WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: U.S. Military Captures Venezuelan Dictator Maduro in Overnight Mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thanks to President Trump's leadership, U.S. forces successfully executed a mission to capture and extradite Nicolas Maduro, an indicted narco-terrorist whose regime has killed thousands of Americans by flooding our country with deadly drugs.

Here's what RSC Members are saying:

RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11): “I commend President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, and General Caine for putting America first and standing firm against narco-terrorists and Nicolas Maduro's illegitimate dictatorship. American forces executed a necessary mission with absolute precision to extradite an indicted narco-terrorist. Nicolas Maduro is a drug lord who turned an entire country into a criminal enterprise that poisoned American communities, partnered with Iran and our enemies, and brutalized his own people while living in luxury. When a regime murders thousands of Americans, we have every right to act in defense of our citizens and our hemisphere. President Trump is showing the world what American strength looks like: we put our people first, we eliminate threats to our homeland, and we make no apologies for defending this nation. God bless our troops.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (FL-28): ​​”Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for changing the course of history in our hemisphere. May God bless our brave service members and this great nation. Our country, and the world, are safer because of President Trump’s leadership, resolve, and willingness to confront evil head-on. I spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and I can say with absolute confidence: today’s decisive action is this hemisphere’s equivalent of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. It marks the beginning of the end for narco-terrorist regimes that have terrorized their people, flooded our communities with deadly drugs, and destabilized the Americas…I could not be prouder of our brave service members who carried out this military operation with precision, courage, and honor. Their service proves once again that American strength, when paired with moral clarity, remains unmatched. This is a historic day in Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan, Cuban, and Nicaraguan exile communities in the nation. We are forever grateful to President Trump and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This hemisphere will be the hemisphere of freedom.”

RSC Vice-Chair Ben Cline (VA-06): “Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States acted boldly to confront narco-terrorism in Venezuela. I commend Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, and the brave men and women of our U.S. military who executed this mission. American strength is back. Our message is clear: we will defend our security and lead with resolve.”

RSC National Security Task Force Chair Zach Nunn (IA-03): “I applaud the United States and our troops for carrying out a mission sending a clear message: the U.S. will defend its citizens and hold terrorists accountable wherever they hide. Maduro was a narco-terrorist, who took over Venezuela as an illegitimate dictator — his gangs are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans — he will now face justice. Moving forward, we must ensure this mission remains focused, time-bound, and squarely aligned with U.S. national interests.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13): “Maduro put out a hit on Secretary Rubio when he was a Senator. This action alone puts you on a certain list you never come off of.  Maduro is also responsible for the death of thousands of Americans. Let this be known to any world leader: if you call for and/or pay for the assassination or bounty of any US politician, you will face the wrath of the entire US government, and we will eventually eliminate the threat.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02): “President Trump saves American lives with stopping drug cartels arresting Maduro! Now the network of Putin, Iran, Cuba, and the CCP can be unraveled exposing Dictators With Rule of Gun which invade Democracies With Rule of Law! Illegitimate regimes of rigged elections in Georgia and Belarus should now accept fair and free elections!”

Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC-03): “Nicolas Maduro is a thug who has trafficked poison into American neighborhoods for years through cartel-backed drug routes. Those fatal actions have decisive consequences. President Trump has made it clear that he will promote peace and defend the rule of law.”

Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04): “Under Dictator Maduro, Venezuela has allowed criminal drug cartels the freedom to operate with impunity, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year due to the flow of deadly narcotics into our country. At the same time, Maduro's communist regime has been a lapdog for the Beijing's interests, threatening U.S. national security so close to home. With the capture of Maduro this morning, President Trump has reaffirmed US deterrence in our own hemisphere. His doctrine of peace through strength is keeping America secure. Our adversaries—Russia, China, and Iran—propped up his failing regime for years with billions in loans, oil deals, arms sales, military advisors, and sanctions evasion, keeping this narco-terrorist state afloat right in America's backyard. Thank you to our military, intelligence and law enforcement professionals for the brave leadership and incredible expertise shown in this morning's operation to capture Dictator Maduro.”

Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-13): “President Trump just dismantled one of the world’s most dangerous narco-terrorists without a single American casualty. No endless war. Without sending in thousands of American troops. No American casualties. Just a decisive, surgical strike that sent a message to the world: if you threaten the United States, there will be consequences. That’s what real leadership looks like. That’s what a win looks like. The only ones angry about this are our foreign adversaries and the socialist apologists who always side against America. They’re upset because President Trump did what they never could, lead with strength and put American lives first.”

Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08): “I support President Donald Trump's decisive actions to hold Nicolás Maduro accountable, a brutal oppressor who has led a drug cartel masquerading as a government and terrorized his own people. Maduro is an illegitimate ruler who lost at the ballot box and now clings to power through violence, corruption, and the narcotics trade that has poisoned American communities. This is peace through strength in action, defending our own backyard and stopping threats before they reach our borders. Reports that Chinese officials met with Maduro just yesterday and were still on the ground during the operation only underscore how urgent and necessary strong American leadership is. Peace through strength!"

Rep. Michael Baumgartner (WA-05): “Today was also a very bad day for Russia and Iran. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but has been producing only a trickle due to the socialist incompetence of the Chavez/Maduro narco-terrorists. Bringing Venezuelan oil back online is positive for the global economy and is going to further increase pressure on Russia and Iran.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02): “Nicolas Maduro is a thug and a narcoterrorist, responsible for the murder of countless Americans. Today, the heavy hand of American justice brought Maduro out of hiding, ending his tyrannical regime once and for all. Thank you to President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Secretary Hegseth and our brave service members who carried out this operation.”