Trump’s Decisive Action Leads to Maduro’s Arrest via Valid DOJ Warrant

By Jim Mishler | Saturday, January 3, 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., stated that Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro was taken into custody overnight by virtue of a valid Department of Justice warrant.

Thune posted on X on Saturday that President Donald Trump’s announcement of Maduro’s capture brings a dangerous and deadly regime to an end. “For years, Nicolas Maduro, the cartel he leads, and other cartels in Latin America have trafficked drugs into the United States, which have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans,” he wrote.

Thune said he fully supports Trump’s order to capture Maduro. “President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro, through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant, is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States,” he added.

The South Dakota senator expressed gratitude for the armed forces’ role. “I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action,” Thune said.

Thune mentioned consulting with other Senate leaders to lay the groundwork for government actions supporting Trump’s decision against Maduro.

“I spoke to Secretary Marco Rubio early this morning, and I look forward to receiving further briefings from the administration on this operation as part of its comprehensive counternarcotics strategy when the Senate returns to Washington next week,” he stated.

President Trump described the U.S. role in managing Venezuela’s affairs, labeling Maduro responsible for hundreds of thousands of American deaths due to drug trafficking operations.