Patriot Brief
Elon Musk announced free Starlink internet access for Venezuela following Maduro’s removal.
Musk publicly backed President Donald Trump’s operation and framed it as a global win.
The move signals private-sector support for stability during Venezuela’s transition.
Elon Musk didn’t just cheer from the sidelines — he followed action with infrastructure. After openly supporting the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, Musk announced that Starlink would provide free broadband access to Venezuela through early February. In a country emerging from decades of authoritarian control, that matters more than speeches.
Connectivity isn’t a luxury in moments like this. It’s how people communicate, organize, access news, and avoid being isolated while power structures shift. By turning on Starlink, Musk effectively bypassed the broken systems Maduro left behind and put a basic tool for civil society directly into the hands of ordinary Venezuelans.
The timing isn’t accidental. Musk’s public praise of Trump’s decision — and his dinner with the president just hours before the announcement — underline how closely aligned the effort is. This isn’t performative aid or a UN resolution destined for committee purgatory. It’s immediate, tangible support that fills a vacuum before chaos can.
Contrast that with the reaction from remnants of the old regime. One day it’s denunciations of American “aggression,” the next it’s appeals for dialogue and cooperation. That shift alone tells you where leverage now lies. When authoritarian power collapses, access to information becomes a threat — and a safeguard.
Musk’s move also highlights a broader reality: modern geopolitics isn’t just about armies and treaties anymore. It’s about who can restore functionality fastest. While diplomats debate frameworks, Starlink flips a switch.
For Venezuelans facing uncertainty, fear, and hope all at once, that signal matters. It says the outside world isn’t just watching. It’s showing up — with tools that actually work.
From Western Journal:
Elon Musk, who supported the American raid that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, has now stepped up to support the people of Venezuela in the aftermath of Maduro’s removal.
“Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity,” the Musk-owned company posted on X.
“In support of the people of Venezuela,” Musk wrote on X.
In support of the people of Venezuela 🇻🇪 https://t.co/JKxOFWsikP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2026
On the Saturday evening before the announcement, Musk dined with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, according to The Hill.
On the day of the raid, Musk also voiced his support.
“Venezuela can now have the prosperity it deserves,” he posted on X.
Earlier, in response to an image of the former dictator in handcuffs, Musk had posted, “Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere.”
Although Trump has strongly urged the Maduro loyalists who are currently atop the government to collaborate with the U.S., uncertainty runs through Venezuela, as noted by CNN.
Judith Ledezma, who lives near an airbase hit by the U.S. in Saturday’s raid, said the nation is in uncharted water.
“We have no idea what our fate will be now with this new situation,” Ledezma said. “I am completely in the dark. I have no idea what is going to happen to the country, to us.”
“I thought it was an earthquake,” Ledezma said of the attack. “I got scared and came running out with my daughter and the dog.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez lashed out at the United States on Saturday, but she used a different tone Sunday, according to Reuters.
“President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” she said.
“We extend an invitation to the U.S. government to work together on a cooperative agenda, oriented toward shared development, within the framework of international law, and to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” she said, according to The New York Times.
Trump had said Saturday that Rodríguez told Secretary of State Marco Rubio she would assist in forming a transition government.
After her anti-U.S. speech, Trump took a hard line, saying that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price.”
Photo Credit: Brendan Smialowski - AFP / Getty Images