Ten Reasons to Cheer the Arrest of Maduro

This commentary was first published in RealClearPolitics.

The weekend arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro marks a rare moment when American power was used decisively, strategically, and unapologetically in defense of US interests and human freedom—and there are at least 10 reasons to cheer it.

1. President Trump has done what previous administrations—including Trump 45—only talked about doing: The raid opens the door to a restoration of constitutional order, democracy, freedom, and prosperity to Venezuelans repressed by the vicious, kleptocratic, technically incompetent, socialist (but I am redundant) regime launched by Hugo Chavez in a coup and continued by Maduro. With US follow-through and support, the Venezuelan diaspora can return to their home country and build it back to what it once was: the most prosperous nation in the region. Plus, it will likely become a strong ally of the United States and other countries committed to freedom and capitalism in our hemisphere.
2. The “war on drugs” has been only a metaphor over the last 45 years. No longer. This operation goes to the source, border control tightens interdiction, and ICE operations in urban centers have disrupted the distribution of drugs. It won’t end illegal narcotics on our streets—but it’s a muscular move against a scourge that costs tens of thousands of American lives.
3. The political left’s regional alliance with drug cartels is looking like a bad bet. The presidents of Mexico and Colombia are likely in meetings as you read these words discussing the risks of their current arrangements and perhaps recalibrating their strategy in a way more helpful to the US in the fight against drug cartels.
4. The tide may have also turned more broadly against the left in Latin America, and perhaps even here at home. No sentient human being can deny the failure of Venezuela’s brand of narco-socialism. Along with President Milei’s continued success in Argentina, refreshing prosperity and the constitutional democratic order in Venezuela will help other free market parties in the region, too. Freedom resonates as tyranny falls and prosperity spreads.
5. The raid bolsters the Trump administration’s aggressive assault on Iran’s nuclear program. Intelligence sources have long maintained that Venezuela was an important source of uranium for Iran. If the US “takes control” of Venezuela for a transitional period, Iranian interests will be booted and special privileges revoked.
6. Maduro’s ouster also reduces the risk of terrorist attacks to our homeland. In addition to Iran’s infiltration, Venezuela has become a hub for Hezbollah operations in the Western Hemisphere as well—including money laundering and drug trafficking— and a suspected base for terrorist operations.
7. The raid extends the Trump administration’s aggressive moves to limit China’s involvement in our hemisphere, which started early last year when the US convinced Panama to boot China from a port and involvement in canal operations. Venezuela had already become a major oil supplier for China. Trump is re-establishing the Monroe Doctrine—which he jokingly called the “Donroe Doctrine”—and is cutting an important energy supply chain for our chief global rival.
8. The raid likely eliminates an ally of Russia—and an important prop for the Communist regime in Cuba. Without cheap Venezuelan oil, Cuba will have to turn to higher-cost alternatives, further dampening the economy there and likely stirring unrest. If the US follows through and “takes control” in Venezuela, Cuba’s communists lose a lifeline.
9. The audacious raid makes Americans proud of our military’s prowess. It effectively kicks off a year of patriotic celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Republicans will try to ride the pride in our competence, strength, and history all the way to electoral success in the November midterms. On the other hand, Democrats who spent the weekend whining about the raid (after taunting Trump for years for leaving Maduro in power) look foolish and disturbingly partisan. Moreover, the Democratic Party is now more closely associated with socialism and its failures, the corruption and incompetence of the welfare state in Minnesota and elsewhere. It’s not a good look.
10. Whether one loves Donald Trump or hates him, this daring operation shows what leadership in the executive branch looks like. Trump 47 is the rare politician who does what he says he will do (moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, bombing Iran’s main nuclear facility, closing the border, taking on DEI). At 78 years old, he’s a man in perpetual motion, taking on a new problem seemingly every week, and who dominates the domestic and international political terrain by relentlessly leveraging US power to advance American interests.

You might not like him or his style—or even agree with his policies—but he is fighting the drug war; taking on China, rebuilding our military’s prowess; addressing root causes of a migration crisis; reducing crime; striving for peace while audaciously deploying our military; controlling our border—and admit it—Making America Great Again.