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 issues of oil or drug trafficking. These individuals allege that the Venezuelan government manipulated voting systems to favor President Joe Biden.

Former President Donald Trump amplified these conspiracy theories, particularly after Maduro's capture on January 3. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform about election fraud, including references to Dominion Voting Systems. Other MAGA influencers also posted about Smartmatic, another election company.

Dominion and Smartmatic, which produce voting machines and software, became targets of disinformation campaigns after the 2020 election. Election deniers claimed the companies were part of a conspiracy to elect Biden, allegations that have been widely discredited. Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion in 2023 for nearly $800 million regarding claims made 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 apprehend him. These theories have gained traction within certain online communities, despite lacking verifiable evidence.