WASHINGTON, D.C. January 9, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance hailed the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela as a resounding success, stating it will make the United States “richer,” “more powerful,” and “safer” while contributing to a further decline in drug overdose deaths.
In a video clip shared by the White House on X (formerly Twitter), Vance, speaking alongside President Donald Trump, contrasted the operation with past U.S. military engagements. “As a Marine Corps veteran,” Vance began, criticizing previous administrations—both Democratic and Republican—for involving American forces in “endless quagmires” that cost lives without benefiting the country.
He praised Trump for deploying the military to halt drug flows into the U.S. and secure control over Venezuela’s vast energy reserves “without losing a single American life.” Vance described the operation as “amazing,” adding: “It’s going to make our country richer, it’s going to make our country more powerful, it’s going to make our country safer, and it’s going to lead to the further decline of drug overdose deaths in the United States of America—an amazing thing.”
The comments refer to the U.S.-led operation launched earlier in January 2026, which included the capture and exfiltration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has framed the action as targeting “narcoterrorism” and disrupting drug trafficking networks, while also enabling U.S. oversight of Venezuela’s oil resources—one of the world’s largest reserves.
Critics, including some congressional Republicans and international observers, have questioned the operation’s legal basis and its direct impact on U.S. drug overdoses, noting that the majority of fentanyl entering the country originates from Mexico rather than Venezuela. However, administration officials maintain that securing Venezuelan assets weakens adversarial networks and bolsters domestic security.
The White House post, which garnered significant engagement, underscores the administration’s narrative of the operation as a multifaceted victory for American interests.
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