When President Trump’s forces executed the daring operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, the world watched a decisive act of American power unfold — a move that shattered the complacency of the global elite and struck at the heart of a regime that has brutalized its people for decades. Conservatives who have long argued for decisive action against narco-tyrants felt vindicated by an operation that removed a notorious antagonist from the field of battle.
So it was no surprise that Rep. Jasmine Crockett, appearing on The View days later, reached for the cheap rhetorical swipe of comparing President Trump to Maduro, claiming the only difference was “Maduro was successful.” That line didn’t just reveal a partisan reflex; it showcased an inability to grasp that the U.S. acted to enforce law and protect American interests rather than to emulate a kleptocratic thug.
Crockett doubled down by fretting about congressional approval, which is rich coming from a party that applauds any means to power when it suits them. The legal debate over notification vs. pre-notification is real, but so is the reality that this was a narrow, tactical operation to arrest an international criminal accused of narco-terrorism — a nuance lost on cable-tv hot takes.
The predictable outrage squad on late-night and morning-TV flailed around hoping to score political points, but millions of Americans saw something different: strength, accountability, and the rule of law applied to a dictator who trafficked in misery. Crockett’s line sounded less like principled concern and more like performative virtue signaling, the sort of theatrics that passes for leadership in elite outlets while real Americans pay the price for weak foreign policy.
Conservative voices across independent media, including commentators like Dave Rubin, highlighted the clip as a perfect example of modern left-wing incoherence — whining about constitutional niceties while defending regimes that crush dissent. That reaction isn’t about blind worship of power; it’s about demanding clarity: if Democrats care about the rule of law, then explain why they are more outraged at its enforcement than at the crimes that justified it.
Washington’s theater continues: the Senate moved to assert war powers and debate the scope of executive action, a debate Republicans should own by defending the president’s authority to act against transnational criminal threats while still insisting on proper congressional oversight. But let’s be honest — criticism from figures like Crockett rings hollow when contrasted with the very real relief felt by Venezuelans and Americans targeted by cartel violence and corrupt regimes. If you love this country, you don’t gaslight the moment of victory by parroting the talking points of dictators and their apologists.
