A Texas lawmaker has found himself stranded in the Caribbean following U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela that have grounded flights across the region. State Representative Venton Jones, who is currently in Sint Maarten with his partner, confirmed they are safe but anticipate prolonged travel delays.
On Saturday morning, Jones took to social media to inform followers about their predicament after the U.S. launched military operations against Venezuela, which included the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Due to the strikes, all air traffic to and from Venezuela and surrounding islands has been halted indefinitely.
Jones and his partner were vacationing in Sint Maarten, a neighboring island, when their scheduled return to the U.S. was disrupted. As the situation unfolded, they learned that hotels and flights were already fully booked due to the holiday season, leading Jones to predict significant delays in their travel plans for at least a week.
Official Reactions
In his social media update, Jones reassured his followers, stating, “I wanted to let you all know that Gregory and I are ok. We were supposed to leave St. Maarten today, but due to the air strike that the President ordered overnight, all travel to/from the Caribbean is grounded. Right now we are working on lodging with an expectation of being here until air travel is allowed. That’s what we know right now. Prayers for our quick and safe return home are requested.”
The political landscape in Texas has been polarized in response to the events in Venezuela. Republican officials largely support the notion that Maduro is an illegitimate leader and commend the Trump Administration’s actions. In contrast, Democrats express concerns regarding the legality of the airstrikes, suggesting that Trump acted without proper congressional consultation.
Senator Ted Cruz was quick to voice his approval of Trump’s actions, condemning Maduro. Meanwhile, State Representative James Talarico, who is campaigning for Senator John Cornyn’s seat, criticized the military operation, suggesting it was part of a “deeply corrupt” arrangement involving Trump and American oil executives.
Details of the Strikes
The military operation resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. President Trump announced the capture via social media, and Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that both would face charges in the U.S. following an indictment in New York.
Reports from Caracas described explosions and sightings of low-flying aircraft, with power outages affecting various areas of the city. This escalation marks a significant moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations, following months of increased American pressure on the Venezuelan regime.
During a press conference, Trump stated, “We’re going to run” Venezuela after the capture of Maduro and Flores. While he claimed that the U.S. presence was already established in the country, there were no immediate indications of U.S. control on the ground.
