New Details Emerge Of JD Vance’s Role In Capture Of Maduro

New details are emerging about Vice President JD Vance and his behind-the-scenes role in the dramatic U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, an unprecedented action that has sent shockwaves across Latin America and the world.

In the early hours of January 3, U.S. forces launched a large-scale, highly coordinated military operation inside Venezuela. Explosions were reported in and around Caracas as American aircraft and special operations units struck key military and security targets tied to Maduro’s regime. The operation culminated in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were extracted from the country and flown to the United States.

U.S. officials later confirmed that Maduro and Flores are being detained and are expected to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, in the Southern District of New York. The operation has been widely described as unprecedented, marking one of the rare instances in modern history in which a sitting head of state was captured by foreign military forces and transported abroad to face criminal charges.

President Donald Trump confirmed the operation during a press conference hours after Maduro was taken into U.S. custody. Standing alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Trump framed the mission as decisive action against a regime he accused of turning Venezuela into a narco-state.

Trump also made waves by declaring that the United States would “run Venezuela” temporarily while working toward what he described as a “safe, orderly transition of power.” When pressed by reporters on whether U.S. forces would remain inside the country, Trump declined to rule out a sustained troop presence, further fueling international debate and concern.

While Trump publicly announced the capture, Vice President Vance was notably absent from the press conference. According to a Fox News report citing a spokesperson, Vance’s absence was deliberate and tied to heightened security and secrecy concerns surrounding the operation. Despite not appearing before cameras, Vance was closely involved in both the planning and real-time monitoring of the mission.

The spokesperson explained that Vance met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday to discuss the strikes but was not physically present at the president’s golf club Friday night as senior officials monitored the operation. National security officials were reportedly concerned that a late-night motorcade movement by the vice president, while the mission was getting underway, could have tipped off Venezuelan authorities.

Instead, Vance joined the operation via secure video conference throughout the night, tracking developments as they unfolded. After the mission concluded, he returned to Cincinnati. Due to what the spokesperson described as “increased security concerns,” Trump and Vance are now limiting the frequency and duration of time they spend together outside the White House.

Vance later publicly praised the operation on X, taking direct aim at critics who questioned its legality. “Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says,” Vance wrote. In a separate post, he added, “PSA for everyone saying this was ‘illegal’: Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narco-terrorism. You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas.”