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Did Trump use ‘shrink ray’ in Venezuela? Bizarre claim rises over remains of Cuban bodyguards

A video showing the remains of Cuban bodyguards killed in the US military operations in Venezuela has sparked wild claims about a ‘shrink ray’ being used. 

Published on: Jan 16, 2026, 08:58:33 IST
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The remains of the Cuban bodyguards killed during the US military action in Venezuela were brought back to their home country today. Acting on President Donald Trump's orders, the US military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, flying them to America to be indicted.

Cuban‑flag‑draped urns of soldiers killed in the U.S. strike and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on January 3, are displayed during a ceremony as Cuba pays tribute, in Havana, Cuba January 15, 2026. (REUTERS)
Cuban‑flag‑draped urns of soldiers killed in the U.S. strike and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on January 3, are displayed during a ceremony as Cuba pays tribute, in Havana, Cuba January 15, 2026. (REUTERS)

During these operations, 32 Cubans who were acting as bodyguards, reportedly lost their lives. A video of their remains being brought back to Cuba has gone viral online and sparked bizarre claims of a ‘shrink ray’ being used.

The claims arose because the video showed small boxes being carried off a plane, to honor their fallen soldiers.

The claims of a ‘shrink ray’ or ‘shrink gun’ being used was amplified by several profiles on X, though they're all unverified accounts. “We used a shrink ray on them,” one person commented. Another remarked, “Apparently, Delta Force's super secret weapon is not sonic but a shrink ray!”.

Also Read | 'Make deal before it's too late': Trump threatens Cuba with 'no oil, no money' after Venezuela action

Did US use a 'shrink ray' in Venezuela?

Despite the claims online, no available reports indicate that the US armed forces used a ‘shrink ray’ in Venezuela. The boxes carrying the fallen Cuban soldiers are small because they carried their cremated remains.

BBC reported that the country's leadership from Raul Castro to President Miguel Diaz Canel were present at Havana's airport to receive the remains of the soldiers who'd died. The boxes were taken to the Armed Forces Ministry and inside the building, each box was draped in a Cuban flag and then put next to a photograph of the respective soldier or intelligence officer. This was placed beneath the words ‘honor and glory’ as per the publication.

While this explains the casket sizes and moves away from the bizarre claims of a 'shrink ray' being used, reports have claimed that the US resorted to a ‘powerful mystery weapon’ during the operations against Maduro.

A powerful ‘mystery weapon’ in play?

A New York Post report cited a Venezuelan guard who described it as a ‘very intense sound wave.’

“I felt like my head was exploding from the inside,” he said, adding that soldiers were left bleeding from their noses, and vomiting. Many collapsed to the ground and were unable to move, as per the witness. “We were hundreds, but we had no chance,” the guard also claimed in the report. While the US did not officially comment on the use of any such weapon, the account of the attack was shared on X on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's profile, pushing it more into the spotlight.

  • Shuvrajit Das Biswas
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shuvrajit Das Biswas

    Shuvrajit has over seven years of experience covering US, India, and world news. An English Literature postgraduate from Jadavpur University, Shuvrajit started off covering entertainment, gaming and all things pop culture. There were brief periods away from the media industry, with short stints in content marketing, ed-tech and academic editing. However, the newsroom beckoned and over the last few jobs, Shuvrajit has exceedingly focused on team functioning as well, including tracking news and assigning tasks, working on everyday breaking news, framing detailed coverage plans, and creating immersive and data-driven stories. In his time as a digital journalist, he has covered a Lok Sabha election, multiple state elections, Union Budgets and award ceremonies. He has also helped in planning content for company event panels in the past. For work, Shuvrajit enjoys dabbling with data visualization, editing tools, and AI chatbots and attempts to incorporate AI workflows in everyday tasks. He is deeply interested in geopolitics, sports, films and music. Prompting is a new fascination for Shuvrajit now. Apart from that, he can be found doom-scrolling, sharing memes, or cheering on his favorite football team.Read More

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