Dear john,

For months, President Donald J. Trump was unmistakably clear that the United States would use every element of American power to stop deadly drugs from pouring into our country and to hold those responsible fully accountable. He warned repeatedly that Nicolás Maduro and his illegitimate regime had inflicted enormous harm on the United States, and that all options were on the table. The President offered off-ramps and opportunities to change course, but he never wavered on the bottom line: the drug trafficking had to end, and stolen American-linked oil had to be returned. Maduro chose defiance. He now joins a long list of adversaries who learned that President Trump means exactly what he says.

In response, the United States Armed Forces carried out an extraordinary operation in Venezuela, an operation only America could execute. It was a stunning demonstration of American military strength, precision, and professionalism. Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who threatens American sovereignty or endangers American lives: the United States will act decisively, and we will win.

President Trump has been crystal clear about his mission to secure the border, stop terrorists, crush the cartels, and defend the American people against all threats, foreign and domestic. Where other presidents hesitated or appeased, President Trump takes the lead. As he declared, the Maduro dictatorship is finished, and the Venezuelan people finally have a chance at freedom. Because of President Trump’s leadership, the United States, and the entire Western Hemisphere, is safer today. This operation marks the full enforcement of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. For far too long, hostile actors were allowed to encircle us in our own hemisphere. Those days are over.