CONG. BABIN: America 1st Means that America ACTS

"His priority is a safe, responsible, and orderly transition for Venezuela, one that delivers peace and justice for its people and ensures that no corrupt or hostile regime rises to take Maduro’s place and threaten regional or U.S. security."

By Cong. Brian Babin

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – For months, President Donald J. Trump was unmistakably clear that the United States would use every element of American power to stop deadly drugs from pouring into our country and to hold those responsible fully accountable. He warned repeatedly that Nicolás Maduro and his illegitimate regime had inflicted enormous harm on the United States, and that all options were on the table. The President offered off-ramps and opportunities to change course, but he never wavered on the bottom line: the drug trafficking had to end, and stolen American-linked oil had to be returned.

Maduro chose defiance. He now joins a long list of adversaries who learned that President Trump means exactly what he says.

In response, the United States Armed Forces carried out an extraordinary operation in Venezuela, an operation only America could execute.

It was a stunning demonstration of American military strength, precision, and professionalism. Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who threatens American sovereignty or endangers American lives: the United States will act decisively, and we will win.

President Trump has been crystal clear about his mission to secure the border, stop terrorists, crush the cartels, and defend the American people against all threats, foreign and domestic.

Where other presidents hesitated or appeased, President Trump takes the lead.

As he declared, the Maduro dictatorship is finished, and the Venezuelan people finally have a chance at freedom. Because of President Trump’s leadership, the United States, and the entire Western Hemisphere, is safer today.

This operation marks the full enforcement of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. For far too long, hostile actors were allowed to encircle us in our own hemisphere. Those days are over.

The President has also been clear about what comes next. His priority is a safe, responsible, and orderly transition for Venezuela, one that delivers peace and justice for its people and ensures that no corrupt or hostile regime rises to take Maduro’s place and threaten regional or U.S. security.

This action is America First in practice. It is squarely in our national interest to be surrounded by stable, secure, and law-abiding nations. Maduro’s regime was responsible for the deaths of countless Americans, welcomed Iran and other adversaries into Venezuela, flooded our communities with gangs and lethal drugs, and held Americans hostage as bargaining chips.

President Trump’s actions restore deterrence in the Western Hemisphere and reaffirm that the safety, freedom, and prosperity of the American people always come first.

This was a lawful law enforcement operation conducted at the request of the Department of Justice. In support of the DOJ, the U.S. military executed an apprehension mission to bring two indicted fugitives to justice.

Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for their role in flooding our nation with deadly poison. The DEA carried out their arrests, and they will now face justice in American courts, on American soil, where the evidence of their crimes will be laid bare.

God bless our fearless special operators, our intelligence professionals, the DEA, and the brave men and women of the United States military.

God bless President Donald J. Trump for his strong and decisive leadership. And God bless the United States of America.