In a surprising turn of events, former Representative Adam Kinzinger, a long-time critic of President Donald Trump, expressed partial support for the military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro.
According to Mediaite, the Trump administration launched airstrikes in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, early Saturday morning, subsequently capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transporting them to the United States. The operation drew significant criticism, primarily due to Trump's decision to bypass congressional authorization and his previous pardon of Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking.
Kinzinger, who was among the ten Republicans voting to impeach Trump during his second impeachment and served on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, has consistently criticized the President. However, on Saturday morning, Kinzinger took to Twitter to express a measure of support for Trump's actions.
Kinzinger, a vocal advocate for Ukraine, began his day with a jab at Russia, highlighting the U.S. military's capabilities: "Hey Russia. Look what our military can do vs yours." He advised patience, suggesting that it would be "very WISE for everyone to wait and see how Venezuela plays out before [we] know what is going to happen."
In a rare moment of agreement with Trump, Kinzinger stated, "Maduro was never the legitimate president of Venezuela." He praised the operation's precision, saying, "The precision action by Delta to get Maduro without massive military occupation is a how it should be done. This was the right call. May Maduro face justice and the people of Venezuela be free."
Despite his support, Kinzinger expressed concerns about the situation in Venezuela, particularly regarding Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who remained in Caracas. He questioned the operation's effectiveness if Rodriguez was left in power, stating, "then this was pointless." Kinzinger also referenced Trump's pardon of Hernandez, asking, "Didnt Trump just pardon a massive drug kingpin?"
In response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's tweet supporting the strikes and Maduro's capture, Kinzinger replied, "I sure hope you have a plan so the even worse VP is not now President."
Mediaite attempted to contact Kinzinger for further comment but did not receive a response. The unfolding situation in Venezuela raises questions about the future of its leadership and the implications of Trump's bold military action.
As the international community watches closely, the consequences of this operation remain to be seen, with Kinzinger's cautious optimism tempered by his concerns about the potential power vacuum in Caracas.
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