Vance was notably missing from Trump’s public briefings and key moments following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, drawing attention to his low-profile role during the high-stakes operation and prompting questions about internal dynamics within the administration.
US Vice President JD Vance was notably absent from President Donald Trump’s high-profile announcements and meetings surrounding the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, sparking questions about his visibility during the operation.
Vance did not attend Trump’s news conference announcing Maduro’s capture, where senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Dan Caine were present. He was also not seen at Trump’s golf club on Friday night, where top officials reportedly monitored the mission as it unfolded.
Security concerns cited
According to a spokesperson cited by us-based fox news, Vance’s absence was due to heightened security and secrecy concerns, despite his close involvement in the planning and execution of the operation. The spokesperson said the national security team was concerned that a late-night motorcade movement by the Vice President during the operation could alert Venezuelan authorities.
Report says that Vance instead monitored the mission through secure video conferencing and returned to Cincinnati after the operation concluded. He had met Trump earlier at Mar-a-Lago on Friday to discuss the strikes.
Vance’s public backing despite absence
Although not physically present, Vance publicly praised the operation on X after it was made public. “Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says,” he wrote. Responding to criticism over legality, Vance said Maduro faces multiple indictments in the US for narco-terrorism and cannot evade justice.
Vance’s absence drew added attention due to his earlier scepticism of US military interventions. In a Signal chat leaked after US strikes on Houthi targets last March, he told a group of Trump Cabinet officials, “I think we are making a mistake.”
Trump signals tougher Venezuela stance
During the news conference, Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, orderly” transition of power takes place and did not rule out a sustained US troop presence. He confirmed that American forces were involved “at a very high level” during the operation.
Trump also said US officials were engaging with Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has since been sworn in as Maduro’s successor, but did not clarify whether Washington would back opposition leaders María Corina Machado or Edmundo González Urrutia.
Vance’s low-profile role during the operation has fuelled speculation about internal debates within the administration, even as the White House maintains he was fully involved behind the scenes.
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