WASHINGTON, D.C. January 5, 2026 – The official White House account on X posted an image accusing Democrats of hypocrisy in their stance on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The move follows the recent U.S. operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture and intensifying partisan debate over U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
The post, published on January 5, 2026, features a graphic titled *Democrat Hypocrisy on Maduro”. It prominently notes that the Biden administration raised the U.S. reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $25 million. The image includes screenshots of past statements from then-candidate Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris criticizing President Donald Trump’s approach to Venezuela.
Key highlighted statements include:
– A 2019 tweet from Biden: “Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro. As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy.”
– A tweet from Harris describing the situation in Venezuela as a “crisis” and pledging to “immediately extend TPS status to Venezuelans” while accusing the Trump administration of failing to show “moral leadership.”
– Another Biden tweet accusing Trump of refusing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and using “stealth deportations,” claiming Trump had “no regard for the suffering of the Venezuelan people.”
The White House captioned the post: “For the record, PRESIDENT TRUMP stands with the Venezuelan people and for democracy.”
The posting appears to defend the Trump administration’s recent actions against Maduro. U.S. forces captured the Venezuelan leader in early January 2026, an operation that has drawn sharp criticism from some Democrats who describe it as unilateral and potentially unlawful.
Historical Context on U.S. Rewards for Maduro
The U.S. originally indicted Maduro on narco-terrorism charges in 2020 during Trump’s first term. This included an initial $15 million bounty through the State Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program.
In January 2025, shortly before leaving office, the Biden administration increased the reward to $25 million.
The amount rose further to $50 million in August 2025 under the current administration.
Republican figures, including Senator Katie Britt and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have pointed to the Biden-era bounty increase as evidence that Democrats previously supported aggressive measures against Maduro. They argue this undermines current criticisms of the capture operation.
Democratic responders have accused the Trump administration of overreach, with some calling the operation a violation of international law or constitutional checks and balances.
The White House post has garnered significant engagement, with thousands of likes, reposts, and replies reflecting polarized views on the issue.
The capture of Maduro marks a major escalation in longstanding U.S. efforts to address Venezuela’s political and humanitarian crisis. This has unfolded against the backdrop of disputed elections, mass migration, and allegations of drug trafficking tied to the Maduro regime.
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