On Truth Social, Donald Trump announced that the US military had killed a leader of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, with assistance from Venezuela. Trump described the gang as one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on Earth.
Details of the strike
In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote: "At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua." He added that the action was coordinated closely with friends in Venezuela, with whom the US is working very well. Trump's post included a video appearing to show the strike.
Background on Tren de Aragua
Tren de Aragua has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes spanning over a decade, authorities announced in December. The US State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
US Attorney Jay Clayton stated at the time that the gang was responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.
Trump's broader actions against the gang
Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against Tren de Aragua, including strikes on small boats his administration accused of smuggling drugs to America. The Trump administration has claimed the gang "invaded" the United States and is to blame for violence and illicit drugs in US cities, sweeping statements that have drawn criticism from some in the Venezuelan diaspora.
The president spent months repeating the claim – contradicted by a declassified US intelligence assessment – that Tren de Aragua had operated under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's control. The US whisked Maduro out of Venezuela to face US drug charges in January.
Political implications
Trump used the Friday announcement to impugn his predecessor, writing: "Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity." He referenced Jocelyn Nungaray and Laken Reilly, two American citizens killed in separate attacks by undocumented immigrants, cases that became a political lightning rod for conservatives blaming Democratic leadership's border policies.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
