An ‘All-Star’ panel debates what comes next for the future of Venezuela after the capture of leader Nicolás Maduro on ‘Special Report.’ 

For years, the people of Venezuela have endured a nightmare imposed by socialist tyranny. Under President Nicolás Maduro, a once-prosperous nation was reduced to deprivation, violence and despair. Families went hungry. Hospitals ran out of medicine. Millions fled their homes. Venezuela became a case study in how socialism destroys everything it touches. 

That dark chapter has come to an end. 

I have always believed that Maduro must go, and will always be proud of the Trump-Pence administration’s work on Venezuela. Together, we led the charge against Maduro, building an unprecedented coalition of over 60 nations and forging bipartisan consensus in Congress to recognize the illegitimacy of the dictator’s power.  

We froze regime assets so they could not use the funds to empower their human rights abuses, while providing nearly $1 billion in aid for the Venezuelan people. For the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, we invoked the Western Hemisphere’s version of a mutual defense pact to show our commitment to Venezuelan security and freedom.

HE FLED THE ‘HUNGER GAMES’ OF CUBA ONLY TO WATCH FREE AMERICANS CHEER COMMUNISM

Venezuelans celebrate in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after President Donald Trump announced that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of Venezuela. (Esteban Felix/AP Photo)

While we ultimately fell short of our goal to free the people of Venezuela, I was heartened when the president ordered

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