This weekend (Jan. 3), U.S. special forces stunned the world by raiding Venezuela and capturing President Nicolás Maduro 😲. But instead of cheering, U.S. Democratic lawmakers are furious: they say Congress was left totally in the dark, and that the Trump administration 'straight-up lied' about not seeking regime change.
Leading the charge, Senator Andy Kim blasted the White House on X, calling out Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth for telling Congress just weeks ago that 'this wasn't about regime change' — a claim Kim now calls 'flat-out false'.
On the House side, Rep. Jason Crow (Armed Services & Intelligence) doubled down: 'They told us over and over this wasn't about toppling Maduro. Clearly, that was nonsense,' he posted.
Senate Foreign Relations member Jeanne Shaheen added that the administration 'consistently misled' lawmakers, leaving them in the dark on any long-term strategy for Venezuela. Senator Chris Coons echoed the sentiment, stressing that any military action to capture and overthrow a leader is 'an act of war that must be authorized by Congress'.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined in, demanding an 'immediate briefing' on the operation's objectives and next steps. Jeffries said too many questions remain unanswered, while Schumer noted the White House assurances three times that no regime change was planned — assurances that now look shaky 🤔.
Meanwhile, Senator Brian Schatz warned that the U.S. has 'no vital national interests' in Venezuela to justify war 🌍, urging leaders to avoid another costly foreign adventure.
Despite the backlash, some Republican leaders are on board with Trump's move. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson said they're waiting for briefings — but praised the raid as a step toward bringing Maduro to justice for alleged drug crimes.
The unexpected operation and the capture of Maduro have sparked global debate, with many watching closely to see if Congress will finally get the answers it's demanding 🚨.
Reference(s):
Democrats accuse Trump of lying to Congress about goals in Venezuela
cgtn.com
