When it comes to the country with the world’s largest oil reserves, U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t mince words on why U.S. commandos seized Venezuela’s president. “They stole our oil,” Mr. Trump said.
Put aside for a moment clear violations of international law from U.S. actions and the fact “our” oil somehow ended up under Venezuela’s soil.
A picture Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded in a tracksuit aboard a U.S. navy ship conjures images of other oil-rich autocrats deposed by Washington and its proxies: Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. Neither of those interventions ended well.
NYC: Venezuelans who are happy Maduro is out, clash with American liberals who don't know where Venezuela is on a map pic.twitter.com/CrhG1DFnkV
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) January 5, 2026
So many critics cite “international law” while ignoring the sheer delight of the Venezuelan people at Maduro’s removal.
