The White House took to humor by sharing a meme following a U.S. military operation in the Caribbean that reportedly resulted in the deaths of 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua. This was confirmed by President Donald Trump.
In a post on the White House's official account on X (formerly Twitter), President Trump is seen looking at a mobile phone, which displays an image of a destroyed boat with the word "GOODBYE" accompanied by three trash can emojis. The official message stated: "TERRORISTS ELIMINATED. GOODBYE."
Trump declared on Truth Social that the operation was carried out by the U.S. Armed Forces under his direct order in international waters. The target was members of the Tren de Aragua, a group labeled as a terrorist organization by Washington with links to Nicolás Maduro's regime. "The attack resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. forces were injured in this operation," he noted. The smugglers were reportedly transporting drugs destined for the United States.
Political Reactions and Accusations
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed the operation on X, describing it as a "lethal" strike against a vessel loaded with narcotics from Venezuela. From the U.S. Congress, Cuban-American lawmakers Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez praised the action as part of a "zero tolerance" policy against drug trafficking.
Conversely, the Venezuelan government denied any involvement in the operation, accusing Washington of using an AI-manipulated video to justify a "covert aggression." Images shared by Trump show a speedboat at sea destroyed by a missile from South Command. Caracas claims the footage is fabricated and condemned the event as an act of hostility amid escalating tensions in the Caribbean.
Unconventional Communication Amid Diplomatic Tensions
The White House's meme post represents an unusual form of institutional communication during a diplomatic crisis.
U.S. Military Operation in the Caribbean: Key Questions
What was the outcome of the U.S. military operation in the Caribbean?
The operation resulted in the deaths of 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua, with no injuries reported among U.S. forces.
How did the Venezuelan government respond to the operation?
Venezuela denied involvement and accused the U.S. of using an AI-manipulated video to justify the operation. They called it an act of hostility amid rising tensions.
What was the White House's unconventional approach to communicating about this operation?
The White House used a meme to communicate the outcome of the military operation, which is an unusual approach for institutional communication during a diplomatic crisis.