Paul: Lindsey Graham was behind Trump's decision to topple Maduro
Graham advocated Maduro’s removal and suggested that Cuba’s government could fall next.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
Yahoo News is an established news publisher, and this page identifies the originating outlet and carries its copyright notice. The article is attributed to a named reporter, though the reporting appears to be reproduced from The Hill rather than independently reported by Yahoo.
- Source type — Yahoo News is an established national news publisher.
- Author attribution — A named reporter, Alexander Bolton, is credited.
- Transparency — The page includes a Nexstar copyright notice and identifies The Hill.
- Editorial standards — The article attributes political claims to named speakers, but the page gives little information about correction practices.
The article gives attributed statements from Paul, Graham, and Greene, with context about the briefing and the Venezuela operation. It does not include a response from Trump or an account from the administration explaining the decision, limiting the range of perspectives.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents criticism from Paul and Greene alongside Graham’s public advocacy, but does not include Trump’s or the administration’s explanation for the operation.
- Source diversity — The article quotes several Republican figures but no administration representative or independent expert.
- Omitted context — It does not explain the administration’s rationale for the operation or include a response to Paul’s claim about Graham’s influence.
- Counterarguments presented — Graham’s advocacy for Maduro’s removal and his Cuba remarks provide a contrasting perspective to the criticism.
The article reports competing Republican views on Trump’s foreign policy, attributing criticism and support to the speakers without adopting either position.
- Language tone — The narration is largely descriptive and attributes evaluative claims to the people quoted.
- Source selection — It includes criticism from Paul and Greene as well as Graham’s support for regime change.
- Framing — The headline foregrounds Paul’s accusation, but the body provides Graham’s own statements and relevant context.
Republished with credit
Republished from The Hill, with credit to the original publisher.
374 stories · 77.6–78.1 · updated Oct 13, 2026
This is The Hill's own score, and this article is credited to The Hill. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Rand Paul blamed Lindsey Graham for influencing President Trump’s decision to send U.S. special operators to seize Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Graham has advocated regime change there and predicted Cuba’s government could fall, while Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized Trump’s shift in foreign policy.
Rand Paul said Lindsey Graham helped change President Trump’s view on regime change, pointing to Trump’s earlier opposition to such efforts. Graham had urged the administration to pursue Maduro’s removal after a classified briefing, and after Maduro’s capture he said Cuba’s government could be next. Graham also predicted that Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s government was nearing collapse.
Some Trump allies, including former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, criticized the president’s evolving foreign policy. Greene said voters expected him to put America first and argued that Venezuela was not an immediate U.S. concern.
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SWIPE →Senator Paul accused of influencing Trump’s Venezuela policy
Senator criticizing the Venezuela operation and Graham’s influence on Trump
Paul's version of this story ↗President whose decision to send special operators to seize Maduro is discussed
Trump's version of this story ↗Secretary of Defense who briefed senators on the administration’s Venezuela policy
Former representative and Trump ally criticizing his foreign-policy shift
Secretary of State who briefed senators on the administration’s Venezuela policy
Fox News host who interviewed Graham
Part of a bigger story
5 OUTLETSOutlets agree that Rand Paul blamed Lindsey Graham for influencing President Donald Trump’s operation to capture Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Graham had advocated regime change or military action there. Center outlets place Paul’s accusation alongside Graham’s support for regime change; one notes that his influence over the decision is unclear. Right-leaning outlets foreground the claim that Graham helped steer Trump toward regime change and use a more critical, anti-intervention framing.
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