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 the arrest is linked to the debunked theory that the Venezuelan government manipulated voting systems to favor President Joe Biden.

Former President Donald Trump amplified these conspiracy theories, posting on his Truth Social platform about election fraud, including mentions of Dominion Voting Systems, shortly after Maduro's capture on January 3. Other MAGA influencers also referenced Smartmatic, another election technology company.

Dominion and Smartmatic, which produce voting machines and software, became targets of disinformation campaigns after the 2020 election. Election deniers claimed the companies' technology was 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 related to the network's coverage of these claims.

The assertions made by election deniers lack verifiable evidence and contradict official reports regarding the reasons for Maduro's capture. The U.S. government has indicted Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, offering a multi-million dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. The U.S. has also maintained sanctions against Venezuela, citing concerns over human rights and democratic governance.

The spread of these conspiracy theories highlights the continued prevalence of election denialism within certain political circles, despite numerous court rulings and investigations that have affirmed the integrity of the 2020 election. The claims also demonstrate how geopolitical events can become fodder for existing disinformation narratives.