Trump claims secret weapon disabled Venezuelan defenses, seizes oil tankers

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that a secret weapon, which he called “The Discombobulator,” was used to disable Venezuelan military equipment during the U.S. operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.

In an interview with the New York Post , Trump said the device made Venezuelan rockets and defenses “not work” and allowed U.S. forces to carry out the operation smoothly. He also claimed that U.S. troops were able to cut most of the lights in Caracas, although he did not provide details about how this was accomplished.

Experts note that there is no publicly known weapon officially called “The Discombobulator.” Analysts suggest that Trump may have been referring to existing military technologies such as electronic warfare, cyber tools, or directed-energy systems capable of disrupting communications and equipment. Independent verification of a new, highly classified device has not been made.

Trump also highlighted broader U.S. actions against Venezuela, stating that the United States has seized seven oil tankers linked to the country and removed their oil , as part of an effort to weaken Maduro’s government financially. He did not disclose the current location of the ships or their cargo.

The former president’s remarks suggest a multi-pronged U.S. strategy combining high-tech military operations, economic pressure, and anti-drug campaigns in Latin America . Trump has also renewed threats to target drug cartels in Central and North America.

Venezuelan officials have accused the U.S. of using advanced experimental weapons and treating the country as a “weapons laboratory,” though eyewitness reports remain unverified.