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https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/04/vance-venezuela-attack-fentanyl-00710281
Vice President JD Vance on Sunday defended the Trump administration’s military operation in Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as part of the efforts to reduce fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.
His defense comes as some Republican lawmakers broach skepticism toward the White House’s use of the fentanyl crisis as a justification for the aggressive military intervention. The vast majority of fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. originates in Mexico and China, according to federal law enforcement.
Vance pushed back on claims that the operation in Venezuela had "nothing to do with drugs" in a social media post on Sunday, arguing that combating drug trafficking in Venezuela aids the administration's broader response to the fentanyl crisis on multiple fronts.
Vance claimed that some fentanyl does flow to the U.S. from Venezuela, but argued that cocaine trafficking from the country helps prop up cartels. Maduro was indicted on narcoterrorism charges and conspiracy to import cocaine upon his arrival in the U.S. on Saturday.
"Cocaine, which is the main drug trafficked out of Venezuela, is a profit center for all of the Latin America cartels," Vance wrote on X. "If you cut out the money from cocaine (or even reduce it) you substantially weaken the cartels overall. Also, cocaine is bad too!"
Vice President JD Vance on Sunday defended the Trump administration’s military operation in Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as part of the efforts to reduce fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.
His defense comes as some Republican lawmakers broach skepticism toward the White House’s use of the fentanyl crisis as a justification for the aggressive military intervention. The vast majority of fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. originates in Mexico and China, according to federal law enforcement.
Vance pushed back on claims that the operation in Venezuela had "nothing to do with drugs" in a social media post on Sunday, arguing that combating drug trafficking in Venezuela aids the administration's broader response to the fentanyl crisis on multiple fronts.
Vance claimed that some fentanyl does flow to the U.S. from Venezuela, but argued that cocaine trafficking from the country helps prop up cartels. Maduro was indicted on narcoterrorism charges and conspiracy to import cocaine upon his arrival in the U.S. on Saturday.
"Cocaine, which is the main drug trafficked out of Venezuela, is a profit center for all of the Latin America cartels," Vance wrote on X. "If you cut out the money from cocaine (or even reduce it) you substantially weaken the cartels overall. Also, cocaine is bad too!"
