Concerns about a potential “tip off” and heightened security threats kept Vice President JD Vance out of the Situation Room during the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, as well as a post-capture press appearance.
A spokesperson for the vice president told Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan that Vance was “deeply integrated in the process and planning of the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest,” despite not being physically present for portions of the operation.
“Vice President Vance was deeply integrated in the process and planning of the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest,” the spokesperson said. “He joined several late-night meetings via secure video conference with National Security principals leading up to the operation. The Vice President briefly met with President Trump at the Trump golf club in West Palm Beach during the day Friday to discuss the strikes.”
According to the spokesperson, Vance was intentionally kept away from Mar-a-Lago on Friday night due to operational security concerns.
“The Vice President was not at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, as the National Security team was concerned a late-night motorcade movement by the Vice President while the operation was getting underway may tip off the Venezuelans,” the statement continued. “The Vice President joined by secure video conference throughout the night to monitor the operation.”
The spokesperson added that the administration has taken steps to limit situations where the president and vice president are co-located outside the White House during sensitive operations.
“Due to increased security concerns, the Administration has aimed to limit the frequency and duration of the Vice President and President being co-located away from the White House,” the spokesperson said.
Vance publicly addressed the operation on Saturday, pushing back on critics who claimed the president’s actions were unlawful. He said Maduro had been given “multiple off ramps” prior to the strike but chose to ignore them.
“Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says,” Vance posted on X. “Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”
He also dismissed claims that the operation violated the law.
“And PSA for everyone saying this was ‘illegal’: Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism,” Vance added. “You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas.”
Earlier Saturday morning, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were indicted in the Southern District of New York. According to Bondi, Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machineguns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the United States.
“On behalf of the entire U.S. Department of Justice, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American people,” Bondi said. “And a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
The post JD Vance Was ‘Deeply Integrated’ In Planning For Venezuela Strike appeared first on Real News Now.
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