WASHINGTON — More than 24 hours after President Trump authorized a U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had not publicly commented on the mission as of Saturday night.
A Notable Silence
Gabbard’s lack of public statement has reportedly surprised some within the U.S. intelligence community. This community spent several months preparing for the operation in Caracas, and had personnel on the ground in Venezuela during its execution.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe took a markedly different approach. He was with President Trump in Mar-a-Lago throughout the night of the extraction and appeared alongside the president during a news conference announcing the operation’s outcome. Ratcliffe described the effort as “Teamwork at its finest” in a social media post accompanied by photos of the team at Trump’s Florida estate.
Past Criticism of Regime Change
Gabbard, a native of Hawaii, has a history of publicly opposing U.S. intervention in foreign governments. In a speech last month at Turning Point USA’s annual conference, she criticized what she called “warmongers” within the intelligence community, alleging they were attempting to undermine President Trump’s efforts to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Prior to her government appointment, Gabbard also voiced opposition to regime change efforts in Venezuela. In 2019, she wrote that intervention in Venezuela was “about the oil…again,” and argued that the United States should allow the Venezuelan people to determine their own future.
What Might Come Next
It is possible that Director Gabbard will issue a statement in the coming days addressing the operation. Her response could either align with Director Ratcliffe’s supportive stance or reiterate her previous criticisms of interventionist foreign policy.
The lack of immediate comment could also indicate internal deliberations within the intelligence community. A possible next step is a closed-door briefing for members of Congress, where Gabbard could address concerns and outline the intelligence community’s assessment of the situation.
Analysts expect continued scrutiny of the operation’s long-term implications, particularly regarding regional stability and the potential for further unrest in Venezuela.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Tulsi Gabbard’s role before becoming Director of National Intelligence?
According to the source, Gabbard made a name for herself as a member of Congress campaigning against “regime change wars,” particularly the U.S. war in Iraq.
What was John Ratcliffe’s public response to the operation?
Ratcliffe accompanied President Trump during the operation and publicly described the effort as “Teamwork at its finest” on social media.
What did Tulsi Gabbard say about U.S. involvement in Venezuela in 2019?
Gabbard wrote in 2019 that U.S. involvement in Venezuela was “about the oil…again” and that the United States should let the Venezuelan people determine their future.
Given Director Gabbard’s past statements, how might her current position influence future U.S. foreign policy decisions?
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