Operation Absolute Resolve: Trump’s Capture of Maduro Sparks “Hypocrisy” Debate in DC

Democrats were for it before they were against it

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, History was made on January 3, 2026, as U.S. Special Forces successfully executed Operation Absolute Resolve, a daring midnight raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

While the world watches Maduro face narcoterrorism charges in a New York courtroom, a different kind of battle is erupting on Capitol Hill. President Trump’s supporters are calling it the “foreign policy triumph of the century,” while high-ranking Democrats—many of whom previously called for Maduro’s ouster—are now labeling the move “reckless” and “illegal.”²

The Raid: 30 Minutes that Changed South America

In a mission likened to the 1989 capture of Manuel Noriega, U.S. Delta Force units, supported by the CIA, breached Maduro’s fortified residence at Fort Tiuna.³

• The “Safety Room”: President Trump revealed that Maduro nearly escaped into a steel-walled safe room but was “bum-rushed” by U.S. forces before the door could close.⁴

• Extraction: Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were whisked away to the USS Iwo Jima and flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.⁵

• The Charges: The couple now faces a mountain of federal charges, including narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation.⁶

The “Hypocrisy” Files: Democrats Then vs. Now

Critics of the Democratic response are pointing to a sharp “flip-flop” in rhetoric. For years, leading Democrats described Maduro as an illegitimate tyrant who must be removed.⁷ Now that Trump has acted, those same leaders are sounding a different note.

 

Leader	“Then” (Demand for Action)	“Now” (Criticism of Capture)
Sen. Chuck Schumer	Complained that “Maduro is more powerful today” because Trump hadn’t ended the regime.	Called the capture “reckless” and said it was causing “fear.”
Sen. Dick Durbin	Urged the U.S. not to “throw in the towel” on helping the Venezuelan people.	Objects to the “unauthorized use of military force” without Congress.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren	Called Maduro a “dictator and a crook” who must be removed.	Labeled the move “dangerous military adventurism.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen	Argued the U.S. must “ratchet up the pressure” for a transition.	Now calls the capture an “illegal act of war.”

A Constitutional Showdown

The primary point of contention in Washington is the War Powers Resolution.

• The GOP View: Supporters, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argue this was a “law enforcement function” to apprehend an indicted criminal, which falls under the President’s inherent constitutional authority.⁸

• The Democrat View: Senators like Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff are pushing a war powers resolution to block further military action, arguing that any “invasion” of a sovereign nation requires a vote from Congress.⁹

What’s Next for Venezuela?

President Trump has stated that the U.S. will “run” the country temporarily to ensure a “judicious transition” and to revitalize Venezuela’s sanctions-ravaged oil industry.¹⁰ However, back in Caracas, Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as acting president and is demanding the release of Maduro, calling the raid a “kidnapping.”

As Maduro awaits his next court appearance in Manhattan, the political fallout in Washington is only beginning.

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Keywords: Nicolas Maduro Captured 2026, Operation Absolute Resolve, Trump Venezuela Policy, Maduro Extradition New York, Democrats vs Trump Venezuela, Chuck Schumer Maduro, Marco Rubio Venezuela.

Tags: #Venezuela ,#Trump2026, #MaduroCapture ,#BreakingNews, #ForeignPolicy, #NicolasMaduro, #NJPolitics ,#DCNews,