President Donald Trump publicly referenced a device he called the “discombobulator” for the first time, describing it as a key component in the military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. The capture of Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, has sent ripples through Latin America and raised questions about the extent of U.S. Intervention in the region.
Maduro and Flores were subsequently transported to Modern York to face charges of narcoterrorism and other crimes, both pleading not guilty.
Speaking at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump evoked the mysterious weapon, claiming it stunned and neutralized Venezuelan defenses in the early stages of what was termed “Operation Absolute Resolution.”
What is the “discombobulator”?
The president described the “discombobulator” – which translates to “disorientator” – as a technology capable of disabling Russian and Chinese-made defense systems.
According to his account, the initial phase of the operation involved a shutdown of Venezuelan radar systems, followed by the deployment of drones, helicopters, and special forces troops. Before Venezuelan forces could react, an unknown technology reportedly impacted their systems, rendering them inoperable.
“The Venezuelan defenses didn’t get off a single shot,” Trump told the soldiers. “The Russian equipment didn’t work. The Chinese equipment didn’t work. They’re all trying to figure out why it didn’t work. Someday they’ll find out,” he said with a smile.
In January, the president told the New York Post about the device, though he indicated he was not permitted to discuss it in detail. He stated at the time that the weapon caused enemy equipment “to just not work.”
“They had Russian and Chinese rockets, and they didn’t launch a single one. We came in, they pushed buttons, and nothing worked. They were ready to fight us,” he added.
The Operation’s Toll
The operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolution,” resulted in 83 fatalities, including 32 Cuban citizens, and more than 112 injuries, according to figures released after the incursion. No U.S. Military personnel were killed, even though Trump indicated that three helicopter pilots were injured during the operation.
Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, and later met in private with special forces troops who participated in the Caracas raid and other areas of the country.
Maduro remains detained in New York and is scheduled for a court hearing on March 17. Since the operation, Trump has repeatedly praised it as a demonstration of U.S. Military power, though he has not yet provided verifiable technical details about the “discombobulator.”
