Congress Reacts as Trump Details Maduro Capture in Interview
Trump later confirmed that Maduro was transported to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship, before being flown to New York.
Early Saturday morning, President Trump authorized a military operation to strike and capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a move that reportedly caught most members of Congress off guard.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not get a heads up that President Donald Trump's administration was planning to strike Venezuela and capture President Nicholas Maduro, per sources.
HASC was not briefed either.
This has been pretty standard for the Trump…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2026
As news of the operation broke, lawmakers quickly took to Twitter/X, with reactions largely splitting along party lines.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not get a heads up that President Donald Trump's administration was planning to strike Venezuela and capture President Nicholas Maduro, per sources.
HASC was not briefed either.
This has been pretty standard for the Trump…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2026
Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the U.S. Constitution. These are the actions of a rogue state.
The American people do not want another regime change war abroad.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) January 3, 2026
When I talk to Californians you know what ranks lowest on their priorities?
Illegally going to war with Venezuela.
Just lower the damn prices.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 3, 2026
Congress did not authorize this war. Venezuela posed no imminent threat to the United States. This is reckless, elective regime change risking American lives (Iraq 2.0) with no plan for the day after. Wars cost more than trophies.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 3, 2026
https://twittter.com/SenRubenGallego/status/2007433155477717121
We have no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war. We should have learned not to stumble into another stupid adventure by now. And he’s not even bothering to tell the American public what the hell is going on.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) January 3, 2026
Today's action, ordered by President Trump, is what decisive leadership truly looks like. Our country has faced an unprecedented national security threat from the illegitimate Maduro regime. Unabetted for years, Maduro has sent drugs into our country, killing an untold number of…
— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) January 3, 2026
🚨Nicolas Maduro should’ve studied history before waving a sword at President Trump.
January 3, 1990 we captured Panama’s narcotrafficking dictator Manuel Noriega.
January 3, 2026 we captured #Venezuela’s narcoterrorist dictator Nicolas Maduro. pic.twitter.com/rjUTTRs8xw
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 3, 2026
Early this morning, our brave American soldiers, sailors, and airmen executed one of the most stunning military operations of this century. The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is an important step towards ending the deadly flow of drugs into the United States and… https://t.co/1dmxVTy9xl
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) January 3, 2026
President Trump has cracked down on drug trafficking harder than any President in history. Congress backed him up with real action, like the HALT Fentanyl Act. So, let me put this simply: Maduro is a narco-terrorist. Period. His illegitimate regime floods our country with deadly…
— Chairwoman Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) January 3, 2026
Thanks to President @realDonaldTrump, @SecRubio, @AGPamBondi, and the best military and law enforcement in the world, Nicolas Maduro will face American justice on American soil. I fully support the Trump administration for doing what is needed to save American lives.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 3, 2026
Kudos to President @realDonaldTrump . Maduro was not only an illegitimate President of Venezuela, he was the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a major drug trafficking network involving high-ranking Venezuelan military officers and government officials. He has been indicted in… https://t.co/tuKE6batYu
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) January 3, 2026
As Elizabeth previously reported, Sen. Marco Rubio had already begun briefing several senators on Maduro and the operation following the Venezuelan leader’s capture.
As the situation unfolded, President Trump stopped short of immediately endorsing opposition leader María Corina Machado. In a phone interview with Fox News on live TV, Trump noted that Venezuela “has a VP” and emphasized that the United States would have a role in determining what comes next for the country.
"What do you think is next for the Venezuelan people now that you have removed Maduro so that he can face American justice?"@POTUS: "We're making that decision now. We can't take a chance on letting somebody else run it and just take over where he left off." pic.twitter.com/Rh64xxtkpc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026
The president also praised the “pinpoint” accuracy of the military forces that carried out the operation, though he declined to specify which branch was responsible.
"I've never seen anything like this. I was able to watch it in real time, and I watched every aspect of it," says @POTUS on the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
"It was amazing to see the professionalism — the quality of leadership… Amazing." 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VZvRxZRgab
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026
.@POTUS on the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro: "The team did an incredible job… There's no other country on Earth that can do such a maneuver." pic.twitter.com/sbfEyVDgUf
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026
Trump later confirmed that Maduro was transported to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship, before being flown to New York, where the charges against him originate.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Update 10:16 AM: Speaker Mike Johnson comments on the Maduro capture:
I have spoken in the last several hours with @SecRubio and @SecWar Hegseth, and the nation will hear from @POTUS in his address at 11am ET.
Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives.
Nicolas Maduro is…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 3, 2026
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Comments
There is one other country that could have done this President Trump
Israel
Maybe. This operation made use of naval forces which Israel is not known for using.
Well the Israels did capture Eichman in Argentina and brought him back but he wasn’t the leader of Argentina. You’re correct though. I’m thinking the Iwo Jima and its helicoptors/osprey were the key lynch pin in grabbing him and Israel has nothing like that light carrier.
The treasonous democrats side with foreign communists. It’s on brand for that party of criminals.
For the first time, democrats are against bringing someone here illegally.
The capture and transport of Maduro is a good start. My take is that was the cover for going after the Iranian training facilities. It was also a warning to China and Russia to get out. Next to fall is the fool of a President in Columbia. Then with Cuban isolation complete the President can apply the screws to that narco-state too.
Rep. Swalwell should stick to something he’s good at – banging Chinese spies (not that he’s smart enough to know she’s a spy mind you) – and keep quiet about economics.
Removing Maduro from office not only neutralizes a major source of illicit drugs it also frees the nation with the largest petroleum reserves in the world from the jackboot of communism.
When oil prices go down in the wake of today’s military action the price of a barrel of oil will be roughly the same as Swalwell IQ score.
“When I talk to Californians you know what ranks lowest on their priorities?”
The fact that they chose you to talk to in the first place tells us all we need to know about how important their opinions are.
Who says he is good at banging Chinese spies?
The only things Swalwell is good at are ….. Well I don’t know actually.
Fang Fang got hazard pay, and we both know it.
To the CCP, “taking one for the team” has a whole different meaning.
Short sighted and foolish. If there is no retaliation, then he is nothing but lucky.
Same regime change storyline. Same thirst for oil. Same flimsy justifications.
Sad to see so many fall for it, but Republicans love stunts like this. Makes them feel like America is “back” to being the badass force of nature they always saw it as.
Because having an unstable country running drugs and criminals into this country is optimal, right? Right?
Let’s get them all, then. Let’s just bomb other capitals in the dead of night and not tell anyone. Let’s charge foreign heads of state for violations of extinct gun laws and spirit them out of their country. Why not? We’ve already done it.
Or do you actually think Venezuela is the sole source of this country’s drug epidemic? Will you be disappointed when absolutely nothing changes? Will you even remember you cared?
Maria Machado will be president. We will seize Venezuelan oil reserves. Israel will get their cut. It is a tale as old as time and I am very tired of hearing it.
You are such an idiot. Venezuela was providing logistical and financial support for Hezbollah. This isn’t about us seizing oil. Every time you smooth brained morons shriek about war for oil… the oil never freaking materializes. You’d think by now you’d come up with something new.
We’ve already established there’s nothing new about this. Hezbollah has more friends. Do you intend to take this approach with every country in their sphere of influence? Do you think there were zero Americans in Venezuela that can be affected by this? Do you think there aren’t any Americans there RIGHT NOW? You know where to stick your faux-morality.
We owed it to the Venezuelan people as Jimmy Carter and his crew were largely responsible for installing the communists to power in the first place turning a prosperous beautiful country into a poverty stricken narco terrorist police state.
Huh?! No, he wasn’t. He had nothing to do with it. The Venezuelan people did it, by giving Hugo Chavez 56% of the vote in 1998, nearly two decades after Carter had left office.
Defending the indefensible.
Again.
Huh?! No, he wasn’t. He had nothing to do with it. The Venezuelan people did it, by giving Hugo Chavez 56% of the vote in 1998, nearly two decades after Carter had left office.
Carter was a Chavez supporter and his organization gave cover to the communists election stealing.
peace in the world is a great goal
but can only be obtained when those who run an anti peace agenda..which is exactly what socialism>communismnazis is…are brought to their knees
I was thinking maybe Mexico as the next target…b/c this OP is definitely a sort of public ‘proof of concept’ intended not just to capture Maduro but to put the rest of the hemispheric bad actors and/or those National leaders who are too intimidated by or captive to narcoterrorist cartels to take action. Do you have another preference or is Mexico ok as the second target? Thinking on it, maybe we should deliver one more object lessen before hitting Mexico? Any preference for that option?
The major problem with Mexico is the entire government appears to be corrupt. I’m not sure a regime change would fix anything! Let’s just evict the illegals and build a wall first. And build back the coast guard,
As for other possible targets there are always Cuba and Nicaragua. There are a couple of other countries where the leader is a communist/socialist and is always shooting off their mouth, I can’t keep track of them all. Not sure they are involved in drugs though.
I think you misunderstood me. When I say Mexico next I mean the govt leadership of Mexico gets the opportunity to join the decisive action to destroy the narcoterrorist cartels or they can choose to oppose that. Regime change is different than what I envision. Basically a next man up scenario. Current leaders oppose the USA? They get removed and their successors get the same choices. Remove them if they don’t play ball. Next man up until someone figures out it is better to appease the hemispheric hegemonic power lest there be harsh personal consequences.
I’m thinking you are creating a no win situation for mexican politicians, Arrested by the US or killed by the cartels.
Well if I was a Mexican politician I might ask the US to invade and clear out the cartels while protecting my butt from them. That might include most of my fellow politicians and anyone in my military above the rank of captain.
Your absolutely right about the Jews being involved. It’s an international conspiracy I tell you. We are everywhere! (check under your bed) Why Grizzley and I are waiting now for our cut from seizing the dark fleet ships with the Venezuelan oil. It’s going to be epic. I’m making my shopping list now.
That’s why we have a president, to decide when and where to do this sort of thing.
Yes, Hizballah has more friends, and they should all be shivering in their boots right now. Maybe we will hit more of them, and maybe we won’t. It’s very unlikely that we’ll hit all “every country in their sphere of influence”, but we may well do one or two more. In any event that choice is up to the president, with Congress having a say after the event. Not anyone else.
Hitting “every country” is an addle-headed idea because geography makes such an operation impossible in many of them. Such ops require the ability to project force and specific tools (such as, as in this case, helicopters) that may be necessary for the op’s success. The stars don’t always align in the way necessary to conduct such ops. Part of the wisdom necessary when projecting military force is knowing the difference between a high probability of success and a low probability of success. A successful op in one country is no guarantee of a successful op anywhere else.
“Israel will get their cut.” You people just have to go there, every time.
You’re probably just replying to a mindless bot being run out of thailand. Site could use the X account info showing which country it’s from.
not “falling” for anything
this was a middle finger to not only the socialism of sout america
but to china and the inroads they continue to make into our hemisphere
the chinese dont f around
Look, guys.
The leftists trolls that only appear when linked by some leftist trash site have appeared to try and tell us how awful Trump is.
Like clockwork.
There are a number of people that show up just to bash Trump and anyone in his administration like clock work. I have had my doubts that they are real people in the US for some time. Oversea trolls like 90% of Nick Fuentes followers on X or bots.
Settle down. Rendition of the subject of an indictment from overseas isn’t breaking any new ground.
Securing our hemisphere (backyard) by eliminating and/or mitigating the foreign threats to our domestic tranquility within it is helluva lot better than going halfway around the world poking our nose into the affairs of the hegemonic powers/regional powers in their backyard.
So did we arrest him or depose him? It shouldn’t be both but it certainly looks like it is.
Again, spare me how the ends justify these means.
Kinda both but mostly arrested. Maduro was arrested from a standing indictment. He was not recognized as the legitimate leader of Venezuela by the USA, Europe and many other Nations so he wasn’t deposed so much as removed from power.
Ends/Means? You’re arguing with yourself b/c I didn’t make that argument. Nice try but no points.
He was arrested. Delta went in to guard law enforcement while they arrested him. He was indicted by a US court and is now sitting in SDNY to await trial.
“spare me how the ends justify these means.”
The people of Venezuela have taken to the streets in celebration. In spite of your silly quibbles.
Turley has explained the legality, too, from both an international law and domestic law perspective.
Admit that you are opposed simply for one reason above all else, Trump. Debbie Dingell has a message for you.
You, you might see more butts if you’d get your head out of yours, though I realize that it is by now likely permanently embedded there.
No offense, but the comment is “short sighted and foolish.” It reeks of TDS and anti-Americanism. Hooray for the “Venezuela Man!” People are better off, here and there. This has nothing to do with stunts. That is the forte of people that will criticize anything. Like many things, you will likely end up with egg on your face.
The same people now criticizing the operation would be calling for Hegseth’s head if it had failed.
The democrats, are of course butthurt that Trump didn’t consult them and give them a timeline of the attacks so they could warn Maduro.
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not get a heads up that President Donald Trump’s administration was planning to strike Venezuela”
In other news, General Milley regrets having no opportunity to brief Chairman Xi beforehand either.
Exactly they wonder why the White House does not tell Congress? Because AOC or Hakeem or some other jackass would be on the phone to Maduro as soon as they left the building. And then everything in the city would have been on high alert. It probably would have turned out the same except Maduro might have escaped to somewhere instead of being captured. Also could have turned into a complete Shitshow like Blackhawk down but I doubt that with the number of troops we have in the region and the general incompetence of the Venezuelan military.
I’m just stunned at the turn around in the Pentagon under Hegseth. An operation like this took a great deal of planning and nothing about it leaked out. If Congress doesn’t want the President to do things like this then they should rescind the War Powers Act. Trump followed it. Under the Act, The President can initiate military action and has 48 hours to notify Congress and 60 days to get it done.
From the mouth of a real Venezuelian
https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2007446126719336576?s=20
Heartfelt and inspiring. Seymour needs to come out from under the grandstand and watch this. He’s been looking at butts so long he’s starting to look like one.
.
What would be the point of telling Hawkeem ahead of time? Keeping Democrats in the dark about everything important is the best policy. They only screw things up — remember I-will-let-you-know-ahead-of=time Milley and the CCP? Yeah, that’s why.
Not telling the democrats saved lives. I’m 100% sure they would have warned Maduro had they know this was coming.
And just like that…
https://instapundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-03-at-9.48.40%E2%80%AFAM.png
flown to ny
where maduro hooked up with mamdani and aoc and are working with the da and local judges to overturn any and all doj actions
why would trump tell the enemy he was making a move against them..
duh duh and triple dare ya duh!!!
agreed. However if in a year he is set free he can have a first class flight to return to a home country with a regime that will execute him the minute he lands.
if nyc doesnt elect him for some gov post
I’m wondering if this opens the door to China and Taiwan
Congress reacts….
…on party lines.
In other news, the sun came up as usual.
If the drug cartels owned the Democrat Party, what would the Democrats say differently?
That’s not even a valid question, it’s just a tautology. There’s no IF about it.
This was a tactical and strategic operation.
We removed an intransigent leader who refused to see the writing on the wall and step back from his country’s illegal activities. He will be held responsible.
And this will have a chilling, maybe freezing, effect on all the bad actors working to undermine our country. Pay attention drug cartels, Mexico, Russia, China, Iran, et al.
And oh by the way this went off completely without warning because they didn’t brief the Senate committee.
Almost like its just a nest of leaking vipers.
Didn’t tell the SASC…thus no leaks.
“When I talk to Californians you know what ranks lowest on their priorities?”
California girl here.
Lowest on our priorities is listening to you talk a lot of ignorant nonsense, Fartman.
Of course he didn’t brief the Democrats.
Trump has their number.
We’ve effectively proven at this point that the only way to have actual operational security is not brief the politicians.
So far as removing the narco threat.
No impact whatsoever.
This is a demand problem more than a supply problem. A million drug mules will figure out how to fill the narco void. This likely solidifies the position of the rising stars.
Why? Because will refuse to get serious about jailing drug users.
Low life addicts couch surfing and homeless until they die is America’s response to this war. Even Trump is not getting it and not responding correctly.
The solution.
Take 10-15% of the top users out of the market and the narco profits get cut in half. Combined with enforcement, our drug problem gets slashed by 75% ins 6 months. Go deeper with the arrests (like 30%) and it’s solved.
Good idea. In the mean time, let’s make it really expensive to maintain their habit. I know this sounds heartless but, if enough of them overdose, the problem may address itself.
.
The US government could destroy the cartels by manufacturing the drugs itself, and distributing them for free to users. Money saved by the end of the War On Drugs could be used to offer free drug addiction treatment to anyone who asks. Users would be protected from the harms caused by illegal drugs of unknown potency and questionable purity. I could go on about the potential benefits, but it will never happen.
You’re right. Let’s not arrest murderers because there will always be more.
I see our commie democrap congress critters are upset over the probable loss of campaign bribes………..er I mean donations.
sorry.
Obviously they long ago gave up representing America and Americans. And their howling paid “volunteers” are upchucking the old talking points.
Maybe Trump should bomb nyc next. schumer may not respond when asked about ma’amdinty’s hatred of Jews, but he sure did come out in favor of drug kingpins killing Americans.
“Venezuela Man” will be all the rage.
Wonder how many of the 600,000 plus Chinese in Venezuela were cooking bio-weapons to go with all the Iranian drones they’ve been smuggling in?
Of course the communist traitors have a problem with it. That’s why he could never have briefed them in advance, they would have betrayed the plan to the enemy.