When news broke that the U.S. military had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, the political backlash was swift and severe. Democratic leaders aren't mincing words about what they see as an unauthorized, potentially illegal military operation.
Sanders: Trump Can't Just Start Wars on His Own
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) came out swinging on X, challenging President Donald Trump's constitutional authority to launch military operations without congressional approval. His argument? Even if you're going after a brutal dictator, the president doesn't get to unilaterally drag the country into war.
"The President of the United States does NOT have the right to unilaterally take this country to war, even against a corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro," Sanders wrote on X.
The Vermont senator, who ran for president twice, also suggested Trump should be paying attention to problems at home instead of launching military operations abroad.
Was the Administration Straight With Congress?
Former Vice President Kamala Harris didn't hold back either, calling the operation both unlawful and unwise. According to Harris, this isn't really about fighting drugs or promoting democracy. It's about oil and Trump trying to look tough, with no clear plan for what comes next.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) raised a different concern: trust. In an official statement, the Senate Minority Leader said, "The administration has assured me three separate times that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela. Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans."
Schumer doubled down on X, echoing Sanders' worries and warning that Trump's reported plans to "run" Venezuela should alarm every American. He pointed to historical examples of how these kinds of interventions can backfire spectacularly.
NYC Mayor Calls It an Act of War
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the chorus of criticism, calling the capture an "act of war" that violates both federal and international law. He emphasized that this hits close to home for New York, which has a substantial Venezuelan community that will feel the ripple effects of these actions.
Venezuelan officials are, unsurprisingly, furious. They're calling this a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and disputing the U.S. version of events entirely.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is demanding "proof of life" for Maduro and Flores, raising questions about the circumstances of their detention. The Venezuelan government has labeled the operation a "grave military aggression" and is calling on the international community to condemn what happened.
The timing is particularly notable. Relations between Washington and Caracas have been tense for years, but Maduro had recently indicated he was open to dialogue with the Trump administration on issues like drug trafficking and Venezuela's oil reserves. That possibility seems considerably more remote now.