President Trump’s decision to authorize the daring Operation Absolute Resolve that netted Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle was a decisive use of American power that stunned the world and delivered on the promise to confront narco-terrorism at its source. The raid, carried out in the predawn hours and described by multiple outlets as involving coordinated air and ground forces, ended with Maduro flown to face charges in the United States — a result many thought impossible until this administration made it real. For conservatives who have long argued that weakness invites chaos, this was the kind of bold, unapologetic action our adversaries respect and our allies finally notice.
Not surprisingly, Democrats erupted in predictable outrage, denouncing the operation as reckless and accusing the president of overreach without offering any coherent alternative to a regime that traffics drugs and terrorists. Their shrill criticism is less about law and order and more about protecting an ideological narrative that refuses to hold enemies accountable. While the left clucks about sovereignty and legalities, they ignore decades of Venezuelan brutality and corruption that have spilled into our own neighborhoods.
On Fox Report, conservative commentator Liz Peek rightly laid out the facts and the stakes, arguing that this administration’s willingness to act where others talk is restoring deterrence in the hemisphere. Peek pointed to the aftermath in Venezuela and warned that when America moves, global predators take notice — which is exactly the point of projecting strength. The media elites would rather parse optics than acknowledge the relief felt by millions who have suffered under Maduro’s rule.
The Justice Department’s indictments and the administration’s framing of the mission as a law-enforcement action backed by overwhelming intelligence make it clear this was not a capricious power grab but a targeted strike against criminal enterprise. The president has argued he acted within his constitutional authority to protect Americans and enforce federal law, and those arguments carry weight when you consider the documented ties between the Caracas regime and international criminal networks. Conservatives should demand that Congress back strong legal tools and leave the chest-beating to cable news.
Yes, the world howled — from the United Nations to aligned regimes that profit from anti-American posturing — but international outrage does not absolve decades of Venezuelan crimes or excuse inaction. The left’s reflexive appeals to international law ring hollow when the same institutions look the other way while our southern border is flooded with cartel money and violence. If the debate is between doing nothing for fear of a rebuke and doing what is necessary to keep Americans safe, patriots know which side we should be on.
As talk now grows about potential action concerning Iran, Democrats will again try to weaponize fear and accuse the president of warmongering rather than confront the very real threats posed by Tehran’s proxies. Conservatives should demand clarity, strategy, and Congressional consultation where appropriate, but we should not cower at every howl from the left or from foreign regimes that lurk in the shadows. This is a moment to stand proud of American strength, hold our leaders accountable for wise use of power, and support a foreign policy that puts American security and the rule of law first.
