defensive capabilities, saying the country had acquired the “finest” military equipment from other nations, but that “it didn’t work … didn’t even come close.”
A Contrast With Past Administrations
Trump used much of his speech to draw a contrast with previous administrations, which he accused of allowing gangs and drug cartels into the United States through uncontrolled migration. He said the country had been infiltrated by hostile foreign adversaries and that his approach had reversed that trend.
“Not anymore,” he said. “We are reasserting American power where necessary in our region and around the world to create a safer future.”
The president pointed to his designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move he said he had backed up with dozens of targeted strikes. He described the groups as “the ISIS of the Western hemisphere” and said their members would be killed, exiled, or detained as enemy combatants.
Cartel activity, Trump concluded, is down 97 percent since the launch of military action — a figure he presented without elaboration during the address.
The remarks at the UN gathering reflect the administration’s broader posture toward Latin America, where the Venezuela operation has become a centerpiece of Trump’s argument that military force can be used to secure what he calls vital national interests. The address also tied that operation directly to economic gains, with the oil agreement presented as a tangible dividend of the intervention.
Maduro’s capture and the subsequent oil deal have reshaped the relationship between Washington and Caracas, though the long-term political arrangements in Venezuela remain under development. Trump said the U.S. is working closely with Venezuelan leaders on a “much better future” for the country’s people, without detailing what that partnership would look like.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/22/trump-says-to-the-victor-belong-the-spoils-after-venezuela-operation/