President Trump visited the base in January to pay respects to the soldiers who captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
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President Donald Trump told troops at Fort Bragg that he would change the base’s name if Democrats returned to power and joked about retiring to the North Carolina base because he likes it so much.
The Biden administration had changed the base’s name to Fort Liberty in 2023 to remove any association with Confederate General Braxton Bragg. However, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth changed the name in February 2025 in honor of World War II paratrooper Pfc. Roland Bragg.
“When I heard they were removing the name Fort Bragg, I said no, no, no,” Trump said during a visit to the base on Feb. 13. “They did. They took the name off. We quickly took it back. If we don’t win the midterm elections, they’ll take the name off again.”
President Trump said he liked the area so much that he might retire there.
President Trump drew cheers by saying, “It’s a great area. In fact, I’d like to move here someday.” “We’re moving to Fort Bragg with our first lady. How about that darling?” he asked his wife, Melania. “She likes it. It’s possible.”
President Trump visited Fort Bragg to congratulate the military for capturing and eliminating Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump said three helicopter pilots suffered “very serious leg injuries” from machine gunners on the ground, but a sniper shot the gunners and the pilots returned safely. He planned to meet up with the “very brave” pilots “soon.”
“With your help, America is winning again,” President Trump said. “America is respected again. And perhaps most importantly, we are feared by our enemies around the world.”
After his arrest, Maduro was taken to New York to face federal charges of narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking. He pleaded not guilty.
Fort Bragg is home to the Army Special Operations Command and the elite special forces unit Delta Force, which is believed to have carried out the attack.
“No one thought something like that would happen,” Trump said.
President Trump said the soldiers who entered Maduro’s compound during the raid broke through a steel door like “mache”.
According to media reports, seven U.S. soldiers were injured and dozens of Cuban security personnel protecting Mr. Maduro were killed.
“They were removed very quickly,” Trump said.
President Trump: US has ‘very good’ relationship with Venezuela’s Rodriguez
Before leaving the White House for a visit to Fort Bragg, President Trump told reporters that he had a “very good relationship” with former Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez, who succeeded Maduro as interim president.
President Trump said the U.S. government would extract oil from Venezuela, refine it and sell it overseas. However, some U.S. oil companies have expressed reluctance to do business with Venezuela, citing the risks of investing in a country with such chaotic politics.
“We have a very good relationship with the president of Venezuela,” Trump said. “The relationship we have with Venezuela right now is a 10 in my opinion.”
Rodriguez, a member of Maduro’s government, became interim president after his ouster on January 3, but opposition leader María Colina Machado has insisted on a transition to leadership. Trump was asked if he would recognize Rodriguez as the official head of government.
“Now we’ve done it. We’re dealing with them. They’ve really done a great job so far,” Trump said. “Delsie has done a very, very good job. The relationship is strong.”
Asked when he would visit Venezuela, President Trump said he had not decided yet.
