Alex Witkoff, son of presidential aide Steve Witkoff, expressed relief over the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, linking it to his brother's death from a drug overdose. Witkoff's post on X, which quickly gained significant attention, described drug overdoses as a national catastrophe and praised President Trump's role in apprehending Maduro, whom he called an 'illegitimate narco-terrorist dictator.' The post sparked both support and criticism, with some users offering condolences and others accusing Witkoff of exploiting his brother's death and misleading the public about the connection between Maduro and the opioid crisis.

Fact-checkers and journalists pointed out that Witkoff's brother died from an OxyContin overdose, a drug produced by a domestic pharmaceutical company, not from cocaine, which is the substance Maduro is accused of trafficking. Community notes on X clarified that opioids, not cocaine, are responsible for most overdose deaths in the United States, and that OxyContin is unrelated to Maduro's alleged crimes. Despite the controversy, Witkoff's post highlighted ongoing debates about the sources of America's drug epidemic and the role of foreign and domestic actors.

Maduro was brought to New York to face charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine-importation conspiracy. During his first court appearance, Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty, with Maduro claiming he was 'kidnapped' by the United States and still considers himself Venezuela's president.