Tucker's 'Pro-Maduro' Rant Backfires Spectacularly

Just when you thought the dust was settling on President Trump's blockbuster capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, an old clip from Tucker Carlson has resurfaced and boy, has it curdled. What was once a fiery foreign policy takedown is now being roasted online as a prime example of "aged like milk," with critics calling out the Fox alum for seemingly soft-pedaling a dictator who's now in U.S. cuffs on narco-terrorism charges.

On Tucker's October 29, 2025, show, he quizzed why the U.S. is gunning for Maduro, highlighting Venezuela's ultra-conservative social policies like bans on gay marriage, abortion and usury. "Not defending the regime, just saying..." Tucker insisted, framing it as ironic that America might replace him with a more progressive leader amid "globo homo" agendas.

At the time, it was classic Tucker: Anti-interventionist shade thrown at neocons like Ben Shapiro and Lindsey Graham, who pushed for regime change. Shapiro clapped back hard: "Who gives a sh**? Everyone in his country is eating dog!" a jab at Maduro's economic disasters. Tucker doubled down, praising Venezuela as "the most socially conservative country probably in the hemisphere."

Fast-forward to January 3, 2026: U.S. forces snatch Maduro in a midnight raid, dubbing it "Operation Absolute Resolve." Trump's team hails it as a win against drug trafficking tied to U.S. streets – think Tren de Aragua gangs and fentanyl floods. Suddenly, Tucker's clip looks less like wisdom and more like a whiff. Online, it's meme fodder: "Aged like milk – Tucker defending a guy who got drone-struck out of power!" one X user quipped.

Pro-Trump firebrand Laura Loomer went nuclear: "Tucker Carlson is a national security threat... Anyone running for President in 2028 should really stop associating with @TuckerCarlson."

Why the sour turn? Critics argue Tucker cherry-picked Maduro's "conservative" bans while ignoring the big picture: A regime accused of rigging elections, starving citizens, and weaponizing cocaine against America. "Clown take, Maduro's 'values' didn't stop him from turning Venezuela into a hellhole," another poster fired. Even some Tucker fans winced: "Love the guy, but this one's a miss post-capture."

Defenders? A vocal minority sees it as vindication for anti-war stances, with posts like: "Tucker called the irony, US topples conservative regimes for oil and agendas." Russia Today amplified that angle, but it's drowned out by the backlash. The clip's racked up thousands of views in days, trending in English, Turkish, and Arabic feeds.

Tucker hasn't piped up since the raid – his silence is golden for critics.