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On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a bold operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, and he appeared in a Manhattan federal court on January 5, 2026 to face narco‑terrorism and related charges. The images of Maduro in custody and the subsequent arraignment sent shockwaves through Caracas and across world capitals, and Americans should understand this was not a stunt but a targeted effort against a regime long accused of trafficking and corruption.
Yet instead of celebrating a win against narco‑terrorism, many on the left reflexively cried foul, accusing the administration of overreach and even calling the operation a “kidnapping” while neglecting the crimes Maduro’s regime has long been charged with. Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser rightly called this reaction hypocritical and shameful — Democrats who posture about human rights suddenly turn a blind eye to the drug pipelines and cartel networks that have poured poison into our communities for years.
Make no mistake: this was an American action to protect American lives. For years federal prosecutors have tied Maduro’s government to narcotics conspiracies that funnel violence and lethal fentanyl into our cities, and bringing alleged kingpins to justice is exactly what strong executive action is for when Congress fails to act. Conservatives who believe in law and order should applaud taking the fight to narco‑terrorists who operate across borders — complaining about procedure while ignoring victims of the drug trade is a moral failure.
Of course the usual suspects will posture about international law and cite process when the boots hit the ground, but where were those voices when radical open‑border policies and soft stances on cartels helped create this disaster? Republican lawmakers who supported decisive action, and rank‑and‑file Americans who want safer streets, are not surprised; they know you can’t negotiate with cartels and kleptocrats from the comfort of a press release.
Americans must demand consistency: if the left cares about rule of law, then they should endorse holding narco‑trafficking heads accountable — not weaponize legalism to score political points. We should also hold our leaders to clear standards of oversight moving forward, but that cannot be an excuse to cower while corrupt regimes use drug money and terror to threaten our families. The moment calls for vigilance, not equivocation, and for patriots who put country over party to stand tall in support of actions that protect the American people.
