Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) dismissed Democratic outrage Saturday regarding the surprise capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, characterizing the operation as a “surgical” success that required absolute secrecy rather than congressional debate.
In an interview on Fox News, Mace defended the administration’s decision to bypass standard notification channels before launching the mission. She argued that the “trigger-based” nature of the operation made prior disclosure to Capitol Hill impossible.
“You can’t exactly get out there and start sharing all of these details with some congressional lawmakers,” Mace said, emphasizing the operational security risks. She rejected the notion that the move constituted an act of war requiring legislative approval, framing it instead as law enforcement action against an indicted fugitive.
READ: Shadows And Steel: Inside The 47-Second Breach That Put Maduro On A U.S. Warship
Mace pushed back sharply against Democratic critics, accusing them of previously defending “Iranian terrorism” and “terrorism in South America.” She contrasted the Maduro operation with the 1989 invasion of Panama to oust Manuel Noriega, noting that while the Panama campaign involved 24,000 troops and resulted in American casualties, the Venezuela mission was accomplished without loss of U.S. life.
Looking ahead to the region’s stability, Mace invoked the “Monroe Doctrine,” asserting that the U.S. must prevent an “axis of evil” involving China, Russia, and Iran from maintaining a foothold in the Western Hemisphere.
She expressed confidence in the administration’s plan to manage the resulting power vacuum, citing the U.S. governance of Japan under General Douglas MacArthur after World War II as a historical precedent for stabilizing a nation in transition.
READ: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Cheers Trump’s Venezuela Raid: “Warning To All Targeting Americans”
Mace concluded with a stark warning to global adversaries observing the U.S. reasserting its influence in the region.
“I hope that China and Russia and Iran have their number two pencils out and are taking notes,” Mace said. “Donald Trump means business.”
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