President Donald Trump is facing intense backlash from Democrats after defending his decision to launch a U.S. military strike in Venezuela and capture President Nicolas Maduro, an action critics say was illegal, reckless and carried out without required congressional approval.
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in a national address, Trump portrayed the operation as a resounding success and a warning to adversaries, revealing that U.S. forces carried out “an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela,” using air, land and sea power in what he called “a spectacular assault.” Trump added, “It was an assault like people have not seen since World War Two.”
Trump said the U.S. would now assume control of Venezuela during a transitional period. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said. “We’re there now, but we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.” He also linked the intervention to energy policy, calling Venezuela’s oil industry “a bust, a total bust,” and said major U.S. oil companies would rebuild infrastructure and “start making money for the country.”
“Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil,” Trump continued, adding they were en route to New York, with Florida also under consideration.
Democratic leaders responded with fury, accusing Trump of bypassing Congress and violating both U.S. and international law. Lawmakers said they were not notified in advance of the raid, including members of the so-called gang of eight who are typically briefed on sensitive national security matters.
“They literally lied to our face,” said Sen. Chris Murphy on CNN, referring to earlier briefings by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Murphy called the action “wildly illegal” and said, “There is no way to trust this administration.”
Under the Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war, and the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires presidents to seek approval for military engagements. Democrats said the Venezuela operation amounted to an act of war regardless of how the administration characterized it.
“I’m a member of the gang of eight, and I have yet to get a phone call,” said Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. He described the raid as “another example of absolute lawlessness” and warned it was “paving the way for disaster.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the operation could not credibly be deemed as law enforcement. “This was an act of war,” Jeffries said.
The backlash is ramping up as the Senate prepares to vote on a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at blocking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. The measure is backed by Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, who warned of dire consequences. “When America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way,” Schumer said, “the American people pay the price in both blood and in dollars.”
Democrats also nodded ted to Trump’s focus on oil as evidence the intervention was driven by economic interests rather than national security. Murphy said the president’s remarks showed the action was about enriching allies and industries, adding that it “has nothing to do with American national security.”
