American forces pulled off one of the most daring and tightly executed operations in recent memory when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured in the early hours of January 3, 2026, a move the Navy Secretary called a “masterclass in precision, execution” on national television. This was no improvisation; it was an all-of-government effort that removed a narco-authoritarian thug who long treated his country like personal spoils.
Our military’s special operators and intelligence professionals deserve unqualified praise for the job they did under impossibly hard conditions, proving once again that American might and resolve still keep tyranny from going unchallenged. Reporting indicates elite units and CIA assets were closely involved, with meticulous rehearsals and integrated air support to minimize collateral damage and maximize mission success.
President Trump and his national security team moved where many previous administrations hesitated, and the president’s blunt assessment that the United States is now “in charge” of stabilizing Venezuela reflects a necessary, muscular application of American leadership. This is the sort of decisive action the left routinely scorns until they realize it secures American interests and saves lives, and the plan to restore energy and economic stability should be welcomed by patriots.
Predictably, the usual chorus of hand-wringers demanded congressional sign-off and fulminated about legality, while Republican leaders defended the administration’s right to act against a narco-terror regime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others explained the tactical and legal rationale on national networks, and Americans should ask why appeasement and delay were ever seen as options when criminals run states.
Let there be no mistake: this was not adventurism, it was moral clarity. For too long, Maduro and regimes like his have trafficked in drugs, corruption and chaos while left-wing internationalists tut-tutted from safe distance; tonight our servicemen and women showed that strength and justice can walk hand in hand.
Now comes the hard work: securing peace, rebuilding infrastructure, and ensuring Venezuelan oil and resources benefit hardworking people rather than kleptocrats and foreign adversaries. Conservatives should insist that private American firms and investment, not endless foreign aid, lead the recovery so Venezuelans can reclaim prosperity without turning over their future to bureaucrats.
To every critic in the media and in Congress who complains about boots on the ground, remember that freedom does not wait for permission from those whose reflex is to cower; it advances by the courage of leaders and troops willing to act. Support our military, back accountable reconstruction, and stand firm: America will not apologize for defending liberty or for bringing criminals to justice.
