At a Glance
- President Trump’s overnight capture of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife sparks bipartisan backlash over legality and congressional oversight today, now.
- The strike drew bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers questioning its legality and congressional oversight.
- Congress was not notified ahead of the operation, sparking debate over executive authority.
- Why it matters: The event raises questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches and the potential for future foreign interventions.
The overnight operation on Saturday saw President Donald Trump announce the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, citing plans for American oversight of the country’s government and oil fields. The move was met with sharp criticism from both parties, raising concerns about legality and the need for congressional approval.
Congressional Reactions
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned the strike’s focus on drug traffickers:
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated:
> “then why hasn’t the Trump admin taken action against Mexican cartels?”
She added:
> “And both parties, Republicans and Democrats, always keep the Washington military machine funded and going. This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong.”
- Rep. Don Bacon warned about the international implications:
Rep. Don Bacon said:
> “My main concern now is that Russia will use this to justify their illegal and barbaric military actions against Ukraine, or China to justify an invasion of Taiwan.”
He also noted:
> “Freedom and rule of law were defended last night, but dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives.”
- Rep. Thomas Massie challenged the legal basis:
Rep. Thomas Massie said:
> “If this action were constitutionally sound, the Attorney General wouldn’t be tweeting that they’ve arrested the President of a sovereign country and his wife for possessing guns in violation of a 1934 U.S. firearm law.”
- Sen. Tim Kaine warned about a return to past dominance:
Sen. Tim Kaine said:
> “President Trump’s unauthorized military attack on Venezuela to arrest Maduro – however terrible he is – is a sickening return to a day when the United States asserted the right to dominate the internal political affairs of all nations in the Western Hemisphere.”
He added:
> “Where will this go next? Will the President deploy our troops to protect Iranian protesters? To enforce the fragile ceasefire in Gaza? To battle terrorists in Nigeria? To seize Greenland or the Panama Canal? To suppress Americans peacefully assembling to protest his policies? Trump has threatened to do all this and more and sees no need to seek legal authorization from people’s elected legislature before putting servicemembers at risk.”
Oversight and Legal Concerns
- Sen. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer highlighted the lack of congressional notification:
Sen. Hakeem Jeffries said:
> “the administration of failing to ‘properly notify Congress in advance of the operation in Venezuela.'”
Sen. Chuck Schumer‘s spokesperson noted:
> “The so-called gang of eight – the top four leaders in Congress and top four intelligence committee chiefs – were ‘not notified ahead of time’ regarding the Venezuela attack.”
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the decision to act immediately:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:
> “We called members of Congress immediately after. This was not the kind of mission that you can do congressional notification on.”
He added:
> “It’s just not the kind of mission you can prenotify because it endangers the mission.”
He also said:
> “Congress has a tendency to leak. This would not have been good.”
- President Donald Trump echoed Rubio’s point:
President Donald Trump said:
> “Congress has a tendency to leak. This would not have been good.”
Support from Republican Leaders
- Sen. John Thune defended the operation as a step toward justice:
Sen. John Thune said:
> “President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro, through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant, is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States.”
- Sen. Lindsey Graham called for patience and rebuilding:
Sen. Lindsey Graham said:
> “My takeaway is we’re going to be patient. Make sure we rebuild Venezuela, beneficial to the Venezuelan people and make them an ally.”
He added:
> “If I were Cuba, I’d be nervous about this news conference.”
He also noted:
> “The context made sense, but long-term operations are difficult. Securing the oil, helping rebuild the institutions. But the sooner we can have an election, the better.”
- Sen. Mike Lee sought constitutional justification:
Sen. Mike Lee said:
> “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”
After a call from Rubio, he added:
> “the move ‘likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”
- Sen. Brian Schatz warned against endless wars:
Sen. Brian Schatz said:
> “We should have learned by now not to get involved in endless wars and regime change missions that carry catastrophic consequences for Americans.”
- House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized protection of American lives:
House Speaker Mike Johnson said:
> “Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives.”
He also noted:
> “The Trump Administration is working to schedule briefings for Members as Congress returns to Washington next week.”
Key Takeaways
- President Trump’s overnight operation captured Maduro and sparked bipartisan backlash over legality and congressional oversight.
- Congress was not notified ahead of the strike, raising questions about executive authority and the need for legislative approval.
- Republican lawmakers offer mixed support, citing justice for drug crimes and the need for swift action, while critics demand clearer legal justification.
The event highlights a contentious balance of power and the potential for future foreign interventions without congressional authorization.
