Marble deals, social posts & Maduro's capture: A Trump holiday like no other
President Trump concluded his Florida holiday with a surprise military raid in Venezuela, capturing President Maduro. This dramatic operation unfolded amidst a schedule filled with personal pursuits, including inspecting marble for a White House ballroom and attending social events. The swift action, planned during his break, highlights a stark contrast between his public and private activities.
File photo: US President Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP)
US President Donald Trump capped his holiday break with an unprecedented military operation in Venezuela, ordering a surprise raid that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro early on Saturday.
The dramatic action came at the end of a winter stay at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, marked by a striking mix of geopolitics, social events and personal pursuits.
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According to Reuters, Trump spent the days leading up to the operation engaged in activities that appeared far removed from an imminent military mission. On Thursday night, he posted a series of messages on his Truth Social platform, none referring to Venezuela.
He warned that the US was “locked and loaded” to support protesters in Iran if they were attacked, shared an image of a bald eagle allegedly killed by a windmill, and assured followers that he was in “PERFECT HEALTH”.Less than 24 hours before the Venezuela strike, Trump was seen inspecting marble and onyx at an Italian stone importer in Lake Worth Beach for a proposed White House ballroom. The visit drew attention as the presidential limousine travelled through a commercial area far from the usual scenes of executive power.
A White House official later said Trump was buying the stone at his own expense, without offering further details, as per Reuters.Since arriving at Mar-a-Lago in mid-December, Trump’s schedule has blended high-level diplomacy with social engagements, including meetings with foreign leaders and a black-tie New Year’s Eve gala attended by Palm Beach elites. Supporters describe this as proof of his ability to juggle multiple priorities.
Critics, however, argue that he often appears distracted by personal interests even as his administration prepares for major actions, such as a strike on a foreign government.On New Year’s Eve, while US military assets were already positioned for the operation against Maduro, Trump posted sarcastically about George and Amal Clooney, both of whom have criticised him, receiving French citizenship.Later that night, during the Mar-a-Lago gala, he invited artist Vanessa Horabuena on stage to paint an image of Jesus Christ, which was auctioned for $2.75 million.
Trump said the proceeds would go to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.The marble purchase was linked to Trump’s long-standing interest in architecture, particularly his plan for a new White House ballroom, estimated to cost $400 million. “I’m doing a magnificent, big, beautiful ballroom that the country’s wanted,” Trump said last week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Reuters.The Venezuela operation, codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve”, involved pre-dawn strikes in Caracas and led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who now face charges in New York. The legality of the action has been questioned by critics, while India’s external affairs ministry has urged restraint and dialogue.Within hours of a golf outing and a meeting with the US ambassador to China on Friday night, the plan to seize Maduro was put into action, indicating the sharp contrasts that have defined Trump’s holiday routine.