Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that American special forces used a classified “sonic weapon” during the recent operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, saying the technology is exclusive to the United States.
Speaking during an interview with NewsNation anchor Katie Pavlich on Tuesday night, Trump declined to provide technical details about the weapon but suggested its capabilities are unmatched.
“Well yeah,” Trump said when asked whether Americans should be concerned about the device. “It’s something I don’t want to… nobody else has it.”
Trump went on to say that the U.S. military possesses weapons that are not publicly known, adding that it was “probably good not to talk about it.”
Following the raid, reports circulated online claiming that U.S. special forces used an unknown sonic-based system to disable Cuban bodyguards assigned to protect Maduro. The exact nature of the device and how it was deployed remain unconfirmed.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a video on X earlier this month featuring an unnamed security guard who claimed to have witnessed the operation. The guard described experiencing intense physical effects from what he called a “very powerful sound wave.”
According to the account, personnel exposed to the device reportedly suffered nosebleeds, disorientation, and vomiting, though these claims have not been independently verified by U.S. officials.
The story gained traction after being amplified by Mike Netter, vice chairman of Rebuild California, whose social media post received millions of views. He suggested the alleged weapon’s use could explain shifting political dynamics across Latin America following the raid.
The claims have drawn international attention. Dmitry Peskov, speaking for the Kremlin, said Russia would seek clarification regarding Trump’s remarks and investigate reports of the weapon.
Some analysts have noted similarities between the described effects and those associated with “Havana Syndrome,” a controversial and still-debated condition reported by U.S. officials since 2016. Symptoms linked to the syndrome include headaches, dizziness, nausea, cognitive impairment, and balance problems.
Others have speculated that the weapon could resemble a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)—a directional sound system already used by multiple countries for crowd control and maritime security. However, experts caution that LRAD technology is not exclusive to the United States, contradicting Trump’s claim.
U.S. officials have neither confirmed nor denied the use of a sonic weapon during the Venezuela operation.
