President Donald Trump said he watched live as U.S. forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from a “fortress,” describing the operation like a television show.

"I've never seen anything like this. I was able to watch it in real time," the 79-year-old Republican said in a telephone interview with Fox News.
"I watched it, literally, like I was watching a television show. And if you would have seen the speed, the violence."

Trump said no U.S. troops were killed in the operation, adding that Maduro and his wife were taken to a ship and would be sent to New York, where they face drug and terrorism charges.

The president, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, said he had spoken to Maduro a week ago and told him, "you have to surrender." He added that the United States would not allow anyone to take over where Maduro "left off," while sidestepping whether he backed opposition leader Maria Machado.

Trump provided a detailed account of the operation, which included airstrikes on Caracas and other cities before special forces captured Maduro in the climax of a months-long pressure campaign. He said the mission was originally approved four days ago but delayed due to weather.

"It was just amazing," Trump said. "He was in a very highly guarded... like a fortress actually. He was in a fortress.
"It had steel doors, it had what they call a safety space where it's solid steel all around. He didn't get that space closed, he was trying to get into it, but he got bum-rushed so fast that he didn't get into that.
"We were prepared with massive blowtorches to get through the steel, but we didn't need them."

Trump described the operation as a triumph, saying, "a couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they're supposed to be in pretty good shape." He added that a U.S. helicopter was damaged but flown out.

The president said the raid "sends a signal we're not going to be pushed around as a country anymore" and warned Mexico to crack down on drug traffickers.