Lawmakers React to US Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro

Mixed reactions poured in from U.S. lawmakers after President Donald Trump ordered an overnight strike resulting in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores at their home in Caracas on Jan. 3.

Most Republicans applauded the president’s decision.

“Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) posted on X shortly after the operation’s success was confirmed.

“President Trump is putting American lives first, succeeding where others have failed, and under his leadership, the United States will no longer allow criminal regimes to profit from wreaking havoc and destruction on our country.”

Broad support from Republican senators noted Maduro’s criminal indictments in the United States for narco-trafficking and terrorism charges as justification for the operation.

“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,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said in a statement posted on X. “I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action.”

Responding to criticism about the capture that questioned Trump’s authority to conduct tactical strikes around Venezuela during the assault, Rep. Mike Lee (R-Utah) defended the decision as legal under the U.S. Constitution.

“This action 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,” Lee said.

Opponents of Trump’s orders, and his plan for the United States to control Venezuela until elections become possible, cautioned that regime change is complicated.

“The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement posted to X. “The American people have seen this before and paid the devastating price.”

He urged transparency. Other Democratic Party lawmakers voiced concerns that no congressional authorization was sought before the strike.

“Our Constitution places the gravest decisions about the use of military force in the hands of Congress for a reason,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) posted on X. “Using military force to enact regime change demands the closest scrutiny, precisely because the consequences do not end with the initial strike.”

Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday that military plans were kept secret because “Congress has a tendency to leak.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) demanded a congressional briefing to define details and determine future objectives.

“Far too many questions remain unanswered, including with respect to whether further military actions are planned,” Jeffries said in a statement.