On Jan. 3, 2026, American special operations conducted a bold mission that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, a move that stunned the corrupt ruling class in Caracas and around the globe. This wasn’t theater — it was an unapologetic show of American power aimed at bringing a narco-regime to justice after years of impunity.
Within days Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were in a Manhattan courtroom where they pleaded not guilty to serious narcotics and narco-terrorism charges, forcing their crimes into the light of U.S. law. For too long the Maduro family enriched itself while Venezuelans suffered and American streets were flooded with cartel poison; seeing them answer for that is the very definition of accountability.
Watching the planning and execution unfold, patriots should be proud of our elite forces and intelligence professionals who pulled off a surgical operation with ruthless precision. Conservative voices on the airwaves — including guests and hosts on Newsmax — rightly hailed the mission as a triumph of professionalism and American resolve, the kind of decisive action our country needs more of in a chaotic world.
Yes, the left and foreign tyrants will scream about precedent and international law, and journalists in left-leaning outlets are already pitching sympathy pieces for Maduro. Make no mistake: Maduro ran a criminal enterprise that terrorized his own people and fueled the drug trade that kills Americans; sympathy for him from the usual suspects is predictably hollow.
Now comes the hard work: prosecution, asset seizure, and dismantling the narco-networks that enriched his circle while exporting violence northward. Legal minds and commentators on the right are already mapping out how indictments, forfeitures, and cooperation with Venezuelan patriots can turn this victory into real, lasting justice for both Venezuelans and Americans.
To every hardworking American worried about safety and sovereignty, let this be a reminder: a strong country protects its borders and confronts threats where they fester. Critics in Washington who bleat about procedures can debate in committee; meanwhile our troops and law-enforcement did the dirty job no one else would, and that courage deserves our thanks and our continued support.
