In a provocative social media post that has sparked heated debate, country music star John Rich suggested that the U.S. military's elite Delta Force should conduct its next operation domestically to free a former Colorado election official from prison. Rich, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, made the comment in the wake of a reported U.S. raid in Venezuela over the weekend that allegedly resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), read: “The next Delta operation should be extracting Tina Peters from her holding cell.”
Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, is serving a nine-year sentence in state prison after her 2022 conviction on multiple counts related to a data breach of the county's election systems during the 2020 presidential election. According to court records, Peters was found guilty of seven felonies, including attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Prosecutors argued that she allowed unauthorized access to sensitive voting equipment, which fueled unfounded claims of election fraud in the closely contested 2020 race. Her case drew national attention as one of the most prominent prosecutions stemming from efforts to challenge the election results.
The backdrop to Rich's suggestion is the reported Venezuelan operation, which sources describe as a swift raid led by the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. Newsweek has described Delta as “the army’s most elite counterterrorism and direct-action unit,” noting its reputation for efficiency in high-stakes missions. According to reports from Yahoo News, the U.S. forces swooped into Venezuela over the weekend, with Delta operators at the forefront, culminating in Maduro's capture. While details of the operation remain classified, it has been hailed by Trump administration officials as a decisive blow against a long-standing adversary.
President Trump and his inner circle wasted little time in speculating about future targets following the Venezuela success. In various statements over the weekend, names like Mexico, Cuba, and even Greenland surfaced in discussions about potential U.S. interventions. Trump himself reportedly floated the idea of addressing issues in these regions during informal remarks to aides, though no official plans have been announced. These comments reflect a broader foreign policy stance emphasizing aggressive action against perceived threats to U.S. interests.
Rich's proposal shifts the focus inward, targeting Peters' imprisonment as an injustice warranting military involvement. On December 5, 2024, President Trump issued a pardon for Peters, but as legal experts have noted, presidential pardons apply only to federal offenses and cannot override state convictions like hers. Despite this limitation, Trump and his supporters have continued advocating for her release, framing her prosecution as politically motivated retaliation for questioning the 2020 election's integrity. Rich is not alone in this view; he joins a chorus of Trump allies who have called for extraordinary measures to secure her freedom.
The reaction to Rich's X post was swift and polarized. Supporters rallied behind the idea, with MAGA influencer Gunther Eagleman replying, “This needs to happen. I support it.” Similarly, the Jerrod Sessler for Congress account chimed in with, “AGREED! Get her out of there.” These responses, along with dozens of others, amplified the post's reach, garnering thousands of likes and shares within hours. Comments sections filled with endorsements from users who viewed Peters as a political prisoner, echoing narratives of a weaponized justice system against Trump supporters.
Critics, however, were quick to denounce the suggestion as reckless and unconstitutional. One X user, identifying as a conservative who values states' rights, wrote: “Conservative who believes in 50 states acting as one Nation checking in … You do that and you might as well strip away any law enforcement power states have and just go ahead and centralize government. Democrats would love that.” Legal scholars and civil liberties advocates have raised alarms about the implications of using federal military forces for domestic rescues, citing the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the military from enforcing domestic laws. The American Civil Liberties Union has not yet commented specifically on Rich's post but has long opposed militarized responses to political disputes.
Tina Peters' story traces back to late 2020, when Mesa County became a flashpoint in post-election investigations. As clerk, Peters oversaw the county's Dominion Voting Systems machines, which were at the center of widespread conspiracy theories about rigged elections. In May 2021, she allegedly allowed a former Trump campaign affiliate, Conan Hayes, to access the equipment under false pretenses, leading to images of the software being leaked online. This breach prompted a state investigation, and Peters was removed from office in 2021 amid the probe.
Her trial in August 2022 lasted several weeks, with testimony from election security experts detailing the risks of the unauthorized access. Mesa County District Attorney Daniel P. Rubinstein, who prosecuted the case, described it as a deliberate attempt to undermine public trust in democracy. Peters maintained her innocence throughout, claiming she was protecting election integrity. She was sentenced in October 2024 to nine years, with credit for time served, and is currently held at a women's correctional facility in Colorado.
John Rich, known for hits like “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” with the duo Big & Rich, has been an outspoken conservative voice in country music. His political activism includes performances at Trump rallies and endorsements of Republican causes. The Venezuela raid's timing, just days into the new year of 2025, has invigorated such figures, who see it as validation of Trump's “America First” approach extended abroad. Rich's post ties into this momentum, blending foreign triumph with domestic grievances.
Beyond social media, the idea of military intervention for Peters has surfaced before among fringe elements of the MAGA movement. In late 2024, similar calls echoed on podcasts and conservative forums, though none gained mainstream traction until now. Trump himself has not directly endorsed a Delta Force rescue but has reiterated his pardon as a step toward justice during a recent interview on Fox News, saying, “Tina Peters is a hero who was persecuted for doing her job.”
The broader context of Delta Force's role underscores the audacity of Rich's pitch. Established in 1977 following the failed Iran hostage rescue, the unit has conducted operations worldwide, from the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to raids against ISIS leaders. Domestic deployment, however, is exceedingly rare and tightly regulated. Pentagon officials have not responded to inquiries about Rich's comments, but a spokesperson emphasized that military resources are reserved for national security threats, not individual legal cases.
As the debate rages online, Peters' legal team continues to pursue appeals through Colorado's state courts. Her attorneys argue that the trial was tainted by political bias and that new evidence could exonerate her. Meanwhile, the Venezuela operation's success—if confirmed—could embolden further calls for bold U.S. actions, both abroad and at home. International observers, including the United Nations, have expressed concern over the raid's legality under international law, with Venezuelan officials denying Maduro's capture and labeling it U.S. aggression.
The clash of viewpoints highlights deepening divisions in American discourse. Supporters of Rich's idea frame it as righteous defiance against a corrupt system, while opponents warn of eroding federalism and the rule of law. As 2025 unfolds, with Trump's administration settling into its second term, such provocative suggestions may test the boundaries of political rhetoric and military norms. For now, Tina Peters remains behind bars, her fate tied more to judicial processes than to special forces operations.
In related developments, country music continues to intersect with politics, as seen in recent stories about artists retiring from tours and health challenges facing stars. Yet Rich's intervention stands out for its direct challenge to institutional authority, drawing parallels to historical moments when celebrities influenced public policy debates. Whether this sparks real action or fades as online fervor remains to be seen, but it underscores the potent mix of entertainment, patriotism, and partisanship in contemporary America.