In a dramatic escalation of tensions, United States armed forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and executed a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. The move, announced by US President Donald Trump, has triggered a fierce backlash from Democratic leaders who have labelled the action illegal, reckless, and politically motivated.
Democrats Condemn 'Unconstitutional' Military Action
President Trump stated that US personnel seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on charges of suspected narco-terrorism and flew them out of the country. However, Democratic lawmakers were swift and severe in their condemnation, accusing the Republican leader of dragging the US into another unnecessary conflict without proper authority.
Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey launched a sharp attack, accusing senior Trump administration officials of misleading Congress. "Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress," Kim stated on social media platform X. He argued that Trump bypassed constitutional safeguards because the American public opposes another war.
The criticism took a personal turn from Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a veteran of the Iraq War. "This war is illegal, it’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year," Gallego said, calling it the second unjustified war in his lifetime. He recounted his traumatic experiences in Iraq, stating the Venezuela operation risked similar civilian casualties for no valid reason.
Questions Over Motives and Priorities
Lawmakers also questioned the true motives behind the strike and contrasted the administration's spending priorities. Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts highlighted the lack of Congressional authorization and public support. "He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??" McGovern asked pointedly.
Echoing the sentiment, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dismissed the narco-terrorism justification. "It’s not about drugs," she asserted. "If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It’s about oil and regime change." She suggested the timing was meant to distract from other domestic controversies.
Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts warned the operation lacked a clear strategy and risked devolving into a "blood for oil war." Meanwhile, California Senator Adam Schiff, while criticising Maduro as an illegitimate leader, condemned Trump's method. "But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further erodes America’s standing on the world stage," Schiff warned.
White House Defense and Legal Charges
In the face of this onslaught, the White House stood firmly behind the operation. President Trump, in an interview with The New York Times, called the mission "brilliant" and praised US troops. Vice President JD Vance supported the action, stating the interim Venezuelan government now had a choice to return to the "civilized world."
Adding legal weight to the capture, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced formal charges against Nicolás Maduro. The charges include "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy" and weapons offences, with plans for him to face trial in US courts. Maduro was first indicted by the US in 2020, and the reward for information leading to his arrest was increased to $50 million last year.
The operation has plunged US-Venezuela relations into a new, volatile chapter, raising serious questions about international law, executive power, and the future of political conflict in the region.
