The United States executed a bold, surgical operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power and brought him to American soil to face justice — and hardworking Americans should applaud that decisive action. For years Maduro presided over a narcotics-fueled kleptocracy that exported misery and drugs into our neighborhoods; finally, leadership chose action over empty rhetoric. This was not an accident or a political stunt, it was a mission to hold a criminal regime accountable and protect the American people.
In the pre-dawn hours of January 3, 2026, U.S. forces carried out a coordinated strike and apprehension mission — codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve — that neutralized air defenses, penetrated fortified compounds, and secured Maduro and his inner circle. Elite units on the ground, supported by precise intelligence, executed what amounted to a textbook capture of a dangerous regime leader. Americans who believe in law and order should be proud of the competence and professionalism our military and law-enforcement partners displayed.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York and arraigned in federal court, where they have pleaded not guilty to long-standing narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking indictments. That step — bringing alleged criminals to face an impartial U.S. judiciary — underscores that this was about enforcement of the law, not some partisan spectacle. The legal process will now proceed in public, where evidence can be tested and accountability pursued.
Venezuela’s ruling circle scrambled, installing Delcy Rodríguez as the interim authority while protests and confusion spread on the streets of Caracas. The Venezuelan military’s posture and the reaction from Havana make clear how entwined that regime was with foreign bad actors and criminal networks. This upheaval should be viewed as an opportunity for the hemisphere to pivot away from tyranny and toward stability — provided Washington remains steady and principled.
Veteran leaders like Ret. Gen. Jack Keane called the operation “nothing short of remarkable,” and rightfully so; when the nation faces threats that cross borders, the United States must have the will and capability to act. Fox’s analysts and military professionals recognized what patriots already felt: sending a clear message to dictators and cartels is both moral and strategic. We should honor the courage of the troops and the clarity of purpose from leadership that chose to protect Americans first.
The practical payoff could be enormous — disrupting a narco-state that funneled poison into our cities, stabilizing an oil-rich neighbor whose resources were hijacked by cronies, and stemming migration waves that strain our communities. Reuters reporting even shows early diplomatic openings and talks about resuming essential functions, which proves that bold action can create room for smarter statecraft and reconstruction. Meanwhile the left’s predictable hand-wringing ignores the victims of Maduro’s regime and the thousands ruined by his cartelized state; America must not be shamed into inaction by virtue-signaling.
Expect the usual cacophony from international forums and partisan opponents, but remember this fundamental truth: freedom-loving Americans value security, justice, and decisive leadership. The courts will decide guilt or innocence, but the removal of a narco-dictator from the avenues of power is a victory for law-abiding citizens across the Americas. Stand with the troops, demand the truth of the legal proceedings, and keep faith that a strong America will defend its interests and its people.
