James Carville, a veteran Democratic strategist, accused President Donald Trump of launching a US military strike on Venezuela primarily to divert attention from ongoing Jeffrey Epstein file releases. The criticism came in a Politicon video posted on January 3, 2026, amid reports of over 5.2 million pages of Epstein documents overwhelming the Department of Justice. Carville's remarks highlight escalating partisan tensions over the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump followed the strike with warnings to Latin American leaders during a Fox & Friends appearance and Mar-a-Lago briefing, invoking a "Donroe Doctrine" twist on the Monroe Doctrine.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as a "massive joint military and law enforcement raid" lasting under 30 minutes, with US officials reporting about six soldiers injured but no fatalities.
Venezuelan reports claim at least 40 civilian deaths, including from an airstrike on an apartment building near Caracas airport, though US sources dispute significant civilian harm.
He questioned the planning, asking, "What the f--- has he ever done that’s even marginally thought out?" and argued “of course, now, we claim to have the moral high ground to criticize Putin for the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation… Well, our case got a little bit weaker now, didn’t it?”
Carville also lambasted Congress for inaction and the Supreme Court for lacking respect.
Partial releases so far show limited Trump mentions amid speculation, fueling Democratic claims of a "coincidence" timed with the Venezuela news dominating headlines.
No, the massive volume and redaction needs pushed completion beyond early January 2026, with a report on mentions of officials due 15 days post-release.
How has the world reacted to Maduro's capture?
Global split: some approval for ousting Maduro, but widespread condemnation for sovereignty violation; Colombia's Petro called it an invasion harming civilians.
Trump followed the strike with warnings to Latin American leaders during a Fox & Friends appearance and Mar-a-Lago briefing, invoking a "Donroe Doctrine" twist on the Monroe Doctrine.
Strike details
US forces executed a rapid operation on January 3, 2026, using Delta Force and helicopters to raid Maduro's residence in Caracas, capturing him and his wife after neutralizing air defenses with airstrikes from jets.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as a "massive joint military and law enforcement raid" lasting under 30 minutes, with US officials reporting about six soldiers injured but no fatalities.
Venezuelan reports claim at least 40 civilian deaths, including from an airstrike on an apartment building near Caracas airport, though US sources dispute significant civilian harm.
Carville's accusations
In the video, Carville urged Americans to "wake up," asserting the strike was "all about Epstein" and health care subsidies rather than foreign policy, calling it a "giant diversionary tactic".He questioned the planning, asking, "What the f--- has he ever done that’s even marginally thought out?" and argued “of course, now, we claim to have the moral high ground to criticize Putin for the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation… Well, our case got a little bit weaker now, didn’t it?”
Carville also lambasted Congress for inaction and the Supreme Court for lacking respect.
Epstein files
The DOJ faces delays in releasing Epstein files, initially due December 19, 2025, but extended past January 5, 2026, due to 5.2 million pages requiring review by 400 attorneys for victim protections and redactions.Partial releases so far show limited Trump mentions amid speculation, fueling Democratic claims of a "coincidence" timed with the Venezuela news dominating headlines.
FAQs
Are Epstein files fully released yet?No, the massive volume and redaction needs pushed completion beyond early January 2026, with a report on mentions of officials due 15 days post-release.
How has the world reacted to Maduro's capture?
Global split: some approval for ousting Maduro, but widespread condemnation for sovereignty violation; Colombia's Petro called it an invasion harming civilians.
