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Karoline Leavitt: “President Trump authorized this law enforcement operation…”

Featuring: Karoline Leavitt, Republican | White House Press Secretary | National

Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation

Published January 7, 2026 | Video Starts at 1:15:11

Diplomacy is always the first option. As you saw, he tried that with Nicolas Maduro, but unfortunately he was an illegitimate dictator and an unserious person. And so President Trump authorized this law enforcement operation and now Nicolas Maduro is sitting in a prison cell in New York. So certainly the president is going to do what's in the best interest of the American people and that includes workers from our energy and oil industry as well. (1:15:11–1:15:18)

CLAIM

Asserts that Nicolas Maduro is imprisoned in New York following a U.S. operation.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Karoline Leavitt

“The Trump administration announced funding awards to states through the Rural Health Transformation program, an unprecedented $50 billion…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 34:55-35:08
“According to the cea, poor diet is the root cause of obesity, which accounts for $400 billion in medical spending each year.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 38:21-38:31
“64 were convicted and 85 of the 98 charged were of Somali descent.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:00-1:29:06
“More than a dozen food manufacturers and trade associations have made commitments to remove artificial and petroleum-based food dyes from…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 34:35-34:45
“The Trump administration took strong action to bar hospitals from performing dangerous, irreversible, life-altering transgender procedures…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 34:44-34:55
“President Trump took historic action to secure Most Favored Nation drug pricing and secured deals with major pharmaceutical companies to…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 35:20-35:34
“On Monday, the CDC adopted common sense updates to America's childhood vaccination schedule.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 35:48-35:55
“The Trump administration is now updating federal nutrition standards and guidelines to ensure that Americans have the most accurate, data…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 36:14-36:27
“These new guidelines are going to update the food that is served to America's children and in our public schools, to the plates that are…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 37:17-37:32
“The new dietary guidelines from the Trump administration will ensure federal dollars go to real food to improve public health and therefore…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 38:34-38:48
“The Trump administration, led by Secretary Rubio, the vice president and the president's entire national security team, is in close…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:11:09-1:11:21
“We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:11:20-1:11:26
“The president has made it very clear that this is a country within the United States, the Western hemisphere, close by the United States…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:11:25-1:11:39
“The interim authorities have agreed to release that oil to the United States.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:12:59-1:13:04
“All proceeds from the sale of Venezuelan crude oil and products will first settle in U.S. Controlled accounts at globally recognized banks.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:13:21-1:13:30
“At this point in time, as you know, there are no troops on the ground in Venezuela.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:14:53-1:14:58
“The vice president has been involved in all policy. He is the right hand man of the president on all policy matters, including Venezuela…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:16:17-1:16:26
“The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of War, did announce that seizure…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:17:08-1:17:18
“The vessel this morning was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US Federal court.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:17:30-1:17:36
“This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:17:37-1:17:43
“The crew is now subject to prosecution for any applicable violation of federal law.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:17:50-1:17:56
“The US Is selectively rolling back sanctions to enable the transport and the sale of Venezuelan crude and oil products to the global…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:23:12-1:23:21
“The Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security apprehended [the vessel Sofia].”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:24:34-1:24:38
“This vessel was operating in international waters and conducting illicit Activities in the Caribbean Sea.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:24:44-1:24:51
“The US Coast Guard is escorting the Sofia to the United States for final disposition.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:24:50-1:24:57
“The Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:25:01-1:25:07
“The policies of the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security have not changed.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:26:49-1:26:54
“All those illegally present in the country are subject to deportation.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:26:54-1:26:58
“The illegitimate Venezuelan regime was sending illegal criminals and gang members and rapists and murderers to our country.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:27:17-1:27:28
“There were innocent Americans like Jocelyn Nungare who lost their lives at the hands of dangerous Venezuelan criminals.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:27:39-1:27:47
“The fraud that we have seen, the wide scale of fraud is really remarkable. It's egregious.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:28:25-1:28:33
“The Department of justice has charged 98 total defendants in several Medicaid fraud and related case programs.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:28:53-1:29:01
“The DOJ has also issued over 17,000 1700 sepulchre subpoenas, executed over 130 search warrants.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:06-1:29:15
“DHS is on the ground going door to door conducting large scale criminal and HSI investigations.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:20-1:29:27
“They have also sent approximately 2,000 agents to Minneapolis to assist with law enforcement and immigration enforcement.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:26-1:29:34
“The Department of Health and Human Services has also begun requiring a justification and photo evidence for all child care related payments…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:36-1:29:45
“They required Minnesota to conduct a full audit of all child care centers.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:45-1:29:50
“They also froze $185 million in funding to Minnesota.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:29:49-1:29:55
“The Department of Labor is also conducting a targeted review of Minnesota's unemployment program.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:30:04-1:30:10
“Department of Agriculture requiring Minnesota to conduct recertification for SNAP recipients.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:30:09-1:30:17
“HUD has launched investigations into the public housing.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:30:17-1:30:20
“Enforcing the embargo against all dark fleet vessels that are illegally transporting oil.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:32:25-1:32:31
“We will always be there for NATO even if they are not there for us.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:32:56-1:33:00
“They have finally increased their defense spending at the request of this president.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:33:26-1:33:32
“President Trump signed an executive order protecting the Hyatt Amendment.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:33:57-1:34:03
“The Trump administration has taken multiple actions to ensure taxpayer dollars are not funding the practice of abortion.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:34:02-1:34:11
“The president has launched this most favored nation drug pricing initiative.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:34:24-1:34:32
“The president has directed all agencies across the board to look at federal spending programs in not just Minnesota, but also in the state…”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:36:27-1:36:42
“The reality is that four Trump supporters died on January 6th and two women were killed by January 6th police.”
Karoline Leavitt, Cabinet members brief amid South America escalation | Uploaded January 7, 2026 | 1:36:55-1:37:01