Tom Cotton Praises Trump – “Brilliant”

Adriana Stone 0 2 min read

Tom Cotton: Trump’s Venezuela Raid Was Brilliant

Senator Tom Cotton went on Fox News Sunday and didn’t mince words. He defended President Trump’s authorization of a daring operation in Venezuela. Short version: Cotton called it smart, precise, and necessary.

The mission was messy and risky. That’s the point. Strong action often is. Cotton said the military pulled off something only it could do. He praised leadership — from the President down through the chain of command.

Guest host Gillian Turner asked the obvious question: “Is this about oil? Is it about drugs? Is it about illegal immigration? Is it about ousting Maduro? Based on the administration’s press conference yesterday, we now know the answer was really all of the above,”

Cotton’s reply cut to the core: “Well, it’s about protecting vital American interests. I’ve heard from too many Arkansan families who have been devastated by illegal drugs flowing into this country who has lost a loved one, who struggled with addiction. Those stories have been repeated thousands of times across the country,”

He made the case bluntly. Venezuela under Maduro wasn’t just a failing state. It was a launchpad for narco-traffickers and a partner to U.S. adversaries. “They were in league with drug traffickers. Also, Venezuela is in league with America’s adversaries. Cuba, and Iran and Hezbollah, and other Islamic radicals,” Cotton said.

And he didn’t let Maduro off the hook. Cotton reminded viewers that Maduro isn’t a mere politician — he’s accused of running narcotics networks. “Nicolas Maduro himself is an indicted drug trafficker and head of a drug cartel,” Cotton said. He added that if the new situation in Venezuela doesn’t break those criminal ties, the strikes will keep coming.

Cotton was also clear on procedure and capability. He noted the operation’s complexity and credited U.S. forces for pulling it off. “Our military executed an amazing operation that I highly commend President Trump for authorizing, Secretary Hegseth, General Caine, and all of our frontline warriors,” Cotton said. “It’s hard to overstate just how complex it was. The United States Military is the only one that could have pulled off this operation,”

The senator warned that American naval forces aren’t going anywhere until Venezuela shows real change. That’s deterrence. That’s pressure. And that’s what Republicans say strong policy should look like — decisive action to secure borders, interrupt drug flows, and blunt hostile influence.

Whether you cheer it or condemn it, the operation changed facts on the ground. Cotton framed it as protection — of families, of national security, of allies. He’s betting that pressure and military capability can force a break between Caracas and the criminal and terror networks using it as a base.

For those watching, his message was simple: this was not a stunt. It was a targeted, high-stakes move aimed at real threats. The American military did the hard work. The President gave the order. Now the pressure continues.

Watch the clip here:

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