Jack Ryan Creator Reacts To U.S. Intervention In Venezuela Real-World Parallels

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Carlton Cuse, the creator of the show Jack Ryan, has commented on the striking similarities between the series and recent events in Venezuela. The show, starring John Krasinski as CIA analyst Tom Clancy, depicts international operations carried out in the interest of the United States. A clip from season 2 is currently gaining attention online because it mirrors a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

In a clip from season 2, Ryan discusses the significant global threat posed by Venezuela. He criticizes the show’s portrayal of the Venezuelan president, pointing out the devastating economic impact – a halved economy and dramatically increased poverty. He also highlights Venezuela’s oil production and its geographic closeness to the United States as contributing factors.

I was reading an interview with Carlton Cuse, the creator of Jack Ryan, and he was talking about how the show always aims for realism. He explained that because the stories are built on what could actually happen, recent world events – like what’s been going on in Venezuela with US involvement – actually make the show feel even more relevant and impactful. It’s not like they set out to predict these things, but the show’s focus on believable scenarios means it often mirrors real-world situations.

As a writer, it’s always striking how often real life mirrors what you create in fiction. With that particular season of the story, we weren’t aiming to predict the future – we wanted things to feel believable. When you base a story on actual world events and political situations, reality often ends up echoing your narrative.

Graham Roland and I didn’t aim to make a political point with our story. We wanted to create a believable thriller centered around a compelling character, set against the backdrop of Venezuela’s important role in global affairs. We portrayed Venezuela as a country grappling with a complex mix of democratic aspirations, economic hardship, and international pressures, where every decision is difficult.

We created the season because we wanted to tell a made-up story about the underlying motivations and conflicts, rather than focusing on what would actually happen.

Whenever the U.S. uses military force in another country, it’s important to consider the impact. Those most affected are often people with little say in what happens. I sincerely hope the situation improves and brings lasting peace and stability to the region.

On January 3, 2026, the US military intervened in Venezuela, capturing President Maduro and launching airstrikes in the north. Maduro’s rule shares similarities with the character Jack Ryan from the fictional series, especially regarding economic inequality and the way an elected leader can govern like a dictator.

Image via Prime Video

Although the scene from Jack Ryan isn’t a completely accurate representation of real events—it’s a fictional show, after all—there are notable parallels. Both the clip and the show depict a situation where helicopters are positioned over Caracas to capture a president, mirroring the real-world attempt to capture Maduro.

The second season of Jack Ryan concludes with the president’s wrongdoing becoming public and an opposition party winning an election in Venezuela. However, the actual situation in Venezuela is still unfolding, and it’s currently unclear how Maduro’s arrest will affect the opposition and their strong support within the country.

The TV show Jack Ryan, while a work of fiction, surprisingly touches on the actual corruption happening in Venezuela and even seemed to foreshadow US involvement. But the real situation is far more complex, and the consequences of US actions will likely affect global stability and international relationships for many years to come.

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2026-01-05 16:59