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By Gabe Whisnant
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Vice President JD Vance said he initially doubted the U.S. could pull off the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro without American casualties.
“I think all of us were kind of skeptical,” Vance told “The Scott Jennings Show,” recalling his briefing on the plan weeks ago. “Can you actually do this—go into a foreign country, take zero dead Americans and actually, you know, take this indicted narcoterrorist?”
Vance told Jennings the mission was executed “flawlessly” and predicted Maduro’s ouster will lead to cheaper gas and energy for Americans.
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“Most importantly, it’s going to mean that we have more control over the energy resources that exist in the world, to achieve better economic results for our people and to use those energy resources as leverage to achieve greater peace and prosperity,” he said.
Why it Matters
Trump said his administration will "run" Venezuela and is pressuring the country’s leaders to open its vast oil reserves to American energy companies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials briefed congressional leaders late Monday on the Venezuela operation amid concerns the Republican administration is pursuing a new era of U.S. expansionism without consulting lawmakers or outlining a clear plan for governing the South American nation.
After the briefing, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he does not expect U.S. troops to be deployed to Venezuela, saying the mission was “not a regime change” effort. Democratic leaders said the session offered little clarity on the Trump administration’s long-term strategy for Venezuela.
What to Know
Seven U.S. service members were injured in the raid, the Pentagon said. Five have returned to duty, while two remain hospitalized. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during the U.S. military raid conducted late Friday night and into Saturday morning, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” to capture Maduro and bring him to the United States to face drug charges, officials said Tuesday.
Maduro's wife, Celia Flores, was also captured and brought to America. Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges during their first court appearance since being seized from their Caracas home in a U.S. military operation Saturday.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said “dozens” of officials and civilians died in the strike and vowed to investigate what he called a “war crime,” though he did not clarify if his estimate referred only to Venezuelans.
Cuba’s government said Sunday that 32 Cuban military and police officers stationed in Venezuela were also killed. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Monday U.S. officials believe Cuba is undercounting its losses.
The Pentagon said nearly 200 U.S. personnel took part in the operation. Some were injured, but none were killed, and officials have not provided details on the injuries.
Maduro was indicted in the United States in 2020 on charges alleging his role in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
White House officials said the Biden administration, in its final days last year, increased the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture after he claimed a third term despite evidence he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration had previously doubled the reward to $50 million in August.
What People Are Saying
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez pushed back against President Trump, who warned earlier this week that she could face an outcome worse than Maduro if she does not “do what’s right” and reshape Venezuela to align with U.S. interests: “Personally, to those who threaten me," Rodriguez said in an address before government agricultural and industrial sector officials. "My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”
The Venezuelan military wrote in an Instagram post, “Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength. It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, said Tuesday that there is a regime change in Venezuela, but that it is taking place “through an election.": “We’re going to build the country up – infrastructure wise – crescendoing with an election that will be free.
He added that the U.S. is now “in charge” of Venezuela and that “nothing’s going to happen in Venezuela that runs counter to our goal.” The new leaders in Venezuela, Graham pressed, “will do business with” the U.S. going forward.
What Happens Next
In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have fueled global concern that the operation could signal a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. Trump has renewed calls for an American takeover of Greenland, a Danish territory, citing U.S. security interests. He has also threatened military action against Colombia over its role in the global cocaine trade, while his top diplomat warned that Cuba’s communist government is “in a lot of trouble.”
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Updates: 1/6/26, 3:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
Updates: 1/6/26, 6:44 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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