JD Vance deliberately skipped the Mar-a-Lago spotlight during the daring US raid that snared Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, sparking whispers of hidden strategy in Trump’s inner circle.
Story Snapshot
- US special forces captured Maduro and his wife after months of strikes killing over 115 narco-terrorists.
- Vance met Trump daytime Friday to plan Venezuela action but vanished that night as officials monitored the raid.
- Vance defended the operation publicly on January 3, praising special ops and Trump’s warnings.
- Aide insists Vance stayed deeply involved behind the scenes, downplaying absence as routine.
- Strikes targeted Maduro’s narco networks in international waters to reclaim stolen US oil.
Vance Meets Trump on Venezuela Strikes
JD Vance met President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday daytime. They discussed strikes against Venezuelan targets. Tensions with Nicolás Maduro dated to his illegitimate 2018 reelection. US indicted him for narco-terrorism. Sanctions followed. Trump administration escalated post-inauguration. Southern Command launched kinetic operations September 2, 2025. They hit narco-trafficking vessels. Over 30 strikes by December 31 killed 115-plus. Common sense demands action against regimes flooding America with drugs and stealing oil.
Special Forces Execute Maduro Raid
Senior Trump officials gathered at Mar-a-Lago Friday night. They monitored the high-stakes raid. US special forces captured Maduro and his wife. Trump announced the success. Operations occurred in international waters. Goal: disrupt Maduro-linked networks and reclaim stolen US oil. Pentagon confirmed 22 strikes by November. Casualties mounted: 80 to 115 deaths. Double-tap tactics targeted survivors. This marked first direct head-of-state capture via raid. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López condemned it as outrage.
Vance’s absence fueled speculation. He skipped the command-center vibe. Aide clarified prior engagement kept him away. No discord evident. Vance’s loyalty shines in his defense. Human rights groups criticized civilian toll. Yet facts align with conservative priority: secure borders, crush cartels. Maduro evaded justice too long.
Vance Defends Operation Publicly
On January 3, 2026, Vance issued a strong statement. He called the raid legal. Special ops earned commendation. Trump issued prior warnings. Maduro faced indictments. Vance urged ending the regime and returning oil. López rallied citizens against US “blatant outrage.” Power vacuum looms in Venezuela. Short-term chaos likely. Long-term, precedent for grabbing indicted tyrants anywhere.
Trump directs as commander-in-chief. Vance executes publicly. Military leads ops. Dynamics strengthen: loyalty without showboating. Absence suggests smart op-sec, not weakness. Speculation ignores aide’s facts. Conservative values favor results over photo-ops. Narco networks weaken. Caribbean trafficking hit hard. Global tensions rise over unilateral strikes.
Per sources, Vance was not at Mar-a-Lago Friday night to watch the successful Venezuela raid, and did not travel there out of concern that a late-night motorcade would have raised questions.
He did meet up with Trump earlier in the day at the golf course and spoke about the…
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) January 3, 2026
Implications for US Power Projection
Maduro’s capture disrupts leadership. US bolsters strongman image. Economic gain: Venezuelan oil flows back. Social cost: reported civilian deaths. Political win for Trump team. Sets norm for extraterritorial justice. Iran, Hamas watch closely. Will they test limits? Vance’s low profile hints deeper involvement. Behind-scenes work trumps optics. True leaders prioritize victory.
Verification confirms timeline. NewsX details strikes and statements. AOL pins Vance absence. Casualty figures vary slightly. Raid date ties to December 31 strikes. No intrigue proven. Facts support disciplined team play.
Sources:
JD Vance skips Trump’s Venezuela spotlight, but aide says he was ‘deeply involved’ behind the scenes
