{"id":2533677,"date":"2026-01-12T13:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antony-blinken-admits-maduro-capture-was-brilliant\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T13:47:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:47:21","slug":"antony-blinken-admits-maduro-capture-was-brilliant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antony-blinken-admits-maduro-capture-was-brilliant\/","title":{"rendered":"Antony Blinken admits Maduro capture \u2018was brilliant\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fantony-blinken-admits-maduro-capture-was-brilliant%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2533677&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the U.S. Army Delta Force operation that captured former Venezuelan president nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on Jan. 3 &#8220;brilliant&#8221; as a military and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reports-suggest-u-s-harboring-top-chinese-official-close-to-xi-jinping-gave-info-on-pandemic-origin\/\" title=\"Reports Suggest U.S. Harboring Top Chinese Official \u2018Close To\u2019 Xi Jinping, Gave Info On Pandemic Origin\">intelligence effort<\/a>. Speaking on CNBC&#8217;s squawk Box, he praised the operation but warned that the key question is what comes next: whether it leads to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-cuban-people-will-be-free-congressman-introduces-resolution-to-support-cuban-protests-only-republicans-sign-on\/\" title=\"\u2018The Cuban People Will Be Free\u2019: Congressman Introduces Resolution To Support Cuban Protests, Only Republicans Sign On\">genuine democratic transition<\/a>. Blinken said it would be a &#8220;tremendous outcome&#8221; if opposition <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >leader<\/a> Mar\u00eda Corina Machado or her party were seated,but cautioned that so far the situation looks like &#8220;regime change without changing the regime.&#8221; The U.S. is not officially backing Machado because the CIA warned her installment could spark instability, and President Trump has said she lacks domestic support-though Trump is expected to meet her at the White house this week. Machado, who won a primary in 2023 but was barred by Maduro from running in 2024, has been living in hiding and reportedly won the Nobel peace Prize in october 2025.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Former secretary of state under Biden admits Maduro capture &lsquo;was brilliant&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2468629\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3289284\/antony-blinken-disrupted-final-state-department-speech-ceasefire\/\">Antony Blinken<\/a> said the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4400169\/what-to-know-about-the-u-s-strikes-on-venezuela-and-maduros-fall\/\">U.S. Army Delta Force&rsquo;s operation<\/a> to capture former Venezuelan dictator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4409061\/maduro-hires-reagan-era-doj-attorney-narco-terrorism-case\/\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a> &ldquo;was brilliant.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Blinken appeared on CNBC&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/id\/15838368\/\"><em>Squawk Box<\/em><\/a>  on Monday to respond to the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4414595\/cuban-president-no-conversations-with-trump\/\">Cuban president says &#8216;no conversations&#8217; have happened with Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4414493\/iran-prepared-war-hoping-negotiations-us-protests\/\">Iran&nbsp;&#8216;prepared for war&#8217;&nbsp;but hoping for negotiations with US<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4414363\/trump-likely-bar-exxon-venezuela-oil-investment\/\">Trump likely to bar Exxon from Venezuela oil investment: &#8216;They&#8217;re playing too cute&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;As I said, as a military operation, as an intelligence matter, it was brilliant,&rdquo; Blinken said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;But again, the question is, where does this go from here? If this leads to a genuine democratic transition in Venezuela, if Mrs. Machado or her party wind up being seated, that would be a tremendous outcome, and one that I would applaud and applaud the president for,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;But right now, we&rsquo;re in a moment where, again, we&rsquo;ve had regime change without changing the regime,&rdquo; Blinken said. &ldquo;This is the old Who song, you know, &lsquo;here&rsquo;s the new boss, same as the old boss.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3317760&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=10455&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=7839c2f5c8eb2a9b006fd95044d9ba81\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Blinken implied that he is in favor of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado taking over as head of state, rather than acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro.<\/p>\n<p>The United States is not backing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4407919\/machado-trump-flattery-overlooked-take-over-after-maduro-capture\/\">Machado&rsquo;s bid as Maduro&rsquo;s possible successor<\/a> because the CIA recommended it may lead to instability in Venezuela. Additionally, President Donald Trump said it would be &ldquo;very tough for [Machado] to be the leader because she doesn&rsquo;t have the support within or the respect within the country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4410168\/hands-off-venezuela-demonstrations-kick-off-worldwide\/\"><strong>&lsquo;HANDS OFF VENEZUELA&rsquo; DEMONSTRATIONS KICK OFF WORLDWIDE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, Trump is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4412599\/venezuelan-opposition-leader-machado-visit-white-house-trump\/\">expected to host Machado at the White House<\/a> sometime this week, marking the pair&rsquo;s first time speaking since Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2025.<\/p>\n<p>While Machado won the primary election in 2023, Maduro barred her from running in the general election in 2024. Machado has continued to live in hiding in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blinken: Delta Force capture of Maduro &#8216;brilliant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2533678,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP24346582089561.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35584,41398,34922,36408,50813],"class_list":["post-2533677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-antony-blinken","tag-covert-operations","tag-nicolas-maduro","tag-us-foreign-policy","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP24346582089561.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2533677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2533681,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2533677\/revisions\/2533681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2533678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2533677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2533677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2533677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}