Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, some election deniers and MAGA influencers have asserted that the U.S. action is connected to unsubstantiated claims of Venezuelan interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, rather than factors such as oil or drug trafficking. These individuals allege that the Venezuelan government manipulated voting systems to favor Joe Biden's election over Donald Trump.

Former President Donald Trump amplified these conspiracy theories, particularly after Maduro's capture on January 3. Trump posted multiple messages on his Truth Social platform referencing election fraud, including mentions of Dominion Voting Systems. Several MAGA influencers also posted about Smartmatic, another election technology company.

Dominion and Smartmatic, which produce voting machines and related software, became primary targets of disinformation campaigns following the 2020 election. Election deniers claimed the companies' machines were part of a conspiracy to elect Biden, allegations that have been widely discredited. Fox News, for example, paid Dominion nearly $800 million in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit regarding the network's claims about Dominion's voting machines.

The claims circulating online suggest a direct link between Maduro's alleged involvement in election rigging and the U.S. government's decision to pursue his capture. However, official U.S. statements have cited indictments related to drug trafficking and other criminal activities as the primary reasons for targeting Maduro. The U.S. State Department has not commented on the election conspiracy theories.

The resurgence of these claims highlights the continued prevalence of election denialism within certain political circles, even years after the 2020 election. The spread of these theories, often through social media platforms, underscores the challenges in combating disinformation and maintaining public trust in democratic processes. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as the legal proceedings against Maduro unfold.