‘President Trump means what he says’: JD Vance lauds special ops after Caracas mission

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance lauded the “special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation” following the high-stakes mission in Caracas, Venezuela.

Taking to X on Saturday, January 3, Vance commended the early-morning strike, asserting that the capture of the Venezuelan leader demonstrates that President Donald Trump "means what he says."

JD Vance praises Nicolas Maduro capture, says Trump 'means what he says'

In a post on X, JD Vance highlighted the administration’s prior attempts at diplomacy before moving to military action.

"The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the d**g trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States," Vance wrote.

"Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation," Vance added.

He further dismissed claims that the mission lacked legal standing by pointing to the long-standing criminal charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Addressing critics of the raid’s legality, Vance said, "And PSA for everyone saying this was illegal: Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism. You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas."

Delta Force executes high-stakes capture in Caracas

The operation, which took place early Saturday morning, involved the US Army’s elite Delta Force, which specializes in high-risk capture missions.

According to officials, the specialized team successfully arrested Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Venezuela following months of escalating tension over allegations of state-sponsored d**g trafficking and the misappropriation of oil revenues.

Maduro has faced federal indictments in the United States for years on charges related to nar**tics trafficking and corruption.

Anti-war protests erupt nationwide after US strike in Venezuela

In the wake of the military strike, a massive wave of anti-war protests erupted across the United States on Saturday, January 3.

From Boston to Los Angeles, thousands of citizens took to the streets to voice opposition to the Trump administration’s decision, fearing the intervention could lead to extensive bloodshed and a focus on seizing foreign oil reserves.

Outside the White House, dozens of activists gathered carrying Venezuelan flags and signs reading “No War on Venezuela” and “No blood for oil,” expressing deep concern over the lack of public consent for the mission.

Protesters argued that the raid disregarded international sovereignty, with the chant “US hands off Latin America” frequently heard as demonstrators denounced the operation as a violation of global norms.