U.S. Strike Caps Capture of Venezuela’s Strongman, Administration Says
The administration reported on Saturday that Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro had been captured following a large-scale strike conducted by American forces. President Donald Trump stated the capture occurred after the United States carried out the operation in Venezuela.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters praised the development as a decisive victory for U.S. national security and a clear fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s long-standing campaign promises. In a statement released immediately following the announcement, Gruters accused Maduro of orchestrating years of drug trafficking aimed directly at American communities and blamed Democratic leadership for allowing foreign adversaries to operate without consequence.
“For years, narcoterrorist Nicolas Maduro flooded our country with deadly drugs while Democrats and Joe Biden projected weakness and allowed America’s enemies to operate with impunity,” Gruters said. “Under President Trump, that era of weakness is over. Thanks to his strong leadership, Maduro’s attack on our country has been stopped, and justice is being delivered. President Trump campaigned on destroying narcoterrorists and restoring American strength – and once again he is keeping his promises.”
Gruters’ remarks reflect a broader Republican narrative contrasting Trump’s foreign policy approach with that of the Biden administration. Republicans have repeatedly argued that Trump’s willingness to apply maximum pressure on hostile regimes serves as a powerful deterrent, particularly in Latin America where drug trafficking and organized crime continue to threaten U.S. security.
Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, has long been accused by U.S. officials of corruption, human rights abuses, and ties to international drug cartels. The Justice Department previously charged Maduro and several top allies in connection with narcotics trafficking, alleging the Venezuelan regime used drugs as a weapon to destabilize American communities.
Gruters emphasized that the capture sends a message beyond Venezuela, signaling to other hostile actors that the United States will no longer tolerate what he described as “narcoterrorism” directed at U.S. communities.
