JD Vance Drops a PSA for Everyone Saying the Maduro Operation Was ‘Illegal’

Nicolás Maduro is now in U.S. custody in New York City, awaiting his first in-person appearance in an American court after U.S. special forces carried out an early-morning operation in Venezuela on Saturday to extract him and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Both were indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple federal charges.

President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the operation publicly Saturday morning, outlining the actions that led to the capture and transfer of the Maduros to the United States.

The White House also released a series of photographs showing senior officials monitoring the operation as it unfolded in real time.

pic.twitter.com/smJU0ZAFxe

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

The capture immediately reshaped the political landscape surrounding Venezuela, where questions remain about who will lead the country in the short and long term.

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One of the most prominent opposition figures to Maduro’s rule, María Corina Machado, issued remarks after the news broke, stating her view on who should assume the presidency on an interim basis.

However, no definitive leadership transition has yet been announced, and the long-term direction of the Venezuelan government remains unsettled.

While Venezuelan opposition figures and many Venezuelans abroad reacted positively, political reaction in the United States was sharply divided. Several Democratic officials criticized the operation, characterizing it as unlawful and unauthorized.

Among the most vocal critics was newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, who contacted the White House to object to the action.

Members of Congress also issued statements calling the operation “illegal” and labeling it an unauthorized act of war.

Vice President J.D. Vance responded directly to that criticism, defending both the legality and necessity of the operation.

In public remarks following the initial reporting, Vance said the administration had offered Maduro multiple opportunities to avoid the outcome that ultimately occurred.

The Vice President praised the U.S. military’s execution of the mission, stating, “Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”

The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.

Kudos to our brave… pic.twitter.com/b1fqkdbB4x

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 3, 2026

Vance then addressed claims that the operation violated U.S. law, issuing what he described as a public service announcement directed at critics.

“And PSA for everyone saying this was ‘illegal,’” Vance said.

“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.”

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.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 3, 2026

Federal court records show that Maduro has been charged in connection with large-scale narcotics trafficking and related offenses, allegations that U.S. officials have cited for years in characterizing his regime as criminal rather than legitimate.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office has made the full list of charges publicly available through the Southern District of New York.

As images from the White House situation room circulated, some observers questioned why Vice President Vance did not appear in photographs released during the operation or attend the President’s public remarks.

Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie later reported that Vance had met with President Trump earlier Friday in West Palm Beach to discuss the strikes and participated in the operation remotely.

According to the report, Vance was not physically present at Mar-a-Lago during the operation but joined via a secure video connection and returned to Cincinnati after the mission concluded.

Fox News also reported that the White House is limiting the physical co-location of the President and Vice President when they are away from Washington due to heightened security considerations.

The administration has emphasized that the operation was narrowly focused on apprehending an individual already facing U.S. indictments, rather than initiating a broader military campaign.

Officials have stated that Maduro was given multiple opportunities to step aside or resolve his legal exposure through other means before the operation was carried out.

With Maduro now detained in New York, attention is shifting to the upcoming court proceedings and the political consequences inside Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Rubio and other senior officials continue to engage with regional partners as the United States prepares for the next phase following Maduro’s removal from power.

If you don’t know, now you know pic.twitter.com/XrIps1OzY4

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026

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