Cassidy: Maduro’s arrest ‘good first step’ in reasserting America’s leadership

Published 2:51 pm Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Cassidy addressed both issues during a reporter conference call on Tuesday.

He said Trump’s order to capture Maduro strengthens U.S. national security while improving stability for Venezuela’s neighbors. He called the operation a “good first step” in reasserting American leadership in the Western Hemisphere, while stating it reinforces consequences for adversaries who undermine U.S. interests.

“It sends the message that if you mess with the United States then the United States is going to take action, and that’s a good message to send,” Cassidy said.

He added that the Maduro extraction underscores the need for a broader framework to strengthen U.S. partnerships in the region.

The senator also promoted his “Americas Act,” legislation he argues would establish a long‑term regional strategy focused on reducing corruption, countering Chinese influence, and deepening economic and diplomatic ties across the hemisphere.

Cassidy said the bill would also support domestic manufacturing by leveling the playing field for U.S. producers.

He later expressed frustration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s newly revised childhood immunization schedule, announced Jan. 5. Several vaccines, including those for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A, from routine recommendations to shared decision‑making between parents and healthcare providers.

The change aligns with the views of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic whose appointment Cassidy helped secure.

He said the CDC’s decision lacks scientific justification and risks undermining public confidence in immunization. 

“I think it’s the wrong move,” he said. “I don’t want any child dying for something preventable.”