Former Vice President Mike Pence offered praise to the Trump administration’s detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, saying President Donald Trump ended Maduro’s “tyranny.”
The U.S. military captured Maduro early Saturday morning, and the former Venezuelan leader arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City later in the day. Pence, a critic of Trump following his first term in office, commended the U.S. president’s “decisive leadership” and the “courage” of the U.S. armed forces who brought an end to Maduro’s “socialist dictatorship.”
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“It has long been the policy of the United States that Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power and I commend President Trump for his historic action to end the socialist tyranny of Maduro and restore liberty to the people of Venezuela,” Pence said on X.
Pence also said Maduro “must answer for his crimes and corruption” for his leadership, which he said “cost the lives of countless innocent Venezuelans and Americans” through violence and the drug trade.
“Today, thanks to President Trump and US Forces, Libertad will be restored for the Venezuelan people, restoring security and prosperity across this heliosphere of freedom. Thank You President Trump and God Bless Our Troops,” Pence said.
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Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, a 2024 presidential primary opponent of Trump, also celebrated the end of Maduro’s rule, saying on X that Venezuelans “deserve freedom.” Unlike Pence, though, she didn’t mention Trump in her statement.
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With Maduro out of power, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to take over as interim president. The ruling is in accordance with Venezuela’s constitution, which states that the vice president handles presidential duties in the event of an absence.
Trump addressed Maduro’s capture on Saturday morning, during which he said the U.S. will run Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” Trump also confirmed that he will bring in U.S. energy companies to take over Venezuela’s oil industry.
