U.S. Captures Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Military Operation

"...It would be hard to blame someone who woke up Saturday morning — seeing the news that the United States had invaded Venezuela and exfiltrated its dictatorial ruler — and thought he or she might still be dreaming...."

"...A hard pinch and a cup of coffee later, and reality set in...."

"...To call the action surprising and eye-opening doesn't quite do it justice, especially considering Trump made his bones in opposition to neo-conservatives' "endless wars" and nation-building in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan...."

"...Fast forward to 2023, when Trump was out of office, talking about Venezuela...."

"...It's not a far leap to suggest the difference is politics (and oil)...."

"...Yes, there's undoubtedly an irony in Trump campaigning against intervention and what he's done in Venezuela...."

"...But dedication to Trump among the faithful runs deep — and there's an entire conservative media infrastructure built to insulate him and give the base talking points...."

"...Given the hyper-partisan ways in which Americans take in their news, don't expect any sort of a wholesale abandonment of Trump...."

"...It's more likely to become a rallying point...."

"...Still, Democrats can't ignore Venezuela and solely focus on affordability, either...."

"...They might point out the apparent hypocrisy of ousting Maduro because of drugs while pardoning the former head of Honduras, who was convicted of drug trafficking...."

"...They could also pivot to how this is a distraction from the fact that many people are struggling to buy groceries, homes and health care...."

"...It's about "surfacing Republican priorities," said one Democratic strategist, who asked to remain anonymous because of their role with an outside group...."

"..."They're more focused on making warfare than fixing health care," the strategist said...."

"...Americans, including Trump and Vance, have been skeptical of U.S. foreign intervention not because the U.S. military can't pull off regime changes but because of what happens on Day 2 and beyond...."

"...This is the president's most vulnerable point politically in this second term...."

"...He is facing his worst approval ratings, is going to be 80 in June and is inching closer to politically irrelevant lame-duck status...."

"...So it might not be surprising that Trump would try to stay in the headlines, like with this Venezuela action, and shift attention away from other, more negative issues for him politically...."