Tulsi Gabbard Said U.S. 'Regime-Change' Era Was Over — Weeks Before Maduro's Capture

Tulsi Gabbard, serving as Director of National Intelligence, told an audience in Bahrain on Oct. 31 that the United States should move beyond a decades‑long pattern of “regime change” and nation‑building — remarks that resurfaced after the Trump administration's military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Gabbard's comments attracted renewed attention on social media following news of Maduro’s arrest, where critics contrasted her recent public stance with the administration’s subsequent actions in Venezuela. Video clips of her October remarks circulated widely and prompted questions about whether her words reflected actual policy or were out of step with later operations.

Background And Earlier Positions

Gabbard has publicly opposed U.S. military intervention in Venezuela for years. As a 2019 Democratic presidential candidate she warned on Fox News that pushing for military intervention would increase suffering and deaths among Venezuelans. Her Bahrain speech reiterated that the old Washington approach — toppling regimes and imposing governance models from the outside — has been counterproductive.

“The old Washington way of thinking is something we hope is in the rear‑view mirror and something that has held us back for too long,” Gabbard said. “For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation‑building…walking away with more enemies than allies.”

Reaction After Maduro's Capture

After the administration's actions in Venezuela and Maduro's subsequent arrest, commentators and journalists highlighted the apparent discrepancy between Gabbard’s October remarks and the later conduct of the U.S. government. Independent journalist Michael Tracey, among others, posted the October video to underscore that Gabbard had publicly praised an end to “regime change” shortly before what critics describe as a large‑scale operation in Venezuela.

The president later said the United States would “run” Venezuela for the time being, language critics interpreted as an admission that Washington intended to take a direct role in managing the country’s post‑Maduro transition and rebuilding efforts.

Supporters of Gabbard might view her Bahrain remarks as a sincere critique of past U.S. policy; detractors say the subsequent actions demonstrate a disconnect between rhetoric and practice. The episode has intensified scrutiny of how administration statements align with on‑the‑ground policy decisions.