Following the latest developments in Venezuela, Republican lawmakers issued a clear and forceful message: the United States must not legitimize dictatorships or negotiate with narcoterrorism. On Saturday evening, shortly after President Trump delivered remarks detailing the extradition and detention of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, three senior Cuban-American Republicans held a joint press conference in South Florida backing the administration’s actions.
U.S. Republican Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, and Mario Díaz-Balart framed the moment as the beginning of a “new chapter for Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere”. They warned that regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua, and potentially Colombia could face heightened pressure if they continue enabling authoritarianism, cartel activity, and narcotrafficking that threaten U.S. national security. Their message was both symbolic and direct, saying “Today, we are all Venezuelans.”
What Happened
During Saturday’s press conference, President Trump confirmed the successful execution of a coordinated, multi-agency operation that resulted in the removal and extradition of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Venezuela. Administration officials emphasized that the operation was carried out with strategic precision and minimal civilian harm.
Across the United States and internationally, Venezuelans took to the streets to celebrate the collapse of a regime that had forced millions into exile through economic mismanagement, censorship, political repression, and fraudulent elections. In Doral, Florida – home to the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the country and often referred to as “Doralzuela” – public celebrations quickly became the focal point of rallies attended by local, state, and federal Republican officials.
The operation reaffirmed the United States military’s status as a dominant global force capable of conducting complex operations with surgical precision, minimal civilian harm, and decisive security impact. Under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s leadership, the mission reflected a broader restoration of American military credibility and deterrence.
The outcome also marked a major foreign-policy victory for President Trump, sharply contrasting with prior administrations that relied on weak, symbolic pressure rather than decisive action. While the Biden administration placed a financial reward on Maduro’s capture, it stopped short of direct enforcement. By contrast, President Trump authorized and executed the extradition of the world’s most notorious narco-dictator within his first year back in office – and crucially, brought him into custody alive, maximizing the intelligence value necessary to advance ongoing efforts against narcoterrorism and the global drug trade.
What U.S. Leaders Are Saying
Although most of the lawmakers supporting Saturday’s historic move and the ensuing Venezuelan celebrations are Cuban-American, they represent districts encompassing the largest Venezuelan communities in the country, particularly across South Florida. At Saturday evening’s press conference in Doral, Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, and Mario Diaz Balart credited President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, along with senior national security officials, for executing what they described as a long-overdue and decisive operation.
They argued that Maduro’s removal reflected President Trump’s doctrine of peace through strength, emphasizing that authoritarian regimes respond only to credible consequences, and not arbitrary diplomatic normalization.
Rep. Carlos Giménez framed the move squarely as an “America First” decision, arguing that dismantling Maduro’s narco-state directly protects American families by disrupting drug- and human-trafficking pipelines operated by the Cartel de los Soles. He sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers who opposed the operation, accusing them of prioritizing political opposition to President Trump over condemning a regime responsible for American deaths.
“Are you really trying to defend a narco-terrorist dictator?” Giménez said. “A man with American blood on his hands, simply because it was President Trump who took him down?”
Giménez also warned that Cuba and Nicaragua remain firmly on the administration’s radar, stressing that their people deserve freedom and democratic governance.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar called the development “a good day” for Venezuelan Americans, highlighting the economic potential of a post-Maduro Venezuela and the transitional opportunity allowing Venezuelans to reclaim sovereignty over their own country.
“The President has been very clear: he wants Venezuela to be free, prosperous, and secure,” Salazar said. “Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. They can rebuild their country themselves.”
She added that the shift would also reduce foreign adversaries’ influence, stating that a democratic Venezuela would no longer serve as a foothold for Russia, China, Iran, Hezbollah, or Hamas.
All three agreed that María Corina Machado won the opposition’s primary and that the broader electoral process was undermined by intimidation, repression, and fraud under Maduro’s regime. They maintain that the opposition’s victory was stolen and that Machado should be allowed to compete in a genuinely free election, positioning her as a credible democratic leader for Venezuela’s future.
Implications for Venezuelans in the U.S.
For Venezuelan Americans, this moment goes far beyond symbolism. It marks formal recognition by the United States that the Maduro regime functioned as a criminal enterprise rooted in corruption, narcotrafficking, and political repression. For an estimated 750,000 to 900,000 Venezuelans living in the United States, many of whom fled persecution and economic collapse, that acknowledgment carries real legal, political, and reputational significance, clarifying the distinction between those escaping dictatorship and the criminal networks responsible for destabilizing the region.
Looking ahead, stabilization would also position Venezuelan Americans as natural first movers in Venezuela’s eventual recovery. Once security, rule of law, and property rights are restored, Venezuela could resemble other post-crisis environments such as El Salvador or Guatemala: a market with depressed asset valuations, significant underinvestment, and substantial pent-up demand across energy, infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, housing, and consumer sectors. Combined with the world’s largest proven oil reserves and a historically educated workforce, a stabilized Venezuela would present long-term opportunities for diaspora-led investment, trade, and entrepreneurship – shifting the narrative from permanent exile to economic participation and national reconstruction.
What Comes Next
Maduro remains in U.S. custody and is expected to face federal criminal charges in New York. A newly unsealed indictment charges Maduro with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges. His wife, Flores, his son, and other senior Venezuelan officials are also facing similar charges. The administration has emphasized that its priority is a peaceful, orderly transition, avoiding the instability that followed past interventions.
Secretary Marco Rubio has been tasked with overseeing diplomatic and transitional efforts. Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, has been warned that failure to cooperate with democratic elections will result in severe consequences. Under Venezuela’s constitutional framework, a new election is expected following regime change, though compliance remains uncertain.
Strategically, Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, originally developed with American infrastructure, present an opportunity for lawful energy partnerships that could lower global energy prices, reduce U.S. dependence on hostile powers, and weaken Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
By dismantling the leadership of the Cartel de los Soles, the administration also aims to curb fentanyl trafficking, cartel violence, and irregular migration, which remain key concerns for American voters. As the administration frames it, this was not a symbolic gesture, but a calculated strategic move with long-term consequences for Venezuela, the region, and the United States.
Chess, not checkers.
Following the latest developments in Venezuela, Republican lawmakers issued a clear and forceful message: the United States must not legitimize dictatorships or negotiate with narcoterrorism. On Saturday evening, shortly after President Trump delivered remarks detailing the extradition and detention of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, three senior Cuban-American Republicans held a joint press conference in South Florida backing the administration’s actions.
U.S. Republican Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, and Mario Díaz-Balart framed the moment as the beginning of a “new chapter for Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere”. They warned that regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua, and potentially Colombia could face heightened pressure if they continue enabling authoritarianism, cartel activity, and narcotrafficking that threaten U.S. national security. Their message was both symbolic and direct, saying “Today, we are all Venezuelans.”
What Happened
During Saturday’s press conference, President Trump confirmed the successful execution of a coordinated, multi-agency operation that resulted in the removal and extradition of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Venezuela. Administration officials emphasized that the operation was carried out with strategic precision and minimal civilian harm.
Across the United States and internationally, Venezuelans took to the streets to celebrate the collapse of a regime that had forced millions into exile through economic mismanagement, censorship, political repression, and fraudulent elections. In Doral, Florida – home to the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the country and often referred to as “Doralzuela” – public celebrations quickly became the focal point of rallies attended by local, state, and federal Republican officials.
The operation reaffirmed the United States military’s status as a dominant global force capable of conducting complex operations with surgical precision, minimal civilian harm, and decisive security impact. Under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s leadership, the mission reflected a broader restoration of American military credibility and deterrence.
The outcome also marked a major foreign-policy victory for President Trump, sharply contrasting with prior administrations that relied on weak, symbolic pressure rather than decisive action. While the Biden administration placed a financial reward on Maduro’s capture, it stopped short of direct enforcement. By contrast, President Trump authorized and executed the extradition of the world’s most notorious narco-dictator within his first year back in office – and crucially, brought him into custody alive, maximizing the intelligence value necessary to advance ongoing efforts against narcoterrorism and the global drug trade.
What U.S. Leaders Are Saying
Although most of the lawmakers supporting Saturday’s historic move and the ensuing Venezuelan celebrations are Cuban-American, they represent districts encompassing the largest Venezuelan communities in the country, particularly across South Florida. At Saturday evening’s press conference in Doral, Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Gimenez, and Mario Diaz Balart credited President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, along with senior national security officials, for executing what they described as a long-overdue and decisive operation.
They argued that Maduro’s removal reflected President Trump’s doctrine of peace through strength, emphasizing that authoritarian regimes respond only to credible consequences, and not arbitrary diplomatic normalization.
Rep. Carlos Giménez framed the move squarely as an “America First” decision, arguing that dismantling Maduro’s narco-state directly protects American families by disrupting drug- and human-trafficking pipelines operated by the Cartel de los Soles. He sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers who opposed the operation, accusing them of prioritizing political opposition to President Trump over condemning a regime responsible for American deaths.
“Are you really trying to defend a narco-terrorist dictator?” Giménez said. “A man with American blood on his hands, simply because it was President Trump who took him down?”
Giménez also warned that Cuba and Nicaragua remain firmly on the administration’s radar, stressing that their people deserve freedom and democratic governance.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar called the development “a good day” for Venezuelan Americans, highlighting the economic potential of a post-Maduro Venezuela and the transitional opportunity allowing Venezuelans to reclaim sovereignty over their own country.
“The President has been very clear: he wants Venezuela to be free, prosperous, and secure,” Salazar said. “Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. They can rebuild their country themselves.”
She added that the shift would also reduce foreign adversaries’ influence, stating that a democratic Venezuela would no longer serve as a foothold for Russia, China, Iran, Hezbollah, or Hamas.
All three agreed that María Corina Machado won the opposition’s primary and that the broader electoral process was undermined by intimidation, repression, and fraud under Maduro’s regime. They maintain that the opposition’s victory was stolen and that Machado should be allowed to compete in a genuinely free election, positioning her as a credible democratic leader for Venezuela’s future.
Implications for Venezuelans in the U.S.
For Venezuelan Americans, this moment goes far beyond symbolism. It marks formal recognition by the United States that the Maduro regime functioned as a criminal enterprise rooted in corruption, narcotrafficking, and political repression. For an estimated 750,000 to 900,000 Venezuelans living in the United States, many of whom fled persecution and economic collapse, that acknowledgment carries real legal, political, and reputational significance, clarifying the distinction between those escaping dictatorship and the criminal networks responsible for destabilizing the region.
Looking ahead, stabilization would also position Venezuelan Americans as natural first movers in Venezuela’s eventual recovery. Once security, rule of law, and property rights are restored, Venezuela could resemble other post-crisis environments such as El Salvador or Guatemala: a market with depressed asset valuations, significant underinvestment, and substantial pent-up demand across energy, infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, housing, and consumer sectors. Combined with the world’s largest proven oil reserves and a historically educated workforce, a stabilized Venezuela would present long-term opportunities for diaspora-led investment, trade, and entrepreneurship – shifting the narrative from permanent exile to economic participation and national reconstruction.
What Comes Next
Maduro remains in U.S. custody and is expected to face federal criminal charges in New York. A newly unsealed indictment charges Maduro with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges. His wife, Flores, his son, and other senior Venezuelan officials are also facing similar charges. The administration has emphasized that its priority is a peaceful, orderly transition, avoiding the instability that followed past interventions.
Secretary Marco Rubio has been tasked with overseeing diplomatic and transitional efforts. Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, has been warned that failure to cooperate with democratic elections will result in severe consequences. Under Venezuela’s constitutional framework, a new election is expected following regime change, though compliance remains uncertain.
Strategically, Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, originally developed with American infrastructure, present an opportunity for lawful energy partnerships that could lower global energy prices, reduce U.S. dependence on hostile powers, and weaken Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
By dismantling the leadership of the Cartel de los Soles, the administration also aims to curb fentanyl trafficking, cartel violence, and irregular migration, which remain key concerns for American voters. As the administration frames it, this was not a symbolic gesture, but a calculated strategic move with long-term consequences for Venezuela, the region, and the United States.
Chess, not checkers.
