Dave Lawler, Marc Caputo, Barak Ravid
Trump gives a press conference on the attack flanked by (L-R) Stephen Miller, John Ratcliffe, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Image
The order came at 10:46pm ET on Friday night, along with a message from President Trump: "Good luck and godspeed."
The big picture: Trump's order sent 150 aircraft into the skies, triggered a stunning raid on Nicolás Maduro's fortified compound, and ended with the Venezuelan leader blindfolded on a U.S. battleship and the future of his country entirely uncertain, but seemingly in Trump's hands.
The planning began months earlier, with special forces soldiers training on a replica of Maduro's home, the CIA laying the groundwork in Venezuela, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller advocating for action from Washington.
Here's what we know about how the operation came together, based on public statements from Trump and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and interviews with sources familiar with the details.
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