Former President Donald Trump received a standing ovation from congressional Republicans as he lauded a recent military operation in Venezuela, calling it a "brilliant" and "incredible" feat. The address took place at the House Republican party's annual retreat in Washington DC on Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
A Warm Reception Despite 'America First' Critiques
Speaking for nearly 90 minutes at the venue recently renamed the "Trump-Kennedy Center," Trump faced little visible dissent over the controversial foreign intervention. This is despite criticism from former allies like ex-congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who accused him of abandoning his "America First" pledge against foreign entanglements and regime change.
The president celebrated the operation, which led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, as an "amazing military feat." He detailed the complexity of the assault, involving 152 aircraft and significant ground forces, while emphasising that no US special forces personnel were killed. "On the other side a lot of people were killed," Trump acknowledged, noting that troops guarding Maduro, whom he described as "mostly Cubans," died in the action.
Mocking Maduro and Rallying the Base for November
Trump used his speech to mock the deposed Venezuelan leader, referencing Maduro's public dancing to a techno remix of his "no war, yes peace" mantra as US forces gathered in late 2025. "He gets up there and he tries to imitate my dance a little bit," Trump joked, before labelling him a "violent guy" responsible for millions of deaths. He also claimed, without providing evidence, that protesters with "Free Maduro" signs were paid by the "radical left."
The core of his address was a stark warning to his party about the upcoming November midterm elections. Trump told Republicans they "gotta win the midterms" or he would face an unprecedented third impeachment by Democrats. He urged unity on issues from gender politics to healthcare, and to better sell his administration's policies to a public concerned about the cost of living.
Election Claims and Constitutional Musings
On the fifth anniversary of the 6 January Capitol attack, Trump repeated his false claim that the 2020 election was "rigged" and railed against mail-in voting. He also mused about the possibility of unconstitutionally seeking a third term, suggesting a "constitutional movement" might allow it. "I guess I'm not allowed to run," he said. "I'm not sure."
Now 79, Trump boasted of passing cognitive tests and speculated that Democratic figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom would fail them. The speech concluded with a return to the theme of dancing, with Trump performing an exaggerated imitation of a transgender weightlifter while discussing his ban on trans women in sports, a move he said his wife found "so unpresidential."
