Featured Image Credit: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, News, World News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, News, World News
In a staggering new interview, Donald Trump has shed light on the way his team captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Speaking to the New York Post, the Republican leader spoke of the use of a certain 'secret weapon', which he referred to as 'The Discombobulator'.
For anyone out of the loop, on 3 January, Trump launched a series of strikes on the Central American country, during which he ordered the arrest of its divisive leader, Maduro.
The alleged dictator was taken by force as part of a middle-of-the-night military operation, removed from the country and flown to New York along with his wife First Lady Cilia Flores, where they've remained detained ever since.
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There, the American leader charged him with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices - allegations that 63-year-old Maduro denied.
His wife, meanwhile, was charged with cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Trump's controversial move has since been slammed by both fellow world leaders and political commentators, who accused him of breaching US and international law - specifically Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which says all members should refrain from 'the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state'.
As we say, however, despite the global backlash he has faced for the decision, Trump is standing by his campaign, this week opening up on how he was able to achieve it.
Reflecting on the raid, he told press a device known as 'The Discombobulator' had been used, which caused '[enemy] equipment' to 'not work'.
"The Discombobulator. I’m not allowed to talk about it," the right-wing leader began, emphasising, however, that he 'would love to'.
Trump continued: "They never got their rockets off. They had Russian and Chinese rockets, and they never got one off.
"We came in, they pressed buttons, and nothing worked. They were all set for us."
In light of the politician's claims, a senior US official has since told CNN that Trump is unlikely to be referring to one weapon specifically - given that it doesn't exist - and is instead discussing several different cyber tools and existing acoustic systems working together as one.
Though Trump went on to appoint Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's interim leader, he also promised that the US would 'run' the nation until such a time that there is a 'proper' handover of power.
He also went on to warn Rodríguez to cooperate with his plans for the country, and to provide him with 'total access' to Venezuela's natural reserves.